Colorado Bridge Enterprise Project Resumes in Ridgway

OURAY COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Flatiron Constructors have resumed work on the replacement of the SH 62 bridge over the Uncompahgre River at the east entrance to Ridgway. The work had begun in June of 2012, and as planned, was suspended for the winter. It is scheduled for completion this June. The project was contracted to Flatiron Constructors for $4.5 million and paid for by the Colorado Bridge Enterprise.*

The project is replacing the existing bridge with a new structure. A temporary bridge was constructed north of theexisting bridge last season and the existing bridge was demolished. In its place a new, structure has been built to current standards with two 12-foot lanes, 6-foot shoulders, a 14-foot multi-purpose lane and a 6-foot sidewalk; the old bridge was 32 feet wide and the new is approximately 59.5 feet wide.

Work also includes asphalt paving at each bridge approach; construction of an under-bridge, 60-foot long pedestrian path that can eventually connect to the town’s trail system; construction of retaining walls; storm drain improvements; signing, striping and landscaping.

The bridge is 65 years old and is rated in poor condition. The new structure increases safety and mobility and will have a service life 50-plus years.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Occasionally, traffic will be stopped when necessary to accommodate workers and construction traffic between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and some Saturdays

For project information, contact the project hotline at 970-372-1868. GET WIRELESS NOTIFICATIONS: If you would like to receive e-mail and/or wireless notifications for this and other CDOT projects in the area, please go to CDOT’s web site at www.coloradodot.info and select the green phone icon in the upper right corner (sign up for the southwest portion of the state).Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

*FASTER Funding:  Senate Bill 09-108, also known as FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Treatment and Economic Recovery) generates funding comprised of car rental fees and weight-based vehicle registration fees. Monies collected under the FASTER Safety Fund are to be used for construction, reconstruction or maintenance projects that the State Transportation Commission, a county or municipality determine are needed to enhance the safety of a state highway, county road or city street. FASTER allocates money to state and local road-safety projects based on the existing distribution formula of 60 percent to the state, 22 percent to counties and 18 percent to municipalities.

FASTER also dedicates money to bridges through the Colorado Bridge Enterprise (CBE), a government-owned business entity within CDOT. The Colorado General assembly created the Colorado Bridge Enterprise (http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/BridgeEnterprise) to complete designated bridge projects that involve the financing, repair, reconstruction and replacement of bridges designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated “poor” by CDOT.

PHOTOS: See our Media Room at http://www.coloradodot.info/news/media-room.html