New CR 220 connection to US 550 to be constructed;  US 550 traffic switched onto new shoo-fly detour

News Release

August 10, 2021 - Southwestern Colorado - CR 220 will be CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC between CR 301 and US 550 for one week:  August 14 through 21

DURANGO, CO ― The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Lawrence Construction will build a new alignment for CR 220 where it connects with US 550 just south of Durango. This construction of a new segment CR 220 will replace the two existing CR 220 legs - which both connect with US 550 at acute angles - with an alignment that meets the highway at a right angle. This new T intersection of CR 220 and US 550 will create a much safer junction, particularly as the future US 550 alignment will have acceleration/deceleration lanes at CR 220 as well. 

To facilitate construction of the new CR 220 alignment, as well as accommodate the US 550 traffic switch onto the temporary detour, CDOT, in coordination with La Plata County, will be closing CR 220 between CR 301 and at US 550 for one week. From Saturday, August 14 at 6:30 a.m. to Saturday, August 21 late evening, that segment will be closed to through traffic - with signage and a barricade in the westbound lane - and open to local traffic at CR 301 only (no public traffic will be able to turn onto CR 220 from US 550).

"This project broke ground almost a year ago, with very little main road traffic impacts to local residents and travelers," said CDOT Southwest Regional Transportation Director, Julie Constan. "The project team and La Plata County officials have successfully collaborated to schedule the construction and necessary week-long county road closure before the school year begins. The construction crew will make every effort to have the county road back open before local students head back to school on the week of August 23."

Saturday Morning, Aug. 14:  CR 220 closed to through traffic 

  • Crews will stripe the new two-lane, 1,400-foot paved shoo-fly detour that was built adjacent to the US 550 southbound lanes at CR 220. US 550 traffic will be switched onto this detour. The US 550 detour will be in place for about a year, while the new US 550 northbound lanes are constructed. 
  • To tie into the temporary US 550 detour, CR 220 will be closed to construct the new 1,000-foot alignment that will extend across the existing US 550 alignment to connect with the detour. 

Saturday Evening, Aug. 21: CR 220 re-opens

  • On August 21, the new leg of CR 220 will be striped and ready to open for traffic by the evening. Traffic will be switched onto the newly constructed final alignment of CR 220, which temporarily will connect with the US 550 detour. 

Date TBD: CR 220 closed to through traffic for one to two days

  • On a date yet to be determined, CR 220 will be closed to through traffic again (for one to two days), between CR 301 and US 550, to enable crews to erect a temporary construction traffic bridge over the county road. 

US 550 CR 220 Connection Closure Map

General Construction Travel Impacts 

The construction access road that was built north of CR 220 - along what will become the new US 550 alignment - greatly limits traffic impacts and interruptions for motorists on US 550 and CR 220. And the new 1,400-foot-long detour near CR 220 will carry north-south US 550 traffic while the new northbound lanes are under construction, also limiting impacts to traffic.

US 550 travelers may encounter intermittent stops for construction equipment entering and exiting the road, from about 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday through Saturday (most weeks). 

Project Background

The total cost of the project is $98.6 million (this includes both CDOT project management and contractor costs). CDOT is constructing this project using the design-build process, partnering with a contracted team led by Lawrence Construction Company and RS&H, Inc. The interchange is scheduled for completion by the spring of 2023. 

Project Contact Information - Community/travelers encouraged to sign up for weekly project updates via website 

Information about other projects and road conditions can be found at: