CDOT Resurfacing Project Progressing Well on SH 149South of Lake City

HINSDALE COUNTY – Despite the recent—and welcome—rain in the area, work continues on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s project to improve the surface of a 12.5-mile stretch of SH 149 south of Lake City. The project began in mid-June as was suspended temporarily during the area fires, as well as the July 4 holiday. Expecting some more rain-day delays, crews are working hard—including this Saturday—to get this project completed on schedule, by the end of the month. The work was contracted to Intermountain Slurry Seal for $3.57 million.

The work is greatly improving the stretch from MP 55 on the north side of Slumgullian Pass down over Spring Creek Pass, to MP 42.4 at the Hinsdale/Mineral county line. The existing asphalt pavement has undergone a hot asphalt recycling process (on just the travel lanes, a 24-foot width), and will now be followed by a chip seal for protection (the chip seal will include the driving lanes as well as the 6-foot shoulders on each side.) A chip seal is done as preventative maintenance to protect a stretch of roadway that is in good condition.

“This stretch has not received significant attention for more than 15 years,” CDOT Region 3 Resident Engineer Ron Alexander said. “The pavement recycling is addressing surface cracking and the final chip seal will protect and preserve the rejuvenated surface. This will add at least another 20 years to the life of this highway, dependent upon traffic volumes and weather.”

TRAFFIC IMPACTS - Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.—with a later start and finish time (possibly 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) later this week, when chip seal operations begin (chip sealing requires temperatures of at least 50 degrees). Within work hours, motorists will encounter single-lane, alternating traffic directed by a pilot car and delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.

CDOT PROJECT INFORMATION - For information on this or 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.

TRANSPORTATION MATTERS  A smoother ride will reduce wear and tear and lower vehicle maintenance costs.