CDOT's Southwest/South Central Region Announces 2017 Construction Projects

SOUTHWEST/SOUTH CENTRAL COLORADO—With CDOT's construction season well underway, the southwestern region of the state is preparing to have an estimated $85.86 million in highway construction, traffic and safety, and maintenance projects for 2017. Work will include projects that address safety, preventative maintenance and roadway improvements across this 15-county service territory in Southwest and South Central Colorado. Details are available in CDOT's Southwest Colorado "2017 Traffic Watchers" brief.

Construction Projects

The projects taking place throughout the region will involve work on:

• hundreds of miles of roadway;
• two bridges;
• three culverts;
• three crib walls;
• several intersections; and
• two town thoroughfares.

Work includes new construction and the repair of existing infrastructure. New construction may include lane widening and the building of multi-modal features such as new sidewalks, ramps, and paths. Work on existing infrastructure may include surface treatments, patchwork, and the repair of structures such as bridges or retaining walls.

Other work will be performed in the area of CDOT's traffic and safety program, which may include:

• installing or upgrading signals;
• painting new striping on the roadway;
• installing rumble strips;
• new signage; and
• intersection improvements.

"We have a lot of work taking place throughout the region this summer," said CDOT Region 5 Transportation Director Mike McVaugh. "We have some unique projects as well; one includes the installation of 17 miles of fiber optic cable along US Highway 160 on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass—which will enhance technology for us in-house as well as for area communities—while another project replaces an aged historical bridge with a brand new structure on Colorado Highway 90 in the far reaches of Montrose County."

Economic Impacts

This region of the state will see 19 construction projects totaling $72.45 million. These projects may entail new construction, safety improvements, the repair of roads, bridges and culverts, or the rebuilding of retaining walls.

These projects involve at least 340 CDOT employees region-wide in Southwest and South Central Colorado. The projects frequently utilize the services of local engineering firms, construction companies and subcontractors that collectively have a workforce of hundreds of skilled laborers. The economic benefits of this construction work are felt region wide.

Seven of the 2017 projects, also noted in the brief, are considered "Off-Systems Local Agency projects," totaling more than $8.4 million. These projects are constructed outside or adjacent to the state highway system, and receive some money from outside sources.

These projects are typically funded in part through various federal grants, which are administered by CDOT, with additional financial support from the local agency or municipality involved with the project.

Other projects have been funded with Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships (RAMP) dollars. RAMP is a short-term program whereby CDOT has applied for funding through an application process with matched money committed by local agencies. The Ramp Up Ridgeway and Buena Vista Enhancement projects are RAMP projects.

Maintenance Projects

Approximately $5 million will be spent on maintenance projects within CDOT's Southwest Colorado region.

"Our maintenance crews have transitioned from duties of winter work like snow removal, to jobs that summer weather conditions allow us to take care of," said Greg Stacy, CDOT maintenance superintendent. "We ask motorists to be aware of work crews [that are] making improvements to U.S. and state highways across the region. These work zones will include preventative surface treatments of crack sealing, chip sealing and overlays, as well as guardrail repairs and culvert repairs."