CDOT begins resurfacing project on CO 71 south of Limon on Monday

Travel Advisory

March 5, 2020 - Northeastern Colorado - 12-foot restrictions will be in place for the duration of the project

 Lincoln County – Starting on Monday, March 9, travelers on Colorado Highway 71 should expect delays and an alternating single-lane configuration lasting through October in Lincoln County, while the Colorado Department of Transportation resurfaces a 37-mile stretch of the highway and makes other safety enhancements.

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This project will improve the longevity and safety of the highway, creating a smoother driving surface and improving drainage in the area and repairing and enhancing seven bridges and box culverts. These improvements are part of CDOT’s statewide initiate for Whole System. Whole Safety.   

Work Schedule and Travel Impacts

  • Typical working hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. In special cases, the hours may be extended. 
  • During activities, traffic will be placed in an alternating single-lane configuration through the construction zone, with reduced speed limits in the area.
  • A 12-foot width restriction will be in place for the duration of the project. Alternative routes are recommended. 

Starting on March 9, temporary signals will be in place near bridges on the south side of the project area to direct motorists through construction. For the first few weeks, crews will work at two locations on CO 71: north of County Road T, between mile points (MP) 66 and 67, and north of Highway 94 (Punkin Center), between MP 74.5 and 75.5.

CO 71 Resurfacing Project Area temporary traffic signals at Punkin Center and Country Road T

Once paving operations begin, flaggers will guide motorists through alternating single-lane closures spanning up to three miles each throughout the project site. Flaggers will hold traffic up to 15 minutes and then release queues. Weather permitting, paving will begin in April 2020.

Contact Information

Project Information

  • Timeline: March to October 2020 
  • Contractor: A&S Construction  
  • Project Cost: $16,600,000 

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.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • 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.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!   

Whole System. Whole Safety.

To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative. This project 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.