Safety-critical rockfall work requires full closure of SH 133 this week
GUNNISON COUNTY-On Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, SH 133 between MM 24 and 25.5 will be closed for four hours each day for rockfall work. The full closure will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic must be held during this safety-critical rockfall work. During the closure, crews will remove existing netting approximately 150 feet up on the rock face. The netting is holding back approximately 200 tons of rock and debris. Once the netting is removed, additional scaling and clean-up is required before the highway can reopen under single-lane alternating traffic conditions.
CDOT is coordinating with emergency first responders and urges motorists to plan alternate routes during the closures. To receive real time information on this work, visit http://www.cotrip.org/
Background:
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and their contractor partner, TK Construction of Grand Junction, are in the early stages of a rockfall mitigation project on State Highway 133 in Gunnison County, 12 miles east of Somerset. The approximately 1½-mile work zone (MM 24 to 25.5) is adjacent to the south end of the Paonia Reservoir.
The project will require up to 20-minute traffic holds with single-lane alternating traffic on SH 133. Traffic control will be in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until the project is complete. No weekend work is anticipated at this time. Delays are expected. During working hours, an 11-foot width restriction will be in place.
This project will reduce the risk of rockfall in the area, as well as provide measures to capture some material in the event of rockfall. Work includes performing trim blasting, rock scaling, and rock reinforcement. Crews will install anchored wire mesh, a ground nailed wall, ditch improvements and erosion control.
In June 2015, approximately seven days of blasting will require intermittent full closure of the highway for up to five hours at a time. In advance of the work, multiple signs will indicate dates and times of the scheduled closure. The highway will reopen to traffic every evening.
Depending on weather, the project is anticipated to be complete in October 2015. The project was awarded to TK Construction for $2.73 million.
CDOT would like to remind motorists to Slow for the Cone Zone. Fines will be doubled within the work zone.
The best way to stay up to date on travel impacts during the project is to sign up for email alerts. Go to www.cotrip.org and click on the green cell phone icon in the center of the page. Enter your information and choose ‘SH 133 Paonia Reservoir Rockfall’ under the ‘Projects’ list. If you have questions or concerns, please call the project information line (970-417-8150) or send an email to: [email protected].
