Safety Project Underway on Highway 83

December 12, 2012 - Central/Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is adding left turn lanes and widening the shoulders along a short segment of southbound State Highway (SH) 83, just north of Franktown and SH 86.

Project hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Traffic impacts are minimal, with occasional lane closures, primarily to allow for the movement of equipment and truck hauling operations. However, shoulder closures are in place, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The work zone speed limit is reduced to 30 mph and vehicles wider than 12 feet are not allowed to travel this segment of SH 83.

“Due to several rear-end accidents in the area, the new turn lanes going into the Douglas County School District and the CDOT maintenance yard will provide a safety benefit by removing stopped vehicles from the travel lanes,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Dole Grebenik. “The left turn lanes will improve traffic flow and safety through an area that can experience up to 20,000 vehicles daily. Additionally, we partnered with the Douglas County School District to share some of the construction costs.”

The contractor, Tricon 2 LLC of Littleton, CO, is scheduled to complete the project in February 2013, weather permitting.

FASTER – Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery – is fully funding the $453,000 project. Financed by vehicle registration fees, FASTER safety funds are used for construction, reconstruction, or maintenance projects the Colorado Transportation Commission, a county or municipality determine are needed to enhance the safety of a state highway, county road, or city street.