New Lanes under Construction between Las Animas & Lamar

August 20, 2012 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - BENT COUNTY – Work is underway to add passing and merging lanes and construct other improvements on U.S. 50, beginning west of Hasty and continuing east to State Highway (SH) 196 (McClave Junction).

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project consists of asphalt paving, construction of acceleration and deceleration lanes at the Fort Lyon (SH 183) and McClave junctions, and passing lanes on eastbound and westbound U.S. 50, east and west of Hasty.  Drainage improvements also will be made in Hasty, with new curbs, gutters and storm drain work, along with new signing, seeding and striping.

Drivers can expect single lane closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with flaggers alternating traffic through the work zone.  Delays up to 10 minutes should be expected.  The speed limit also will be reduced to 45 mph through the work zone and vehicles wider than 12 feet will not be allowed to travel through the area during work hours.

“This project will be a big safety enhancement for Highway 50 through this area,” said CDOT Project Engineer Terry Woodward.  “By providing passing lanes, it’ll hopefully eliminate the hazard that’s created from passing traffic along two-lane highways.  And, the accel and decel lanes at Hasty will give drivers more room to safely merge onto U.S. 50.”

By the end of November, the new lanes and initial paving and drainage work is scheduled to be complete.  The project then will go on winter hiatus and resume in March 2013 (weather dependent) for final paving, seeding, striping and signing.

The $7.5 million project, contracted to A & S Construction Company of Caňon City, Colo., is scheduled for completion in spring 2013.

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