CO Highway 17 widening project north of Alamosa begins winter shutdown

News Release

January 12, 2021 - Southwestern Colorado

ALAMOSA & SAGUACHE COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation has implemented a winter shutdown of the Colorado Highway 17 widening project located north of Alamosa. Work will resume later this spring once daytime temperatures increase to a level in which two final tasks can be accomplished. Those tasks include seeding and permanent roadway paint markings. 

CDOT began improvements to CO 17 on June 1, 2020 with a scheduled completion date June 2021. Work has progressed well ahead of schedule, with crews completing construction of the roadway widening, asphalt recycling, paving, shouldering, delineator, and permanent sign placement. 

The project greatly enhances safety for travelers on this narrow two-lane highway. Newly constructed wider shoulders will provide a larger recoverable area on the side of the road and reduce the potential of crashes from vehicles veering off the roadway. The improvements are part of a statewide initiative to provide functional accessibility to all travelers using our state and US highways and greatly enhances safety for drivers and recreationalists who use this two-lane highway. 

CDOT and APC Southern Construction would like to thank travelers who use this portion of CO 17 for their patience and cooperation as construction operations were in progress.

Project Information

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

Covid-19 

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, road maintenance and construction continues on CDOT projects with 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, wearing face masks, staying at home when possible, and avoiding nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely. 

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.