CDOT Project On Track for Mid-August Completion

July 18, 2014 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - DURANGO – With less than a month away from the scheduled completion date of the CFI project, CDOT and contractor, Concrete Works of Colorado, are on track to move into the final phase of construction.

To keep pace and accommodate for Durango’s July thunderstorms, weekend work is expected.

The completion of the US 160/550 Continuous Flow Intersection (CFI) means less congestion and wait time for the approximate 30,000 to 45,000 travelers using this section of highway daily. By reconfiguring the intersection, east and westbound turn lanes will coincide with one another, eliminating considerable waits. The cycle signal time at these coinciding left turns is divided between two conflicting traffic movements with the new CFI versus the previous configuration of three. “When considering the tens of thousands of vehicles using the intersection per day, aggregated over time, the amount of time, money, fuel saved, and reduction in emission pollution is significant,” says CDOT project engineer, Tommy Humphrey. “And, most importantly, reducing traffic congestion ultimately reduces congestion-related accidents.”

Another hopeful benefit of the CFI project is speed reduction reinforcement. The CFI is designed to slow people down to 35 miles per hour on their approach to town. “We’ve incorporated traffic calming measures throughout the project,” says Humphrey.

The original 30-year-old-plan for addressing increased traffic on US 160/550 included a full interchange with ramps and large bridges that Humphrey says would not have functioned as well as a CFI. “The interchange concept is far more expensive and is a poor fit due to the nearby traffic signal at US 550/College Drive and Historic Downtown Durango. A CFI costs far less and is a better fit with the existing signalized network.”

Travel impacts for this coming weekend and the week of Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25:

  • NEW, Weekend Work July 19 & 20: US 160, west of CFI the intersection, will have median, turn lane and one-lane through closures in both directions anytime.
  • NEW, From Santa Rita Northbound to the CFI Intersection: On Monday, July 21, there will be a full closure of the northbound lanes from the Santa Rita intersection to the US 160/550 intersection starting at 7:00 p.m. through the night. Alternate routes are advised.
  • NEW, From Tech Center in both directions on US 160 to the CFI Intersection:Expect lane, median, and turn lane closures; turn lane closures are expected anytime; westbound, single-lane closures are also in effect anytime; eastbound, single-lane closures are anticipated during non-peak travel times from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and after 6:30 PM.
  • Roosa Avenue: Expect northbound lane closures during daylight hours – there will be no left turns from eastbound US 160 onto Roosa Ave.
  • Camino del Rio, North of the CFI Intersection: Limited lane closures from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays and again after 6:30 p.m.
  • US 160/550 South of the CFI Intersection: Median and single-lane closures and two lane shifts likely throughout the week both south and northbound. Single-lane closures are anticipated during non-peak travel times from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and after 6:30 PM.

HOW TO GET PROJECT AND CFI INFORMATION: For questions regarding the project, the public can call the public information line at (970) 238-1669. The best way to stay up-to-date on project progress, traffic impacts and more is to sign up for email and wireless (text) alerts. Go to CDOT's web site at www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Enter your information and choose "US 160/550 Durango" under the "projects" list. If you would like to reach the project information team directly, please call the hotline at 970-238-1669 or email us at [email protected]. More information on this and other CFI projects is located here: http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/us160_us550durangocfi.http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/us160_us550durangocfi.