CO 61 Resurfacing East of Sterling

About the Project:

The Colorado Department of Transportation and Simon Contractors will begin a nine-mile resurfacing and widening project on Colorado Highway 61, just east of Sterling. Work is set to begin June 10, weather pending. The anticipated completion of the project is in November.

The construction work will begin on CO 61, east of Sterling from approximately Mile Point 41 (Intersection of SH 6 and SH 61) and extend South to Mile Point 32. The existing asphalt will be milled and filled with two inches of new hot mix asphalt. A smoother surface offers safer driving for motorists. Busy highways must bear heavy truck traffic as well as passenger vehicles. Approximately every 10-15 years, asphalt roads may need to have their top layers milled and resurfaced.

The shoulders will be widened with superelevation correction to six feet at several locations to improve safety along this corridor. Additional safety improvements include lane markings which will be painted for better lane recognition. Rumble strips will be added to the shoulder, which is an effective strategy to decrease the occurrence of crashes due to vehicles departing from the roadway.

Project Benefits

• A smoother surface offers safer driving for motorists. Busy highways must bear heavy truck traffic as well as passenger vehicles. Approximately every 10-15 years, asphalt roads may need to have their top layers milled and resurfaced.
• Shoulder widening provides enhanced safety and mobility for motorists traveling on narrow two-lane highways.
• Rumble strips added to the shoulder are an effective strategy to decrease the occurrence of crashes due to vehicles departing from the roadway.

Work Schedule:

• Daytime work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Traffic Impacts:

Motorists can expect the following impacts during the period of construction:

• During construction, motorists can expect alternating lane closures with flaggers in place to guide traffic.
• The speed limit will be reduced to 40 MPH through the construction zone during working hours.
• There will be a wide load restriction of 12’ during working hours.