US 160 Bridge Maintenance in Montezuma County

About the Project

Work will occur along US Highway 160, at the San Juan River and Aztec Creek near the Four Corners in southwest Colorado. The first bridge site is located at Mile Point 0.25 at the San Juan River. The second bridge site is located at MP 7.5 at Aztec Creek. Work will include the removal of sandy sediment that has accumulated over time around the bridges’ foundations. The unstable sandy sediment can easily be washed out, exposing the foundations of the structures. Once crews remove the sediment, rocks (or rip rap) will be placed around the foundation. The more stable rockfill will help protect the foundations during high water flows.

Project Benefits

• Bridge preventative maintenance measures are used to mitigate the scour effects around foundations and piers and prevent structure failure.
• Bridge scour occurs over time when high water flows wash away sand and rocks from around bridge abutments or piers. Scour can create foundation exposure and holes, compromising the integrity of a structure. 
• Rocks (or rip rap) placed around the foundation and piers will help protect the foundations during high water flows. 

• The work is needed to maintain the integrity of these structures that are important road assets for the busy US 160 corridor carrying critical freight, tourist and residential traffic into southwest Colorado.

Work Schedule:

• Work will last approximately five months
• Working hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Weekend work is not expected but could be possible

Traffic Impacts:

• There will be shoulder closures throughout the course of the project
• Refer to COtrip.org for real-time travel conditions and road closures