CDOT resumes US 34 work on Friday after East Troublesome Fire closure

Travel Advisory

October 28, 2020 - Northwestern Colorado

GRAND COUNTY - Crews with the US 34 north of Granby resurfacing project will resume work on Friday. The project was quickly evacuated on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the East Troublesome Fire dramatically expanded. Emergency closures on US 34 and US 40 near Granby were necessary to assist with area firefighting and emergency operations.

Because the project was paused with little notice, there is an urgent need to complete paving on portions of the project to maintain safety as the project nears completion this fall. 

Work resumes on Friday in order to pave a short, critically important section of the project. The project is resuming with the support of the Grand County Sheriff's Office. Crews will also work on Saturday, in order to ensure paving is completed as quickly as possible. The weather window for completing this work is rapidly closing due to the approaching winter season, so it is important to complete this work as soon as possible. Work will take place on northbound US 34, from Mile Point 12.2 (north end of the new bridge over the Colorado River) to MP 13.7.

Emergency vehicles will continue to have priority for traveling through the project, and CDOT and contractor Elam Construction will continue to closely monitor and quickly respond to any requests from emergency services in the area. 

Crews will work to minimize traffic impacts as much as possible, so that residents and businesses can focus on recovering from the wildfire.

TRAVEL IMPACTS

Motorists can expect crews paving, median closures, shoulders closures, reduced speed and a 10 ft. width restriction. Travelers can expect delays to be as short as possible and no longer than 20 minutes. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ABOUT THE PROJECT 

The US 34 north of Granby resurfacing project is located along two roadways, US Highway 34 and US Highway 40 near Granby. The project is located on US Highway 34 at Mile Point 0 - MP 15, north of Granby, as well as MP 210.95 to MP 211.25 on US Highway 40, near the intersection of US 40 and US 34. The project is expected to last until mid-November.

As part of CDOT’s Whole System — Whole Safety initiative, this project focuses on a 2.5” hot mix asphalt overlay and installing guardrail that will meet the new safety standard requirements.  The HMA will add approximately 10 years of life to the highway, a smoother road surface and will eliminate ruts and road damage.  The new guardrail will be 31” high instead of 27” high to help vehicles remain on the road more effectively, making the highway safer for the traveling public. Additional work will consist of shoulder work, milling and striping.  

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:

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