Rock Fall Mitigation Project Progressing Well on US 550 North of Ridgway
OURAY COUNTY - The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) continues work on a rock fall mitigation project on US 550, two miles north of Ridgway, which began on Monday, March 23, 2015. The estimated construction completion mid-October 2015.
Traffic remains detoured onto temporary pavement outside the work area; though all traffic is stopped during rock scaling operations. Crews are on the slope with a trackhoe constructing a “pioneer road” from which to set up drilling and blasting operations. Excavation is also underway.
PROJECT UPDATE - This project involves extensive rock excavation between milepost (MP) 106 and 107) to reduce the risk of rock fall and to improve motorists’ sight distance around the curve in the highway. Work includes drilling, blasting, rock scaling, installation of 37 anchors from which to hang approximately 16,000 square feet of wire rock fall mesh, and installation of approximately 20 25-foot long rock bolts. There will be 30 extra feet between the highway's edge and the hillside to serve as a rock catchment area. Finally, crews will install a 12-foot-high soil nail (retaining) wall at the base of the hillside.
At project’s end, crews will have removed some 22,000 cubic yards of rock material from the hillside. The average daily traffic on this stretch of highway is approximately 6,600.
Rock Solid Solutions was awarded a $1.8 million contract for the work.
TRAVEL IMPACTS: The project will have impacts to travel on US 550, including lane closures and full traffic stops in both directions for 20 minutes, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please note that delays may exceed 20 minutes as traffic queues are cleared. In addition, the multi-use trail is closed during active blasting and rock scaling or any time that safety to the users may be at risk, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. The trail will be reopened as soon as safety conditions allow.
SIGN UP FOR PROJECT UPDATES: If you are interested in receiving project progress updates to your email, please sign up today via our web site. Go to https://www.codot.gov/
QUESTIONS? Contact Stephanie Nocks, Project Public Information Manager, at (970) 549-4504.
