FASTER Funding Goes Towards Safety Improvements on US 160 West of Pagosa Springs

The intersection improvements include minor highway widening to accommodate:  left-turn lanes off US 160 onto both Hurt Drive (to the south) and Badger Road (north); right-turn deceleration lanes from US 160 to both drives; and right-turn acceleration lanes from both drives onto US 160. The work also includes resurfacing on US 160 between mile posts 131 and 134.5 (for reference, the west edge of Pagosa is at MP 140); highway shoulder improvements; slope flattening to improve sight distance for motorists and cyclists; and a section of new guardrail.

The project, contracted to Skanska USA for $6 million, improves safety at this busy intersection and improves the condition of the highway surface, extending its life by up to 20 years.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Motorists will encounter single-lane, alternating traffic and some travel delays on both US 160 and the drives, Monday through Friday, during daylight hours. Some nighttime work is possible, and will be announced if/when that takes place. Crews will suspend work for the winter, likely in November, and the project will resume in March with a completion date of late September 2014.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: The public may call (970) 731-2918 with questions or comments about the work. For information on other CDOT projects, call 511 or log onto www.cotrip.org (or sign up for FREE highway updates by going to www.colorododot.info and choosing the green phone icon.)