US 160 Interchange to Undergo Maintenance

August 10, 2016 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - Upkeep to Ready Bridge for Wilson Gulch Traffic

LA PLATA COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will be performing maintenance work on the US Highway (US) 160 interchange just east of Farmington Hill beginning Monday, Aug. 15.  With almost a decade passed since the interchange was completed, crews will repave the road and remove and correct a bump which has resulted from settlement of soils.

CDOT Region 5 Director Mike McVaugh said, “Over the course of the past seven years, we have recognized an increase in the settlement of the asphalt approaches to the bridge. It is not unusual for settlement to happen, especially with the types of soils inherent to southwest Colorado. We often anticipate and design for settlement of poor soils, this is one of the more severe cases we have experienced.”

McVaugh added, “While the bridge structure itself is safe and in excellent condition, the approaches to the bridge have shown the need for smoothing of the pavement transition from the road to the structure.”

The interchange bridge maintenance work will be completed by the third week of September, 2016, prior to the opening of the new Wilson Gulch Road extension near Three Springs. The extension, a City of Durango/La Plata County/CDOT partnership project managed by the city, will connect the US 160 Interchange with the Three Springs and Grandview developments. The new extension project is expected to be completed by the end of September, 2016.

TRAVEL AND ACCESS IMPACTS: The US 160 interchange includes four separate bridge structures or ramps. Work will be performed in several phases. (see attached map)

  • On the main bridge (US 550 Bridge), construction crews plan to repave in two stages (half of the approach to the bridge at a time) to allow for traffic access during the work.

  • Eastbound exit ramp (Ramp A) from US 160 to the roundabout, located at approximately Mile Point (MP) 88.5, will be closed to traffic for the repaving work. This will be the most significant impact to traffic to correct the approach grade on this structure.

  • On and off ramps east of the interchange (Ramps C and D) located at approximately MP 89, will remain open but motorists can expect some intermittent delays as crews work.

  • The public is encouraged to use caution and watch for signage directing traffic, intermittent closures, work crews, and heavy equipment.

OTHER ROAD & PROJECT INFORMATION: To sign up to receive project information and/or lane closure updates on state highways in the area of your choice, visit CDOT’s website at www.codot.gov and choose the envelope icon at the bottom of the page. Or, to see CDOT’s lane closure reports for projects statewide, visit www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html.