US 24 passing lanes now open west of Peyton

Travel Advisory

July 30, 2020 - Southeastern Colorado -

EL PASO COUNTY — The Colorado Department of Transportation opened new passing lanes on US Highway 24 west of Peyton early this morning. The new lanes between McKenze Lane (Mile Point 327.1) and Bradshaw Road (MP 328.7) provide a stretch of highway with space for faster vehicles to safely pass slower moving traffic. 

Kiewit Infrastructure Company completed construction on US 24 ahead of schedule. “CDOT is committed to improving mobility and safety on all Colorado highways. Opening the passing lanes and turn lanes on US 24 will immediately benefit all drivers that travel this vital two-lane highway,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Richard Zamora. 

This safety improvement project widened US 24 from two to four lanes to provide a passing lane in each direction. A left turn lane was added on westbound US 24 at Bradshaw Road along with an acceleration lane for motorists heading westbound from Bradshaw Road. All drivers will benefit from a smoother ride as a result of resurfacing approximately 1.5 miles of US 24 with new asphalt. 

Drivers should expect intermittent lane closures for final striping and finishing work this week and next.

STAY INFORMED

More information is available at: 

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:

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.

  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so

  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

  • 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.

  • Be patient!

COVID-19  

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for all of us, particularly for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, CDOT maintenance and construction crews follow 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 by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks.  As traffic returns to normal levels, motorists must drive cautiously and heed the speed limit so all of us can return home 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.

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