US 385 closed for 60 days starting Aug. 12 for road project

August 8, 2019 - Northeastern Colorado

CHEYENNE WELLS – The Colorado Department of Transportation's "Whole System-Whole Safety" program announces US Highway 385 improvements in the Town of Cheyenne Wells begin this week. 

Starting on Monday, Aug. 12, motorists will need to detour around a work zone on US Highway 385 (S. 2nd Street E.) between W. 1st Street S. to E. 5th Street S. while road reconstruction is underway. It is a simple and short detour. For crew and motorist safety, a full road closure is necessary for 60 days while the contractor reconstructs approximately ½-mile of US 385 in the Town of Cheyenne Wells.

This $2.1 million project will improve corridor truck safety and mobility, enhance pedestrian access and reduce the potential of ponding water on the roadway as part of CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety initiative. 

The 2.5-mile detour route utilizes N. 8th Street W. / County Road R, County Road 43 and US Highway 40 to bypass the work zone. A detour map is posted at codot.gov/projects/us-385-cheyenne-wells.

Detour: Northbound to Burlington

  • Turn west (left) on US 40

  • Turn north (right) on CR 43

  • Turn east (right) on N. 8th Street W. / CR R

  • Turn north (left) on US 385

Detour: Southbound to Sheridan Lake

  • Take west (right) on N. 8th Street W. / CR R

  • Turn south (left) on CR 43

  • Turn east (left) on US 40

  • Turn south (right) on US 385

The schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change. Any changes to the closure date will be posted on the project website and on message boards placed along the corridor. 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Starting in early August, the Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor partner, Jalisco International, will begin a major road improvement project in the Town of Cheyenne Wells. This project will reconstruct the two 90-degree curves on US 385 (S. 2nd Street E.) between W. 1st Street S. (Mile Point 150.73) to E. 5th Street S. (MP 150.33). The new design will improve the flow of truck traffic through the corridor. The project will also install a sidewalk along US 385 from W. 3rd Street S. to E. 4th Street S. and make drainage improvements. 

Project completion is anticipated in fall 2019. All businesses are open during construction and access to adjacent properties will be maintained.

Additional project information is available by calling the project hotline at 719-306-9877, sending an email to [email protected] or visiting the website at codot.gov/projects/us-385-cheyenne-wells.

For real-time information regarding traffic impacts on any state highway, motorists can sign up for CDOT email and text alerts by visiting www.codot.gov and clicking on the small envelope icon at the bottom right of the page. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and Facebook (www.facebook.com/coloradodot).

 

REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.

  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.

  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.

  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.

  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.

  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.

  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.

  • Be patient!

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

ABOUT CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.