US 160 Scour Mitigation near South Fork

About the Project

The Colorado Department of Transportation with American Civil Constructors will begin scour mitigation work on a bridge structure in the town of South Fork over the south fork of the Rio Grande River. Work will begin on October 5, with completion expected in November.

This scour mitigation project will primarily consist of removal of sand and gravel rocks from around the center bridge pier. The material will be replaced with larger diameter boulders which will improve the integrity of the structure during high flow events, such as spring runoff. The project will begin with structure excavation, then move to riprap placement, and followed up by permanent erosion control and seeding. Work will take place on US Highway 160 at MP 186.32, just east of the CO 149 junction

Flood events on rivers can cause erosion of the soil around a bridge foundation. This process is frequently referred to as bridge scour. Over time, scour can lead to bridge failure. To manage the risk of bridge failure, countermeasures are used to mitigate the scour effects.

Proposed Work Schedule

• Daytime work hours will range from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays.

Traffic Impacts

• Vehicles can expect minimal impacts and will only be stopped to allow for trucks to enter and exit the work area.
• While there will be no reduced speeds within the work zone, travelers should still use extreme caution through the bridge work zone.
• Motorists should slow down as they approach the work zones, drive with caution, allow extra space between vehicles, and give themselves extra travel time.
• Traffic fines in the construction zone will be doubled.