Repair work to begin on U.S. 550 Hermosa Creek Bridge

Travel Advisory

April 28, 2020 - Southwestern Colorado

The Colorado Department of Transportation will be repairing the U.S. Highway 550 bridge, located over Hermosa Creek in the Animas Valley north of Durango at MP 32, beginning next week, May 4. Repair work includes removal and replacement of asphalt membranes, bridge deck repairs, and bridge joint repairs. Work on the Hermosa Creek structure is expected to be completed by mid June.

Last week, bridge maintenance and construction crews completed work on the U.S. 160 Pagosa Springs bridge over the San Juan River. Work, which began in mid March, was completed ahead of schedule as crews took advantage of recent low traffic volumes. Repair work on the CO Highway 151 Arboles bridge over the Piedra River will be completed this week. 

TRAVEL IMPACTS ON U.S. 550 NORTH OF DURANGO

Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drivers can expect traffic impacts throughout the duration of the project. These impacts include one lane traffic which will be under flagger control during construction activities and utilize a temporary traffic signal during non work hours. Speeds will be reduced to 30 MPH within the project limits. Lane width restrictions will be 10 feet wide at each location. Traffic fines will be doubled in the work zone. Motorists should slow down as they approach the bridge work zones, drive with caution and give themselves extra travel time. 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

This bridge rehabilitation is part of an ongoing region-wide maintenance project addressing five bridge structures in southwest Colorado. Bridges in this region-wide maintenance project include:

  • U.S. 160 bridge over the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs at MP 143.9 

  • CO 151 bridge  over the Piedra River near Arboles at MP 18.7

  • U.S. 160/550 High Bridge in Durango over Animas River at MP 86.3

  • Two U.S. 550 Bridges North of New Mexico state line at MP 1.9 and MP 1.2 

Earlier this year, repair work was completed on the U.S. 160/550 high bridge over the Animas River in south Durango. However, the traveling public is advised that some follow up tasks still need to be accomplished at this location, including final pavement markings and landscaping along the right-of-way. This work is scheduled for the last week of April. Motorists can expect lane closures and lane shifts while this work is being completed. 

As part of CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety initiative, this project will create better and safer driving conditions for travelers, and help to extend the lifespan of the bridges. CDOT along with American Civil Constructors would like to thank the southwest Colorado communities for their patience and understanding during these construction efforts. 

PROJECT & TRAVEL INFORMATION 

For additional information about this project: 

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

COVID-19  

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO and practice social distancing, wear face masks, stay at home when possible, and avoid nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely.

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.