Region-wide bridge maintenance project will resume with repairs to bridges in Pagosa Springs and Arboles

Travel Advisory

March 3, 2020 - Southwestern Colorado

The Colorado Department of Transportation will resume work this spring on regional bridges requiring maintenance and repair. The project includes:

  • the U.S. Highway 160 bridge over the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs at MP 143.9 

  • the CO Highway 151 bridge  over the Piedra River near Arboles at MP 18.7

  • the U.S. Highway 550 bridge over the Hermosa Creek in the Animas Valley north of Durango at MP 32

Work is scheduled to begin on both the Pagosa Springs and Arboles bridges March 16, 2020. Repair work will be performed including removal and replacement of asphalt membranes, bridge deck repairs, and bridge expansion joint repair and replacement. Work on these structures is expected to be completed prior to Memorial Day. Once construction is completed on these two bridges, crews will move activity to the U.S. 550 bridge north of Durango, with detailed information announced prior to the repair work.  

TRAVEL IMPACTS 

Work 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 and utilize a temporary traffic signal during non work hours. Speeds will be reduced to 30 MPH within the project limits. Lane width restrictions will be 10 feet wide at each location. Traffic fines will be doubled in the work zone. Motorists should slow down as they approach the bridge work zones, drive with caution and give themselves extra travel time. 

BRIDGE IN PAGOSA SPRINGSLocation on map of US 160 Bridge

 

BRIDGE NEAR ARBOLES

Location on map of CO 151 bridge 

 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

This region-wide bridge preventative maintenance project began September 23 2019, addressing the High Bridge over the Animas River in Durango and two US 550 bridges just north of the New Mexico state line. Work on the Animas River structure included improved approaches at the north abutment, improved drainage structures and  grading improvements with concrete and asphalt pavements. The US 550 structures received new and improved polyester concrete deck surfacing, drainage improvements, and repairs to wildlife fencing. As part of CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety initiative, this project will create better and safer driving conditions for travelers, and help to extend the lifespan of the bridges. 

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

PROJECT & TRAVEL INFORMATION 

For additional information about this project: 

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