CDOT crews to perform nighttime sweeping operations on  U.S. 285 between Alamosa and Antonito

Travel Advisory

February 27, 2020 - Southwestern Colorado - Drivers are urged to slow down near the mobile operations

ALAMOSA & CONEJOS COUNTIES ― The Colorado Department of Transportation will be performing nighttime sweeping operations on U.S. Highway 285 south of Alamosa, beginning Sunday, March 1. The highway sweeping is needed to reduce the amount of loose rock chips on the roadway, also minimizing the potential of incidents caused by hazardous debris like stones, trash, rusty nails or broken glass.

OPERATION DETAILS & TRAFFIC IMPACTS

Beginning Sunday, March 1 and continuing for several nights, sweeping operations will take place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The mobile operations will take place on U.S. 285 along a 21-mile stretch between Antonito and Alamosa, mile points 6.5 – 27. The work is weather dependent.

The public should watch the flashing lights of safety vehicles leading and following the sweeper equipment and mobile operations. Motorists are urged to slow down and follow the speed reductions. The Colorado State Patrol will increase patrols of this area during the nights of operation. 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

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:

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 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 Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s multimodal mobility options.