PROJECT COMPLETE. CDOT project has improved safety and smoothness of a section of US 50 west of Delta

Nov. 21, 2019

DELTA COUNTY - The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor, Elam Construction, have completed work to improve a six-mile section of US 50 west of Delta. The project, which began on May 10 and was contracted to Elam for $5.6 million, focused mainly on improving the condition of the eastbound lanes, as well as several sections of the westbound lanes where ‘dips’ in the roadway were present. 

The highway surface was first milled, leveling the asphalt to address the bumps in the roadway between mile points (MP) 62.5 and 68.5. Then, the work involved an in-place, full-depth asphalt reclamation (removing the entire depth of asphalt down to a dirt surface, recycling it, treating it and reusing it in place on the roadway in one process) at four locations within the project limits. Finally, the entire stretch was overlaid with new asphalt. 

In addition to improving the safety and ‘rideability’ of the roadway’s surface, the project also improved highway safety by upgrading guardrail to current standards, installing new roadside delineation and applying new reflective striping and traffic markings. Finally, the project improved drainage systems as well.

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.