Motorists Encouraged to Avoid I-25 Near Mead This Weekend Due to Bridge Work That Will Cause Major Delays
WELD COUNTY— Starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, August 26th and continuing until 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 28th, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will continue the bridge repairs on I-25 over the Great Western Railroad near Mead (mile post 245.8). 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 10 p.m. Friday until 11 a.m. on Sunday with single lane closures beginning at 9 p.m.
“We are repairing the abutments, expansion joints and approach slabs to help prevent significant movement of the bridge, especially when heavy trucks travel over it. To complete the repairs, we need to work on all lanes of northbound I-25 at once and then repave the bridge approaches in concrete and let it cure for twelve to fourteen hours,” said CDOT Project Engineer Monte Malik. “Based on the weekend work conducted earlier in the month, we do anticipate major delays and strongly encourage motorists to avoid I-25 and seek alternate routes.”
In the temporary alignment, 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 (mile post 244.5 to 248.5) to safely allow traffic to enter and exit the temporary alignment.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS: It is estimated that the longest delays will take place on Saturday from approximately 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with possible delays of 30-90 minutes. The speed limit will be reduced from 75 MPH to 45 MPH. Motorists are strongly encouraged to take either US 287 or US 85 as an alternate route. For those who chose to take I-25, it should be noted that it is illegal to crossover from I-25 to the frontage road.
The weekend work is necessary to complete the repairs and give the concrete time to cure without traffic on the bridge. Since crews have to remove the bridge deck to work on the abutments and expansion joints, doing the work all at once allows for a higher quality project as the pavement has more time to cure with less impacts to traffic. The longer time frame over the weekend also ensures that the work can be completed and all lanes of I-25 will be open for the morning commute. If the work was done over several nights, there is a strong possibility the concrete would not cure in time each day, which would greatly impact the morning commute on I-25 and the surrounding highways.
Since the bridge repairs require extensive concrete work, there will be a period of time over the weekend in which the concrete will be curing and crews may not be visibly working. The lane closures will remain in place during this time to allow the concrete to cure.
Major delays are possible throughout the weekend 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.
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.”
