Work Set to Start on State Highway 71

CROWLEY/OTERO COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) begins a project next week to upgrade eight miles of State Highway 71 between U.S. 50 and Ordway.

Work consists of recycling the current road surface and placing new asphalt atop the recycled surface along an eight mile segment, beginning about three miles north of the Highway 50 junction (mile 16.1) and continuing north into Ordway (mile 25.5).  Rotomilling and paving operations also will take place on a 1 ½ mile segment within Ordway (mile 25.5 - 27.0). Other upgrades include waterproofing a number of bridges, replacing bridge and guardrails, new signing and striping. 

Project hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Delays up to 10 minutes should be anticipated as flaggers alternate one lane of traffic through the work zone.  A 45 mph speed limit also will be in effect during work hours.

The project is scheduled for completion by November 2015.

“Recycling the roadway is known as a full-depth reclamation and it better stabilizes the highway, providing a stronger roadway that’ll last for many years,” said CDOT Project Engineer Brian Barrera.  “Waterproofing the bridges keeps the damaging effects of moisture at bay, increasing their service life as well.”

A&S Construction of Cañon City is the prime contractor for the $3.6 million project.

Project updates are available by emailing [email protected] or calling the project hotline at 719.423.6220.