Open House & Public Hearing Wednesday, November 2

November 1, 2011 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - LA PLATA COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announce the draft findings of the alternatives evaluation for a US 550 connection to US 160 in Grandview.

The Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) is available for viewing and public comment until November 28. The public is invited to view alternatives and ask questions during an open house, and hear a presentation and make comments during a public hearing.

OPEN HOUSE & PUBLIC HEARING

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Escalante Middle School, 141 Baker Lane, Durango

(Open house will be held from 5 to 6:00 p.m.; hearing/public comment period

will be from 6 to 8:00 p.m.)

CDOT and FHWA began the environmental process in early 2011. The SDEIS revisits only the alignment and connection of US 550 to US 160, not the entire US 160 corridor—it supplements the existing 2006 US 160 Environmental Impact Statement to address the newly identified impacts to historic and archaeological sites and any other changes related to the connection of US 550—both natural and manmade. The SDEIS evaluates three reasonable alternatives for a US 550 connection based on whether they meet purpose and need requirements for highway improvements (capacity, safety and access), as well as cost and logistical factors.

The alternatives evaluated are: 1) Revised G Modified, the 2006 Record of Decision Preferred Alternative (with a slight alignment shift), which would realign US 550 to connect at the current interchange—the SDEIS identifies this alignment as the Preferred Alternative. 2) Revised F Modified, which connects at Three Springs Blvd.; and 3) Eastern Realignment, which also connects at Three Springs Blvd.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INFORMATION AND MAKE COMMENTS: The document is available to the public at Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio public libraries, San Juan Public Lands Center, City of Durango, La Plata County and CDOT’s main Durango office (address below). The 45-day public comment period will end on November 28. To view the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and make comments online, please go to this link: http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/us550-at-160. Or, comments can be mailed to Sandra Taylor, CDOT, 3803 North Main Avenue, Suite 300, Durango, CO 81301; or faxed to: 970-385-1410.