Bridge work to be mostly completed this weekend on US 160/550 high bridge in Durango

Regionwide project to resume in the spring to paint final pavement markings at the high bridge, as well as repair work at additional bridge locations

SOUTHWEST COLORADO ― The Colorado Department of Transportation will complete the majority of work on the US Highway 160/550 high bridge in Durango this weekend, January 24 and 25. All traffic control devices will be removed by Saturday evening with all lanes of the highway fully opened. Workers will return in mid-March, under more optimal spring weather conditions to complete final pavement markings, final seeding, and mulching in disturbed areas. Drivers will encounter minimal traffic impacts for a short duration of time when that work occurs in the spring.  

Construction efforts on the “high bridge” located between Bodo Park and Walmart involved the removal and replacement of the northern bridge expansion device, replacement of concrete, installation of new asphalt approaches and drainage improvements.

Also in late fall of 2019, this region-wide bridge preventative maintenance project addressed two other US 550 bridges just north of the New Mexico state line. These structures received new and improved polyester concrete deck surfacing, drainage improvements and repairs to wildlife fencing.  

Following a two-month winter break, the project will resume in mid-March with work taking place at three additional bridge locations. This coming spring crews will first improve a structure on US 160 on the east side of Pagosa Springs at the San Juan River. The project will then move to CO Highway 151 at the structure over the Piedra River near Arboles, with repair work finishing up on the US 550 bridge at Hermosa over the Hermosa Creek.

CDOT along with American Civil Constructors would like to thank Durango and southwest Colorado communities for their patience and understanding during these construction efforts. 

PROJECT & TRAVEL INFORMATION 

For additional information about this project: 

• Call the project information line at 970-840-8517 

• Email the project team at [email protected] 

• Visit the project website at www.codot.gov/projects/southwestern-colorado-bridge-maintenance

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

In early 2019, 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 interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.