Improvements Get Underway on US 160 Through Downtown Monte Vista
MONTE VISTA — The Colorado Department of Transportation has partnered with the City of Monte Vista to upgrade US 160 (First Avenue) from west of Chico Camino Street to east of the railroad tracks, as well as make intersection improvements at US 160 and US 285. Construction will begin Monday, June 10, and is expected to be finished in late October of 2013. The completed project will feature a pedestrian- and business-friendly environment with improved turn access to cross streets, better parking, expanded sidewalks, a buffer zone for bicyclists and street-scaping features.
The project will provide concrete and asphalt reconstruction on US 160 through the City of Monte Vista. The work will completely remove and replace the existing asphalt travel lanes, including sidewalk, curb and gutter. The roadway, which is currently two lanes in each direction, will be restriped to include a single travel lane in each direction, a center left-turn lane for both directions, bike lanes and parking lanes in each direction. Partnering on the project is the City of Monte Vista, which provided funding that included the local match for $462,000 in federal Transportation Enhancement Program funds to help with the additional street-scaping elements, such as lighting and planters. The street-scaping features will be installed after the construction portion of the project is completed.
"This is a great example of a successful local, state and federal partnership," Monte Vista City Manager Don VanWormer said. “This collaborative effort began with former Governor Ritter's Main Streets Initiative and the group of engaged citizens who were involved in the process. The vision included creating a more walkable and aesthetically pleasing downtown by widening and improving the sidewalks, upgrading the lighting and adding landscaping amenities, such as flower planters and places for trees."
TRAFFIC IMPACTS - When construction begins on Monday, June 10, all traffic will be switched to the westbound lanes of US 160 between Broadway and Jefferson avenues, and both eastbound lanes will be closed as crews begin the process of removing and replacing the existing roadway on the eastbound side. There will be one lane of traffic in each direction during this phase, which is anticipated to last until mid-July. After the eastbound lanes have been reconstructed and paved, traffic will switch to one lane in each direction in the eastbound lanes for approximately one month, while crews remove and replace the westbound lanes. Access to businesses and sidewalks will be maintained throughout the duration of the project, but may be temporarily altered by milling and paving operations. No parking will be available in the three-block stretch from Batterson to Jefferson on US 160. During construction, traffic control will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access signs and flaggers will assist trucks moving in and out of the project.
Motorists can expect slower speeds and minor delays while active work hours for this project are underway, Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; however travel through the construction zone in the evenings and on weekends is expected to be smoother, with fewer impacts from dust, construction noise and construction traffic.
“There have been many projects statewide that have reconstructed a downtown area in concrete, making these types of safety and mobility upgrades,” CDOT Project Engineer Keith Magowan said. “While they do present a challenge for the community, as well as motorists, we will make every effort to minimize the impacts of our work.”
Concrete Works of Colorado, Inc. of Lafayette, Colorado was awarded a $3.9 million contract for this project (the total project cost, including design work and other preliminary engineering, comes to $5.28 million).
CONTACT INFORMATION - To contact the project public information team and/or to request to be on the project distribution list, call (719) 628-7772 or write to [email protected]. For information on other CDOT projects statewide, call 511 or log onto www.cotrip.org. To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.
*The federal program is now called the Transportation Alternatives Program or TAP.
