TRAVEL ALERT : US 40 in West Steamboat Springs - Tuesday Night Closure at Elk River Road Intersection

May 16, 2017 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - On Tuesday night, May 16, the intersection at US 40 and Elk River Road (CR 129) will be FULLY CLOSED to enable crews to set barrier and restripe for major improvements to begin.

The full closure will occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.; the detour route during the Tuesday night closure will utilize Curve/Shield Drive and Downhill Drive. Once lane striping is complete and barriers are set, motorists will encounter the following at this intersection, 24/7, until upgrades are completed, likely in July.

  • All dedicated right-turns lanes will be closed; right turns will share the thru-traffic lanes

  • All dedicated left-turn lanes will remain in place at all approaches

  • All lanes will be narrowed to 12 feet

  • A 12-foot width restriction will be in place 24/7 along the US 40 work zone and through the Elk River Road intersection.

  • Pedestrian crossings at the intersection will be eliminated. A temporary crossing will be placed South of the intersection near Curve Ct.

GENERAL TRAVEL IMPACTS - In general, motorists can expect daytime lane closures eastbound after 9 AM, and westbound before 4 PM; the speed will be reduced to 25 mph. Night work and single-lane, alternating traffic is possible at times. No weekend work is anticipated at this time, but is possible at a later date, if necessary to expedite the project’s completion. Impacts to traffic begin mid-May at the Elk River Road intersection and will peak after paving crews begin the resurfacing operations in June and July (sign up for weekly project emails, below).

PROJECT BACKGROUND - The Colorado Department of Transportation began the project on US 40 on the west side of Steamboat Springs on May 1. The work, contracted to Flatiron Construction for $6.9 million, is a combination intersection, resurfacing, sidewalk and city waterline construction project, in partnership with the City of Steamboat Springs. The City provided $877,900 in funding towards construction, including the water line work.

Major work items will include:

  • Asphalt resurfacing (the existing top layer of asphalt will be "milled" to address surface cracking and imperfections then overlaid with a new layer of asphalt) from east of Routt County Road 33A to Elk River Road (MP 126.0 to 130.6)

  • Shouldering and drainage improvements

  • Intersection and signal work at US 40 and Elk River Road

  • Approximately 1,800 feet of new sidewalk will be constructed between Shield Drive and Riverside Plaza on the south side

  • Curb ramp improvements to add wheelchair accessibility at all four corners of Elk River Road/US 40 and along the new section of sidewalk (at three intersections and one access)

STAY CONNECTED - Those interested in staying up to date on the project and work schedule can do so by visiting the project webpage at https://www.codot.gov/projects/archived-project-sites/us-40-steamboat-west (click on the ALERTS icon in the upper right corner, follow the instructions to sign up for “US 40 Steamboat Springs” under the Projects list). The project public information line is 970-819-3558.