Construction begins on East Side of US 24 Today
CHAFFEE COUNTY, CO – Starting today, Wednesday, November 16, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Buena Vista Enhancement Project on US Highway (US) 24 will shift construction work (north of Main Street) from the west side of the roadway to the east side. The project, which began in August, will close the east side of the street for reconstruction work. Two lanes will be open, one in each direction, for north and southbound traffic along US 24 between Crossman Avenue and Mill Street, with flaggers controlling traffic at the intersection of US 24 and Main Street when necessary.
A&S Construction crews will make every effort to minimize disruption to traffic and business access, but motorists should anticipate a reduction in speed limits and delays of up to fifteen minutes during peak commute hours. Access to businesses will be accommodated at all times.
Standard construction hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with exceptions for holidays. A winter suspension of work will begin in late December. When work resumes in March 2017, the east side reconstruction will continue with new curb, gutter, driveways and sidewalk followed by the installation of new median islands, placement of new signals, fresh asphalt surfacing, resurfacing and the installation of highway lighting. The project is scheduled for completion by July 1, 2017, with final landscaping, signage and striping completed by the 4th of July holiday.
"This shift in work from the west side to the east is a milestone in the progress that we have made in this project,” says CDOT Resident Engineer Arthur Miller. "We thank all the businesses and residents on the west side of the road for their patience and support during the past three months of work and want to assure those on the east side that we will make every effort possible to not disrupt their daily activities with this work."
ABOUT THE PROJECT: The project is anticipated to reduce vehicular accidents and improve safety for all modes of travel. The work will reconstruct US 24 and enhance several blocks in Buena Vista’s downtown and include the following benefits:
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Reconstruction of US 24 access from Mill Street to Crossman Avenue, and mill and overlay north of Crossman Avenue and south of Mill Street
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Storm water sewer and drainage improvements to improve drainage
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Installation of left- and right-turn pockets at the intersection of Main Street and US 24
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Updated pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks along Main Street
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ADA ramps and dedicated driveways
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Relocation and upgrade of street lighting
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Asphalt resurfacing
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Electronic intersection signalization for emergency vehicles
The project’s estimated total cost is $5.6 million, supported in part by CDOT's RAMP* access grant of $2 million. The project will address recommendations of the March 2014 Buena Vista US C24 Access Control Plan. CDOT has contracted the work to A&S Construction of Cañon City, CO.
STAY INFORMED: The best way to receive regular updates about the construction progress is to sign up at CDOT’s website www.codot.gov/projects/us-24-
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/
*RAMP: Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships is a short-term funding program whereby CDOT is funding multi-year projects based on year of expenditure rather than saving for the full amount of a project before construction begins. Partnership project funding was applied for and matched by local agencies to accelerate priority projects in the agencies’ local areas. RAMP projects may see funding from 2015 through 2017. See details at http://www.coloradodot.info/
