CDOT set to begin highway guardrail upgrades in Southwestern Colorado

September 4, 2019 - Southwestern Colorado - Improvements to enhance traveler safety

On September 9, the Colorado Department of Transportation will begin construction on various highways in southwestern Colorado. This work consists of upgrading and replacing guardrail end treatments across the region. 

As part of CDOT’s “Whole System―Whole Safety” initiative, the guardrail enhancement project will increase motorist safety. 

“Highway guardrails can prevent errant vehicles from hitting roadside obstacles, like signs, utility poles, trees or rock outcroppings,” said CDOT Resident Engineer, Jason Fullerton. “Guardrails prevent vehicles from running off the road and going down steep embankments, or veering off the roadway into oncoming traffic. Guardrails may assist with keeping vehicles upright when deflected along the guardrail and prevent far more serious crashes.”

Work will take place on eight state/US highways within Archuleta, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties. Crews will only perform work on a single highway at a time. This project is anticipated to be completed in November, weather permitting. Project work is expected to take place according to the schedule below: 

  • US 84 – Various locations near Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County. Work on this highway will take approximately three weeks.

    • Mile Points (MP): 4.42-4.53, 11.18-11.25, 11.50-11.57, 16.56-16.65, and 18.56-18.69

  • CO 17 – Various locations near Moffat in Saguache County. Work on this highway will take approximately three weeks. 

    • MP: 97.39–97.44 and 97.92–97.98

  • CO 112 – Various locations near Del Norte in Rio Grande County. Work on this highway will take approximately two weeks.

    • MP: 1.67-1.70 and 2.52-2.53

  • CO 136 – Near La Jara in Conejos County. Work on this highway will take approximately one day. 

    • MP: 1.06-1.07

  • CO 142 – Various locations near Manassa in Costilla County. Work on this highway will take approximately two weeks.

    • MP: 4.86-4.95 and 14.15-14.30

  • US 285 - Near Saguache in Saguache County and Johnson Village in Chaffee County. Work near Saguache will take approximately two weeks and work near Johnson Village will take approximately two days. 

    • MP: 72.93-73.03 and 148

  • CO 370 - In Rio Grande County. Work on this highway will take approximately two weeks.

    • MP: 1.84-1.90

  • US 160 - Near Muleshoe/La Veta Pass in Huerfano County. Work on this highway will take approximately two days. 

    • MP: 278

TRAVEL IMPACTS 

Regular work hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No weekend work is anticipated. 

  • Motorists should expect single lane closures within each active work zone. 

  • Speeds will be reduced to 40 MPH in each work zone. 

  • There are no oversize/overweight restrictions.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

This project will increase motorist safety by upgrading and replacing guardrail end treatments to comply with MASH requirements. Gonzales Construction, of Dolores, CO, is the prime contractor on this $528,000 project. 

PROJECT INFORMATION

Get direct email announcements and updates by signing up at R5GuardrailReplacement@gmail.com. For additional information about this project, call the local project information line at 970.373.1584, or visit the project website. Information about weekly lane closures is available at https://www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. For information regarding CDOT projects statewide, log on to www.codot.gov. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page: 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.  

Earlier this year, CDOT recently 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 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 inter-regional express service. Governor Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s inter-modal mobility options.