US 50 at Pueblo Boulevard Traffic Shift Beginning Oct. 23

PUEBLO COUNTY—Motorists who travel US 50 between Pueblo and Pueblo West can expect to see major changes next week.

The US 50 Westbound Realignment project, which is now 75 percent complete, has reached a major milestone. Crews will work from 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, to switch traffic patterns on westbound US 50 to a new alignment. Minor delays are expected overnight; the new alignment will require that motorists pay close attention to the changes.

Once the alignment is complete, no left and right turns at the intersection of Pueblo Boulevard (CO 45) and new westbound US 50 will be permitted. Travelers on westbound US 50 to southbound Pueblo Boulevard will need to take the new off-ramp to access the intersection to Pueblo Boulevard. For several months, that new off-ramp to Pueblo Boulevard has been used as part of the westbound US 50 main line. Now, those ramps will be used only as ramps to and from Pueblo Boulevard.

Northbound traffic on Pueblo Boulevard will remain in the same configuration that it is in now.

"Now that the paving is near completion, motorists who travel this highway regularly will see a major change,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Dan Dahlke. “As they use the new on-and off-ramps, they should approach the new interchanges with caution."

The westbound US 50 on-ramp from Pueblo Boulevard will be opened, but there will be a small detour in place to guide motorists around the construction area. Crews will be finishing work at the end of the on-ramp to connect the ramp to the new highway.

The changes are a symbol of significant progress on the project. On westbound US 50, near Pueblo Boulevard, from mile marker 311.2 to 312.9, construction activities will continue during the day.

As the season shifts into colder temperatures, more daytime work requiring lane closures, will be necessary to complete the project. The construction materials needed in this phase of the project are weather and moisture sensitive. Work schedules are subject to change.

Highway speed limits are reduced to 45 mph throughout the project work zone. The speed limit on the new on- and off-ramps have also been reduced to 35 mph.

This work is part of CDOT's US 50 realignment and improvement project in Pueblo. The project is designed to widen the US 50/CO 45 interchange. Project work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.