Work on US 50, Whitewater East and West, this Sunday, July 1, at 32 Road Intersection; no work over holiday

The highway resurfacing project, which began May 21, includes improvements in two sections:

Section 1:  A 6.2-mile stretch between mile posts 36 and 42.2 (29 Road in Grand Junction southeast to Whitewater) receives a “mill and fill,” in which crews mill off the top two inches of asphalt to remove the damaged/cracked surface; resurface the milled pavement with two inches of new asphalt; then overlay the entire stretch with another two inches of new asphalt to add strength and durability to the highway surface and extend its life by about 11 years.

Section 2: Improvements to an 18-mile stretch between MPs 50 and 68 (Mesa-Delta county line south to Delta) consist of leveling the pavement (milling the pavement surface) in various locations where the highway is somewhat “waved” from shrink-swell characteristics of the soil. (These uneven sections of the highway can cause safety problems for motorists, particularly those driving semi-trucks or pulling trailers and large loads.) The leveled sections get an overlay of new asphalt.

Other work along the two sections includes guardrail upgrades, curb and gutter repairs, embankment work, rumble strips (cut into the highway shoulders to alert errant vehicles) and new striping.

APC Southern Construction Company of Golden was contracted for $6.2 million to complete this project.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: The project will conduct a special work date on Sunday, July 1. The purpose of this special work date is to pave the intersection at Road 32 and US 50. Work will begin at 6:30 a.m. and continue until 6:00 pm. Motorists can expect 15 minute delays as they travel through this area. Southbound 32 Road traffic will be detoured west on Road B.5 to Road 230 then south on Road 30 to US 50 while the intersection is being paved.

NO HOLIDAY WORK:  The project will be shut down for the Independence Day holiday from July 4 through July 8. Regular project work hours will resume beginning Monday, July 9.

Motorists should be advised that travel will be restricted to a single lane with traffic control during daytime work hours. Work hours for the remainder of the project will be 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph during these hours, so motorists should allow for travel delays up to 10 minutes. All business and residence access will be maintained, but may be temporarily altered.

MORE INFORMATION FOR MEDIA & MOTORISTS: The project information line is (970) 216-0678. To help motorists plan their summer travel, CDOT offers an e-mail and text message service to provide updates on road conditions, construction projects and other CDOT news. Signing up to receive updates is easy and free (standard text messaging rates apply). Visit our website at www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in upper right corner entitled “Sign up for Email and Wireless Alerts.” Travelers can also call 511 from anywhere in the state, or log onto http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/active-construction-projects to view CDOT’s lane closure reports and statewide construction map.