Construction to Resume on US 491, NM State Line to Towaoc

March 12, 2015 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - Project will be underway from March 16 through August 2015.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY – On Monday, March 16, the Colorado Department of Transportation will resume the project to rehabilitate and make safety improvements on US 491 (and US 160) between the New Mexico state line and Towaoc. Skanska was awarded a $13.7 million contract to complete this construction (funded, in part, through RAMP*). During the first season, work was performed from July through early winter 2015 and suspended during February and half of March.

The project is making the following improvements to US 491/US 160:  

  • On US 491 from MP 0 to 6.4 (MP 6.4 is also US 160 MP 18.3), the roadway surface will receive a “leveling course” of asphalt to smooth the existing surface, and will then be resurfaced with asphalt.

  • On US 160/US 491 from (US 160) MP 18.3 to MP 21, and MP 23 to 26, the highway will receive a full-depth reclamation, which takes the highway down to a dirt surface and rebuilds with several inches of new asphalt. (There will be no work between MP 21 and 23, as passing lanes and new asphalt were placed here in 2009).

  • From US 160/US 491 MP 26 to 27.5 (at Towaoc, about a mile north of Mike Wash Road), the project will provide a “mill and fill” as a resurfacing measure—this stretch was resurfaced more recently and does not require the full overlay process.

In the first season, the following has been completed:

  • All major earthwork

  • All drainage and headwall work

  • Seeding (98% complete)

  • Additional drainage work (98% complete, on tribal lands)

  • Full Depth Reclamation (15%, a short section mid-work zone)

  • Paving (11%, a bottom mat/layer in mid-work zone)

In this second and final season, the following will be completed:

  • Complete final 85% of the full depth reclamation – MP 21 to MP 27

  • Curb and gutter from MP 24 to MP 25

  • Bridge expansion repair – Indian Creek Bridge, Mancos River Bridge and added work on 160 bridge

  • Complete final paving – New Mexico state line to project limit end

TRAVEL IMPACTS:  During construction (through August 2015) motorists will encounter some single-lane, alternating traffic and speed reductions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

CDOT PROJECT INFORMATION:  For questions and comments, the public may call the project information line at (970) 565-2055. To stay up-to-date on CDOT projects in your area, or statewide, sign up for email and wireless (text) alerts. Go to CDOT's web site at www.codot.gov and click on the small letter icon at the bottom of the page. Or, travelers can view lane closures, road work alerts and travel alerts on www.cotrip.org.