US 285 Resurfacing & New Passing Lanes Near Fairplay

Project Overview

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Contractor APC Southern completed a seven-month resurfacing overlay project on-time and on-budget. The $11.2 million project included 20-mile resurfacing and 3-mile widening (passing lanes) located north and south of Fairplay, Colo. designed to improve safety and ride quality.  It also includes culvert extensions, road surface improvements and guardrail upgrades.

The road surface improvements began at US 285, north and south of Fairplay, approximate mileposts (MP) 170 to 182 and 183 to 191. The 3-mile passing lanes were added south of Fairplay between MP 175 to 178. There was no work scheduled between MP 182 and 183. Work for this area is planned for a future project that will address congestion at the intersection of US 285 and CO 9.

Goals

• Quality
  Assure a quality project throughout construction with the final product.
• Safety
  Provide a safer road surface for the traveling public.
• Schedule
  Finish in one construction season.
• Minimize Public Impact
  Minimize impacts and inconvenience to the public and motorists during construction.
• Provide weekly communication regarding upcoming impacts
• Inform traveling public there may be 15 minute delays.  Alternate route advised.

Benefits

• Extended the life of the roadway
• Safety improvements
  • Resurfacing a 20-mile segment north and south of Fairplay to make the road surface smoother and eliminate ruts and road damage;
  • Widening three miles of the highway, in both directions, to accommodate passing lanes to eliminate unsafe passing;
  • Extending culverts to accommodate drainage;
  • Upgrading guardrail to meet new 31-inch standards; and
  • Just recently we were able to find additional funds to place six-inch inlayed epoxy striping to increase visibility of the edge lines.
• Extended the serviceable life of the overall pavement along US 285