CDOT Begins Preventative Maintenance Project on US 160 East of Alamosa

ALAMOSA/COSTILLA COUNTIES – On Wednesday, July 26, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) began a preventative maintenance project on US 160 between Alamosa and Fort Garland. The $1.7 million (total budget) project, contracted to A-One Chip Seal, will preserve the stretch of highway between the intersection of SH 17 (mile point 234) and the intersection with SH 159 in Fort Garland (approximately MP 258).

A chip seal is a good example of CDOT’s Asset Management Program, or getting the most out of the money the department puts into physical assets:  pavement, bridges, tunnels and more. A chip seal is a preventative maintenance measure designed to extend the life of a highway that is in good or fair condition.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Motorists will encounter a lowered speed limit (to 40 mph) and single-lane, alternating traffic with some delays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The traffic delays have been longer than expected due to an increase in summer travel and, as the work zone moves closer to Alamosa, additional side-road traffic will add to the traffic queues. It has been observed that Friday traffic is the busiest and in an effort to assist motorists the project has been shutting down, on Friday, early in the afternoon (this early shutdown may or may not be necessary each Friday). Crews are making every effort to mitigate these extended delays, limiting the work zone to only one mile. Also, to accommodate the heavier morning commute near Alamosa, there will be no lane closures between MP 235 and 237 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Motorists are urged to drive with caution and maintain a safe following distance on freshly chip-sealed surfaces to avoid chipped windshields. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

PROJECT INFORMATION: Updated information on this or other CDOT projects is available at www.cotrip.org, at www.coloradodot.info/projects or by calling 511. To receive project updates via wireless device or e-mail, sign up for CDOT Alerts by going to our web site at www.codot.gov and clicking on the envelope at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Twitter (@coloradodot) and be sure to “like” us on Facebook.