Northbound US 285 Exit to State Highway 8 Closed through September for Bridge Repairs

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Motorists traveling on northbound US 285 will be unable to take the State Highway (SH) 8 exit for the next month due to exposed rebar in the road that could cause unsafe driving conditions. Southbound US 285 traffic will be unaffected.

“The bridge itself is in safe condition and safe for southbound traffic, but the materials comprising the roadway in the northbound direction would put motorists at risk for broken windshields and flat tires,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Steve Harelson. “For the safety of the traveling public, we have closed the exit to SH 8 and will work to fix the bridge as soon as possible.”

During the course of scheduled bridge work, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) discovered that the milled section of the SH 8 bridge crossing US 285 in the northbound direction was comprised of exposed steel reinforcement and loose concrete that would undoubtedly damage vehicles and pose a threat to safe driving conditions. Although the ramp was scheduled to open during weekends during the bridge work to accommodate travelers, the exit will be closed for the next three to four weeks to undergo repairs.

Traffic Impacts: The ramp from northbound US 285 to SH 8 will be closed 24/7 through September 2011. Motorists intending to use the SH 8 exit are advised to travel north approximately one mile to westbound C-470, go west on C-470, and exit onto southbound US 285 where access to northbound SH 8 is available. Traffic on southbound US 285 to SH 8 is unaffected.

CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all road signs and flaggers, and to drive Slow for the Cone Zone. To receive email or text updates about traffic in the area, visit www.coloradodot.info/ and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page.