US 550 Hermosa Creek bridge work north of Durango to resume June 15

The Colorado Department of Transportation will return to work next week on the US Highway 550 bridge located at Hermosa Creek in the Animas Valley north of Durango. On June 15, repairs to the bridge will include removal and replacement of asphalt, bridge deck repairs, and bridge joint repairs. Work on the Hermosa Creek structure is now expected to be completed in six to eight weeks, by the end of July.  

An active American Dipper nest, protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was found on the bridge structure May 5. All construction activity was suspended until it was confirmed by wildlife biologists that the young birds fledged and the nest became unoccupied. 

TRAVEL IMPACTS 

Work on the US 550 Hermosa bridge 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. Drivers also need to be aware of a temporary traffic signal controlling traffic through the bridge work zone during non work hours. Speeds will be reduced to 40 mph within the project limits. Lane width restrictions will be 10 feet wide during construction. Traffic fines will be doubled in the work zone. Motorists should slow down as they approach the bridge work zones, drive with caution and allow for extra travel time. 

ADDITIONAL WORK SITE 

At an additional location in Durango, final pavement markings are scheduled to be painted on the US 160/550 high bridge over the Animas River between Bodo Park and Walmart on June 15. This work is expected to take one day to complete. Motorists can expect lane closures and lane shifts while this work is being completed throughout the day on Monday.  

PROJECT 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

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.

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