Chain Stations to be Improved Across Southwest and South-Central Colorado

SOUTHWEST COLORADO—Crews tomorrow will start an important highway safety improvement project to upgrade chain-up and chain-down stations across Southwest and South-Central Colorado. Site locations are on three highway corridors: US Highways 550, 160 and 50.

The project kicks off this week, Wednesday, Aug. 22, with work starting at the chain station on:

• US 550 at mile point (MP) 95, just north of Ouray.

Meanwhile, work will begin at all other locations after Labor Day:

• US 550 at MP 70, upgraded chain station at the entrance to the town of Silverton;

• US 160 at MP 176, upgraded chain station on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass and ten miles west of South Fork;

• US 50 at MP 209, upgraded chain station on the east side of Monarch Pass, ten miles west of Poncha Springs;

• US 50 at MP 190, new chain station on the west side of Monarch Pass, near Sargents.

All existing stations will be resurfaced with new asphalt. The Monarch Pass west location, which is currently only a gravel facility, will receive an asphalt surface. All locations will receive installation of new guardrails, and light poles will be replaced with dual-lamp street lights and improved light fixtures. A permanent digital message advisory sign will be installed at the Ouray location.

"Ample lighting at chain-up and chain-down stations is essential to safe installation of tire chains by truckers and others as they traverse Colorado's mountain passes," said Jennifer Allison, CDOT resident engineer. "Lighting upgrades improve safety and high-efficiency LED lights reduce maintenance costs."

Travel Impacts

• Work timeline: Intermittent work over a three-month period at the various locations through mid-November 2018
• Normal work hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Expect single-lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and possible shoulder closures from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Flaggers will be on-site to direct motorists around the closures as needed.