Edwards Spur Road Project headed for Winter Shutdown. Work resumes in spring 2020.

EDWARDS — The Edwards Spur Road Project, a joint effort between the Colorado Department of Transportation, Eagle County and the Edwards Metropolitan District, is set to go on winter hiatus on Wednesday, Nov. 27.  In addition to improving the spur road between Interstate 70 and U.S. 6, the project includes construction of a new roundabout, and new vehicle and pedestrian bridges over the Eagle River. 

Work Accomplished in 2019:

• Spur Road & Utilities
  In February, construction activities began along the Edwards Access (Spur) Road as crews conducted embankment and road-widening work along the east side of the road. During the initial embankment and widening work, the project coordinated with local utilities to install 1,170 feet of drainage pipe and 1,750 feet of a new water main. In total, more than 19,300 cubic yards of embankment material was placed to accommodate the widened road.
• Eagle River Bridge
  The northbound bridge lanes of the Eagle River Bridge were completed in June, and Spur Road traffic moved to the east side of the roadway to begin building the west side of the bridge for southbound traffic. Since then, crews have completed both halves of the bridge, including installation of the bridge girders and pouring the new bridge deck and approach slabs. All four lanes of the Eagle River Bridge — two lanes in each direction — will remain open during the winter. One of the significant benefits of the new Eagle River Bridge is that its single-span design eliminates the need for a pier in the water, improving the long-term health of the Eagle River.
• Roundabout Construction
  During the summer, the eight-week operation to convert the signalized intersection of U.S. 6 and Edwards Spur Road into a roundabout was completed ahead of schedule and prior to the start of the school year. Temporary traffic signals were used to safely manage traffic in two phases while each quadrant of the roundabout was built. While building the roundabout, crews maintained vehicle and pedestrian movements and business access. Following the transition to the roundabout configuration, the team constructed the roundabout truck apron, curbs and gutters, and new sidewalks. The roundabout is now open to two lanes in all directions.
• Pedestrian Infrastructure
  In June, crews installed a new, grade-separated pedestrian bridge over the Eagle River. This new pedestrian bridge is designed to safely accommodate 500-year flood water levels and complements numerous trail improvements on the Edwards Spur Road Project. Pedestrian safety features at the roundabout include new high-visibility crossings with flashing signs and intermediate islands to use until traffic clears. The trail connection from Old Edwards Estates also is complete, providing a route from the neighborhood to the new roundabout and Edwards businesses.

The project remains on schedule and within budget.

Season Shutdown

From December 2019 until March 2020, there is the potential for minor work along the Spur Road but no lane closures, night or weekend work are expected. Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, especially during the winter with unpredictable weather and road conditions.

ECO Transit
The construction team coordinated with ECO Transit during construction to inform transit users about changing bus stop access at the roundabout and Freedom Park. The HWY6 @ RIVERWALK WEST, HWY 6 @ RIVERWALK EAST, HWY 6 @ EDWARDS SPUR RD WEST, HWY6 @ EDWARDS SPUR RD EAST, and FREEDOM PARK bus stops have all reopened.

Work Remaining in 2020

Project crews will return in March 2020, with only a handful of operations remaining: 

• Union Pacific Railroad Bridge
  The project team has worked closely with the Union Pacific Railroad and has received the necessary permits and right-of-way access to begin work at the railroad bridge beginning in spring 2020. The team is working with the UPRR to develop an updated schedule to complete the widened bridge by fall 2020.
• Trail Connections
  While the majority of pedestrian infrastructure work at the roundabout and Eagle River Bridge is now complete, crews will return in 2020 to complete remaining trail connections, specifically connecting the new trail system to the CDOT rest area and roundabouts at the I-70 interchange.
• Landscaping & Finishing Work
  When work resumes in the spring, another primary focus will be finer detail work; namely landscaping and aesthetic components. Much of this work is temperature-dependent and needs to be completed in the spring or early summer.

The project team would like to extend a big thank you and appreciation to the Edwards community for their patience and understanding during construction. The team is looking forward to completing the project in 2020.

Many design features of the Edwards Spur Road project support CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety systematic approach to traffic safety. Roundabouts have been proven safer and more efficient than traditional intersections and help reduce the number of serious crashes. Additionally, roundabouts are designed to improve safety for all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.   

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative 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 at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices 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.