Demolition of northbound bridge at I-25 Exit 59 begins on October 24

October 21, 2019 - Southeastern Colorado - The 60-year old bridge is being replaced to meet FHWA guidelines and is part of CDOT’s Whole System – Whole Safety initiative

HUERFANO, CO – Starting on Thursday, October 24, CDOT will be removing the northbound bridge on I-25 at Exit 59 in Huerfano County to meet new FHWA guidelines for safety and load and to support increased traffic on the I-25 corridor. Northbound traffic is under a detour configuration from MP 58.08 to MP 59.01 and southbound traffic is reduced to a single (right) lane through the work zone to accommodate the removal. The southbound bridge was replaced earlier this year and is fully operational. This two-phase project supports CDOT’s 40-year statewide multimodal plan to enhance the safety, mobility, and economic vitality of the state and the new Whole System - Whole Safety initiative.

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BRIDGE DEMOLITION DETOURS & TRAVEL IMPACTS

Demolition of the northbound bridge will take three days and is scheduled to take place October 24, 25 and 26. During demolition, there will be no access to Huerfano County Road 103 (CR 103) under the bridges at Exit 59 for three days. We apologize for this inconvenience, and encourage drivers to use either of these alternate routes:

To access westbound CR 103 from northbound I-25 will require taking Exit 60, heading south on I-25, and taking Exit 59.
To access eastbound CR 103 from southbound I-25 will require taking Exit 56, then heading north on I-25 to Exit 59.

CR 103 will reopen on October 27, 2019 as a one-lane, signal controlled road. Width restrictions of 12 feet will be imposed.

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT DETOURS & TRAVEL IMPACTS

CDOT anticipates medium travel impact to motorized traffic on north and southbound I-25 at Exit 59, Butte Creek. These impacts include:

Northbound traffic is being detoured onto median pavement and then onto the left southbound lane through the construction zone from MP 58.8 to MP 59.01 until the northbound bridge is complete.
Southbound traffic is reduced to a single right lane through the work zone.
The I-25 northbound on and off ramp to Exit 59 has been reconfigured. Lanes are narrowed and caution is advised.
Speeds are reduced in the work zone and fines are doubled.
Width restrictions of 12 feet are in effect until further notice.
CR 103 will be closed for three days (October 24, 25 and 26) during the demolition of the bridge.
Starting on October 27, CR 103 will be maintained as a one-lane, signal controlled road for the duration of the project.
Ongoing maintenance will require roadway restriping with the use of attenuator trucks to pace traffic. Some delays should be expected.
Traffic control personnel and flaggers will be onsite during construction activities.
Detours, access to CR 103, lane closures, and other traffic notices are posted weekly on COTrip.org.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CDOT and contractor, TLM Constructors are replacing the northbound bridge at I-25, Exit 59 in Huerfano County to meet current FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) bridge structure, load and safety guidelines. Built in 1958 of prestressed concrete, the bridge is being reconstructed with reinforced concrete and steel to maximize longevity and structural integrity to support increased traffic demands along the I-25 corridor. The southbound bridge at the same location was replaced earlier this year and is fully operational.

PROJECT LOCATION

The project is located on I-25 at Exit 59, Butte Creek from MP 58.8 to MP 59.01 in Huerfano County.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

The project kicked off on November 1, 2018 and is expected to last until spring 2020. Working hours are Mon. to Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. No holiday or weekend work is expected. Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Get direct email announcements and updates by signing up at [email protected]. For additional information about this project, call the local project information line at 719.243.9195, or visit the project website at https://www.codot.gov/projects/i-25-butte-creek-bridge-replacement. For information on any lane closures, please visit COTrip.org, or call 511. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and CDOT’s Facebook page at 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.