Partnership Project Begins Next Week: SH 62 Ramp up Ridgeway!

March 18, 2015 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - OURAY COUNTY, COLO – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Town of Ridgway will break ground on a partnership project to make roadway and drainage improvements in downtown Ridgway on Monday, March 21.

The project’s estimated total cost is $12.5 million, with Ridgway contributing $2 million, made possible through a 2014 ballot initiative passed by voters, as well as a grant Department of Local Affairs. CDOT has contracted the work to American Civil Constructors (ACC).

The work will reconstruct SH 62 to and enhance some local streets in Ridgway’s downtown Historic Business District, including the following:

  • Reconstruction and major storm water drainage improvements along SH 62 from the US 550 junction west to Amelia Street (approximately .75 mile)

  • Minor widening of SH 62 between the US 550 junction and Laura Street to add a center turn lane for safer left turns

  • Asphalt surfacing of some downtown streets (please see map on project web site)

  • Pedestrian sidewalks along SH 62 and downtown streets

  • Storm water drainage improvements along downtown streets

  • Improved parking and new parking lots

  • Downtown furnishings (benches, bike racks, etc.), decorative low-level lighting and landscaping

Crews will kick off construction by building a public parking area at Hartwell Park during the last week of March to accommodate overflow that may be prompted by construction. April will see construction on Cora, Clinton and Lena streets with concurrent operations on SH 62. This portion of the work will be heavily focused on drainage, earthwork and curb and gutter and will continue until mid-June. In mid-June crews will move their focus to Laura, Railroad and Charles streets while continuing work on SH 6www.coloradodot.info2. The first season is expected to wrap up in mid-October 2016, dependent upon weather. Following a winter suspension of work, the project will resume, weather permitting, in March of 2017. In the second and final season, work will focus on landscape, irrigation and site amenities with an expected construction completion by June 2017.

TRAVEL IMPACTS - Standard construction hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with exceptions for extended holiday and festival weekends, including Telluride Bluegrass Festival in June and the Blues and Brews festival in September. ACC crews will make every effort to maintain two lanes of travel along SH 62 during construction activities. However, motorists should anticipate traffic slowing and some single-lane alternating travel through the first season. Much more will be known about specific travel delays and impacts once work is underway. Please note there will be a wide-load restriction on SH 62 during summer construction. Watch for specific details on pedestrian and bicycle travel in upcoming notifications. Information updated weekly regarding these restrictions and any safety critical traffic holds can be found in CDOT’s weekly lane closure reports: https://www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html.

The Town of Ridgway has a busy spring and summer season with festivals, concerts and the Farmer’s Market. A calendar of events can be found at the town’s website athttp://www.town.ridgway.co.us/calendar.html.

STAY INFORMED: The best way to receive regular updates about the construction progress is to sign up at CDOT’s website https://www.codot.gov/projects/sh62rampupridgway. If you have questions or comments, please contact the project team on the project information line at 970-430-0933 or write them at[email protected].