New detour established at Exit 49 and SH 65 to allow traffic to the Grand Mesa

June 30, 2014 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - MESA COUNTY – Beginning Tuesday, July 1, passenger vehicle access to Mesa, Collbran and the Grand Mesa on state highway 65 will be reestablished at I-70 Exit 49.

The eastbound I-70 onramp will be used as an exit, under flagger control, to allow traffic to move southbound on SH 65. Northbound SH 65 drivers who wish to access eastbound I-70 will need to travel westbound on I-70 to Exit 47 (Cameo Exit) where they can exit the highway and then get back on I-70 heading eastbound.

Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles will not be permitted to use the reverse onramp option and will need to continue to the alternate route at Exit 62, the De Beque exit, County Road (CR) 45 ½.

The work at this location is scheduled for Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. All construction at the Exit 49 location is halted over the weekend. CDOT would like to remind motorists to Slow for the Cone Zone. Fines will be doubled within the work zone.

The ramp closure is part of a project to resurface sections of eastbound and westbound I-70 from mile marker 16 to mile marker 49. The project includes an asphalt overlay from mm 16 to mm 37 and a chip seal treatment from mm 37 to 49. Other safety improvements will include work on guardrails, bridge rail upgrades and bridge deck resurfacing.