Highway Surface Improvements Begin near US 160 and SH 145 Junction in Cortez

The project involves resurfacing—in places—two stretches of highway that that receive a good amount of stop-and-go traffic and heavy truck traffic. The sections to be resurfaced are:  US 160 from MP 39.05 (at CR 26/Mildred Road) to MP 41.50 (east of the SH 145 junction and just west of CR 29); and SH 145 between MP 0.0 (at the US 160 junction) and 1.5 (at Fairway Drive).

These sections will receive a “micro-surfacing” of the existing asphalt surface, from shoulder to shoulder, where needed, to improve and prolong the life of the surface. Micro-surfacing is a road maintenance tool that involves laying a mixture of aggregate, liquid additives and emulsifiers to correct or prevent certain deficiencies in pavement conditions. In this case, the work will provide a moisture seal for the existing pavement, which is in fair/good condition. It will extend the life of the highway six to seven years, depending upon traffic volumes and weather. An added benefit achieved from micro-surfacing is that it sets in less than an hour in most instances, allowing traffic to return to the roadway quickly.

“By paying a little more now for maintenance, CDOT can avoid higher costs later,” CDOT Region 5 Transportation Director Kerrie Neet said. “This preventative maintenance project is a good example of how we can stretch our transportation dollars.”

TRAVEL IMPACTS: From May 29 through mid-June, motorists on both highways will encounter some single-lane, alternating traffic between 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please plan extra time for your commute.

CDOT PROJECT INFORMATION: Updated information regarding traffic impacts on this or other CDOT projects is available at www.cotrip.org or by calling 511. To receive project updates via wireless device or e-mail, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner. The link takes you to a list of items/areas you can subscribe to.