CO 257 to remain open during bridge work starting in January

Public open house tonight will clarify details

MILLIKEN — The Colorado Department of Transportation has some good news for 2018 for residents in Milliken. Work on the bridge on Colorado Highway 257 north of CO 60 over the Little Thompson River will be able to be done without closing the road for four months, as originally planned.

“We heard from folks, and we went back to the drawing board a bit, and, working with our contractor on this job, we came up with a solution that should benefit everyone,” said CDOT Project Manager Nicki Upright.

Originally, work on CO 257 was planned to begin after the closure on CO 60 which is scheduled to begin in mid-January and be completed this summer. Now, crews will build a temporary traffic diversion off CO 257, called a shoofly, that will allow traffic to continue to move while crews work on CO 60 and CO 257 occurs at the same time.

“Not only will this be better for businesses and drivers,” Upright said. “But this will also allow us to finish the project significantly sooner than we originally planned.” 

A public open house is planned from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, at Milliken Middle School, 266 S. Irene St. Representatives from CDOT and project contractor Flatiron Constructors will be available to explain impacts and timing of the project

The project will also improve the driving surface for the traveling public with improved asphalt and increase the resiliency of roadway and bridges with creek bank repair and restoration. Once complete, the area will be better able to withstand flood events like the 2013 flooding that damaged both bridges.

A road closure on CO 60 between mile points 11.38 and 12.04 (east of Weld County Road 17 near the town of Milliken) will still begin as planned in mid-January. Travelers will be detoured around the construction zone on CO 60 by following Weld County Road 13 north to Weld County Road 50, east to CR 17, north to Weld County Road 52 east to CO 257 and then south back onto CO 60.

Work will begin on Jan. 15 on both CO 257 and CO 60. Major delays can be expected on CO 60 and CO 257 from mid-January through May.

Construction hours for the bridge replacement project are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some Saturday work as well. All work is weather-dependent, and the schedule is subject to change.

Road and lane closures will continue to be communicated through weekly alerts using CDOT’s email and text alert service, as well as through local media. To sign up for alerts, visit the project website at http://www.codot.gov/projects/floodrelatedprojects/little-thompson-river-bridge-replacement-on-co-60-and-co-257.

For questions or concerns, call the project information line at 970-532-9998.