Bridge Crack Closes Highway 12 Near Weston

May 24, 2012 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - LAS ANIMAS COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed State Highway (SH) 12, approximately one mile west of Weston, after a crack developed on the deck of the Purgatoire River Bridge.

CDOT closed the bridge after the crack appeared. Subsequently, a two-foot section of the deck broke off. No individuals or vehicles were on or under the bridge at the time when the portion fell. Most of the existing bridge remains intact.

Currently, a detour is under construction parallel to the bridge. Culverts will be placed and the detour road surfaced for travel. It is expected to be open for traffic by tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.

The bridge was built in 1925 and currently being replaced so it was in a one-lane configuration, with eastbound and westbound traffic alternating through the site. Once open, the bridge will remain closed to traffic, with the detour route used until the new bridge is opened to traffic.

CDOT engineers still are working to determine what caused the failure.

From Trinidad, traffic can still travel SH 12 as far west as Weston. All other traffic heading to points west of Weston are being directed to U.S. 160 through Walsenburg, west on U.S. 160 to SH 12, and south on SH 12 through La Veta.

Travel information regarding the status of State Highway 12 is available on the cotrip.org website, by calling 511 or via subscription e-mail. To subscribe, please visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including Southeast Colorado.