US 85 improvements start Monday south of Platteville

PLATTEVILLE – The Colorado Department of Transportation will start construction activities on U.S. Highway 85 (Centennial Highway) south of Platteville on Monday. By the end of summer, drivers will enjoy a smoother highway with roadside safety enhancements. 

Over four miles of northbound and southbound US 85 (Mile Points 246 – 250.5) will receive a new asphalt surface. This project will also improve a ditch south of Weld County Road 26, upgrade guardrail, replace bridge railing over Platte Valley Canal, and install new safety enhancements including rumble strips and roadside delineators.

Starting Monday, drivers should expect frequent lane closures on northbound US 85 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Rough-riding grooved pavement and uneven lanes will be present during construction. Various mobile construction operations will be used for the work, and the contractor will hold traffic at intersections and driveways while equipment passes through. Speed limit reductions and width restrictions will be in place as needed. 

“CDOT and US 85 Coalition partners including Weld County and the Town of Platteville have long recognized US 85 as a valuable transportation corridor. We are making investments now to improve safety and the driving experience for all users,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. 

Coulson Excavating Company will perform most of the work from May to November and project completion is anticipated in spring 2022. Construction schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. Weekly updates are available on the project web page.

Stay Informed

For additional information about this project, contact the project team. 

Project hotline: 970-785-8007

Project email: [email protected]

Project web page: codot.gov/projects/us85-platteville-resurfacing

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org 

• Project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COalerts

• Scheduled lane closures

• Social media: Twitter @coloradodot and Facebook facebook.com/coloradodot

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!

About CDOT

CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.