Highway Upgrades underway through South Park

July 3, 2013 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - PARK COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is beginning work to improve a 17.6 mile segment of U.S. 285 between Jefferson and Fairplay, a project that includes new passing and turn lanes, asphalt pavement and guardrails.

Work also includes extending several concrete box culverts to accommodate the passing lanes, erosion control, and new signing and striping.  Guardrail and wall repairs also are taking place at the Trout Creek Bridge.

Drivers should anticipate lane and/or shoulder closures from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to noon on Fridays.  Delays up to 20 minutes can be expected when a lane is closed and flaggers are alternating northbound and southbound traffic.

The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph through the area during project hours.  In addition, vehicles wider than 11 feet will not be allowed to travel through the area when work is taking place.

“Safety is the primary reason for constructing passing lanes along this busy, two-lane segment of Highway 285,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Steve Harrelson.  “This will provide an area for faster moving vehicles to safely pass slower vehicles and hopefully, lessen the incidence of head-on and other accidents.”

Passing lanes are being built in the following locations:

  • Mile 185.4 – 186.1 northbound (Red Hill Pass area)
  • Mile 195.2 – 196.0 northbound (north of Como)
  • Mile 195.4 – 196.2 southbound (north of Como)
  • Mile 201.0 – 201.9 northbound (between Jefferson & Kenosha Pass)

A turn lane also will be constructed at the Elkhorn Road intersection, near Como.

“New pavement will extend the highway’s lifecycle a good 10 years,” added Harelson.  “The other safety enhancements, like the new guardrails, will help keep vehicles from colliding with roadside hazards.  New striping and signage improves safety by increasing the visibility on and along the roadway, especially at night.”

The project currently is scheduled for completion in October 2013. If work is not completed this season, it will resume next spring and be completed in summer 2014.

APC Construction Company of Golden, CO. is the project contractor.

FASTER – Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery – is funding $2.6 million of the $8 million 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.

Traffic information about this or other CDOT projects is on the cotrip.org website, by calling 511 or via subscription e-mail.  To subscribe, please visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner.  The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including Southwest Colorado (Everything West of I-25 and South of I-70).