Landslide mitigation and highway improvements suspended for winter on US 160 east of Pagosa Springs

February 1, 2012 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - ARCHULETA COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Tricon 2, LLC, are near completion of The Jackson Mountain Slide area east of Pagosa Springs, near mile point 151.

Work is suspended for the winter months. The project has been conducted in three phases and the final guardrail installation and seeding will be completed in Spring 2012.

PHASE I (September through mid-November 2010) The work during this first phase involved installing a surface and underground drainage system (3-inch pipes) and installing 43 ground anchor tiebacks (steel cable systems) to stabilize the hillside below the highway.

PHASE II (April 2011 through late November 2011) The work will involve installing 38 additional ground anchor tiebacks into the further stabilize the lower portion of the slope. A buttress at the toe of the slope (just above the river) was constructed using a concrete base and 13,300 cubic yards of riprap (rock material). No work was done at the riverside until after July 15, to avoid interruption of fish spawning. Finally, a deep patch repair of the asphalt pavement has been completed to stabilize the road.

PHASE III (March-April 2012) The work during this final phase will include guardrail installation, fencing and seeding.

TRAVEL IMPACTS – Upon returning to work this spring 2012, when weather permits: work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.  (At this time no weekend work or holiday work is anticipated.) During project work hours, motorists will encounter minimal travel delays. All business and residential accesses will be maintained.

CDOT and Tricon 2, LLC crews greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation while driving through the work zone. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?   Please contact Tricon 2 at (303) 688.9568. For information about other CDOT projects, log on to www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state.