Bridge Repairs to Reduce I-25 to One Lane in Each Direction Tonight

August 18, 2011 - TRAFFIC ADVISORY - Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - WELD COUNTY— Tonight, August 18th, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will continue the bridge work on I-25 near Mead.

The work will require a temporary realignment of northbound and southbound I-25, which will reduce the highway to one lane in each direction from 8 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. on Friday.

“We are working on the northbound I-25 bridge over the Great Western Railroad and the repairs must be completed across the entire width of northbound I-25 without any traffic on the roadway,” said CDOT Project Engineer Monte Malik.  “Similar to past closures for this project, we will continue to use the median crossovers in order to keep one lane of traffic open in each direction.”

Starting at 8 p.m. tonight, one lane of northbound and southbound I-25 will be closed as crews work to realign traffic onto southbound I-25. By 9 p.m., one lane of northbound and southbound I-25 will be open in each direction on the southbound lanes. The lane closures and realignment will stretch for approximately four miles to safely allow traffic to enter and exit the temporary alignment.  In addition, the speed limit will be reduced from 75 MPH to 45 MPH. Motorists should be advised that it is illegal to crossover from I-25 to the frontage road.

While the lane closures and temporary alignment will be in place until 6 a.m. on Friday, crews may not always be visible to motorists as the repairs require concrete paving and sufficient cure time for the pavement.  As a result, from approximately 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m., the concrete will be curing and crews may not be visibly working.

Major delays are possible throughout the night and alternate routes such as US 85 and US 287 are strongly advised. CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all traffic signs and flaggers and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.”  Fines for most infractions that occur in the work zone will be doubled.

The next night of closures is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, August 23rd and the next full weekend of work is tentatively scheduled for Friday, August 26th through Sunday, August 28th. More information will be released next week.

Colorado Constructors, Inc. is the contractor for this $455,000 project that will be complete by the end of September 2011, weather permitting.

To receive e-mail updates about the project, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the icon in the upper right-hand corner.  The link will take you to a list of items you can subscribe to including “I-25 Bridge Repairs near Mead” listed under “Projects.”