Traffic impacts to begin later this month on US 40 Berthoud Pass paving project

Travel Advisory

August 11, 2023 - Northwestern Colorado - Motorists should anticipate delays as long as 20 minutes

Grand County — The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor partner APC Southern will begin milling the week of August 21 for the paving project on US 40/Berthoud Pass. During work hours, motorists will encounter alternating lane closures and delays up to 20 minutes during working hours. The speed limit is reduced to 40 mph through the work zone. Daytime work hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The project team will be off the roadway on Fridays to accommodate the increase in weekend traffic that visits the area on a regular basis. There will be no work over holiday weekends. Crews will begin on the west side of Berthoud Pass near Winter Park. Paving will begin after milling. A ten mile section of Berthoud Pass from Mile Point 233-243 will be milled and paved at a two inch depth, creating a smoother and safer ride for residents, businesses, and visitors. Since July, crews with contractor partner APC Southern have been crushing aggregate materials that make up the base for the asphalt that will be used for paving. The project is anticipated to be complete by late October 2023.

After a difficult winter season, CDOT requested and received $25 million of additional funding from the Colorado Transportation Commission to address critical pavement conditions across the state, such as permanent repair of potholes.

Since then, the CDOT maintenance team has led a rapid effort to prioritize where dollars were most needed, based on the extensive knowledge that local patrols’ plow operators have of the winter damage. They have worked closely with the CDOT engineering team to develop scopes of work for projects too large to execute in-house. Berthoud Pass is the largest project to result from this effort.

Over 250,000 square yards of milling, at a two inch depth, will occur on the project. These millings will be recycled and incorporated with the newly crushed material into the asphalt mix. Over 30,000 tons of asphalt will be produced for the project. United Companies/APC Southern Construction worked with Grand County to allow additional truck traffic and additional permitting so that enough materials can be transported to the project site.

Twelve sections of roadway from across the state will receive part of the $25 million funding, including the US 40 Berthoud Pass area. The projects will be performed either by CDOT maintenance, in accordance with state law, or will be contracted to a private construction firm overseen by CDOT maintenance supervisors.

Colorado saw the second-most number of days with snowfall requiring road treatment, and the statewide snowpack peaked well above annual averages. Remote weather stations on high mountain passes across the state have measured liquid precipitation above 40 inches from October 2022 to May 2023; this equates to roughly 400 to 600 inches or more of snow. In addition to the impressive snowfall amounts, this season’s October through March period was the coldest since 2010. March 2023 was the fifth consecutive month with below-average temperatures and the coldest March since 1970. Arctic cold outbreaks affected the state from November to February, and two-day temperature swings in both December and February neared all-time records on the Front Range.

Traffic Impacts

  • Daytime work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; the project team will be off the roadway on Fridays to accommodate the increase in weekend traffic that visits the area on a regular basis
  • There will be no work over holiday weekends
  • Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures and delays up to 20 minutes during working hours. The speed limit is reduced to 40 mph through the work zone

Project Information

For additional information about this project:

  • Call the project information line at (970) 462-7207
  • Email the project team at: [email protected]

Know Before You Go

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:

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!

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