US 85 Bypass Project to Begin Tomorrow in Greeley
WELD COUNTY — Beginning Thursday, June 14, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin a major bypass project in Greeley on US 85. Crews will reconstruct the highway in addition to adding safety improvements to 2.6 miles of US 85 from 5th Street to US 34.
“This project will greatly improve this section of highway for motorists,” said Project Engineer Gale Siedenburg. “US 85 is a major artery for the city of Greeley, and the improvements we will make not only make the highway safer, but will allow for a smoother flow of traffic through this section of the city.”
As part of the project, the highway will be widened, the median removed, and some intersections will receive new traffic signals. Additionally, new curbs, gutters, and guardrails will be installed and a right turn lane will be added at 5th Street to make merging into traffic safer. Finally, the bridge over the Poudre River will be repaired, and the roadway will be resurfaced between 5th Street and US 34. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2013.
Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, June 14, crews will be closing the two left lanes of US 85 going northbound and southbound in order to conduct survey work, remove concrete, and prepare for pipe work to be conducted next week. Barriers will be in place and CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all road signs and flaggers, and to drive Slow for the Cone Zone.
Work on the project will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday each week, with limited night and weekend work to be scheduled at a later time. During the Greeley Stampede, which is June 22 through July 4, no work is scheduled for this project. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 to 40 MPH through the work zone.
This $12.1 million project is contracted to Castle Rock Construction Company.
For additional information about the project or to sign up for free project updates, visit www.coloradodot.info/projects/us85us34bypass. Those with questions about the project are urged to call the public information phone number at 970-373-3400 or email [email protected]. To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info/ and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.
