Bridge Replacement Set to Start near Walsenburg

February 26, 2014 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - HUERFANO COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) is mobilizing crews, materials and equipment as work begins to replace the Sull Creek Bridge on U.S. 85/87 (I-25 Business Route), one mile north of Walsenburg.

Initial work involves construction of a two-lane paved detour around the structure, requiring traffic stops up to 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The detour is expected to open to traffic in mid-March with a reduced 40 mph speed limit.

In addition to replacing the 80-year-old bridge, the project includes adding a 16-foot center turn lane, two, 12-foot drive lanes, acceleration and deceleration lanes, and eight-foot shoulders.   Improved drainage, and new guardrails, signing and striping also are part of the project.

“The current bridge is in poor condition and is functionally obsolete and the new one is designed to provide at least 75 years of service,” said CDOT Project Engineer Steve Spera.  “Also, since this is a business area, safety will be enhanced for travelers since we’re adding new turn lanes, accel and decel lanes and wider shoulders.”

Tricon 2, LLC, of Castle Rock, CO is the prime contractor.  Questions or concerns about the project can be addressed by calling the project hotline at 719-339-2390.

Work is scheduled for completion in September 2014.

The Colorado Bridge Enterprise (CBE), a government-owned business entity within CDOT, is fully funding the $1.9 million project.  Colorado’s General Assembly created the CBE to complete designated bridge projects that involve the financing, repair, reconstruction and replacement of bridges designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated “poor” by CDOT.  More information is available at: http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/BridgeEnterprise.

Updated information regarding traffic impacts on this or other CDOT projects is available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html or by calling 511.  To receive project updates via e-mail, 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 Southeast Colorado.