SH 257 over Big Thompson River to close from March 16-April 10
When the floods of September 2013 hit, the approaches to this bridge were washed out, making the road impassable. Those approaches were put back during the emergency repairs. The work planned starting March 16 will rebuild those approaches and abutments back so that future high water will not wash the bridge out again.
“When Governor Hickenlooper charged CDOT with building back our roads better than they were before the floods, we took that to heart,” said Robin Stoneman, CDOT Resident Engineer on the project. “We don’t want the people of Milliken to be cut off again and this repair should ensure that.”
The detour for this repair goes along County Road 17 using County Road 54 on the north and State Highway 60 to the south.
After the road reopens on April 10, there could be lane closures on the road as crews do finishing work on that stretch.
Mountain Constructors of Platteville won the bid for the project.
Background:
SH 257 is a primary commuter access route between Greeley and the Milliken/Johnstown area, connecting SH 60 in Milliken and US 34 about 10 miles west of Greeley. During the flood event, where SH 257 crosses the Big Thompson River, the bridge sustained significant damage to its abutments, and part of the roadway was washed out, as more than half of a mile of roadway was overtopped.
Temporary repairs were completed and the highway was reopened to traffic on September 29, 2013. At both locations, the roadway around the damaged abutments was repaired. The exposed piling and concrete abutment structures were filled and repaired. The roadway embankments were repaired, and damaged guardrail sections were reset.
Permanent repairs will include removal and replacement of roadway embankments around the bridge abutments and pavement overtopped by flood waters. Ground adjacent to the roadway that was disturbed during Emergency Repair will be re-vegetated with native grass seed and mulch.
Stay Informed:
The best way to stay up to date on project progress and impacts is to sign up for email and wireless (text) alerts. Go to CDOT’s website at www.coloradodot.info and click on the envelope in the talk bubble in the lower right corner of the page. Enter your information and choose “General News- Floods” under the “Colorado Flooding” list.
Visit the project website at https://www.codot.gov/
If you have questions or concerns, please leave a message on the project information line or send an email to the project email address below.
Project Information Line: 970-785-6161
Email: [email protected]
