CDOT to Resume Construction of New Roundabout at “Society Turn,” Telluride Spur Road and SH 145

March 31, 2013 - Southwest Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - Project receives FASTER safety funding - TELLURIDE – On Monday, April 1, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will resume a safety improvement project to build a new roundabout at State Highway 145 and Society Turn approximately three miles west of Telluride. Preliminary work was completed in the fall, including underground utility work and construction of a temporary detour, before the project was shut down for the winter.

The total cost of the project is approximately $3.56 million, with $900,000 coming from Telluride, $1.03 million for safety improvements from Colorado FASTER,* and the remainder from state and federal sources. The work is contracted to Williams Construction of Norwood.

The project represents a successful state and local partnership, with planning and coordination between CDOT and the Town of Telluride. The new roundabout will improve traffic flow and safety at this intersection.

In addition to reconstructing the “T” intersection of SH 145 at Society Turn and transforming it into a roundabout, there will be a new rock retaining wall along the concrete trail, and resurfacing of SH 145 approaches to the roundabout.

Project Schedule and Traffic Impacts

Starting April 1, crews will focus on paving and painting the temporary roundabout. It will take four to six weeks for the temporary roundabout to open for use. Once motorists are on the temporary roundabout, work will include demolition of the existing intersection, then construction of the permanent roundabout. Storm-water management, erosion control and seeding are ongoing activities throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion in October 2013. The multi-use path will remain open and useable throughout construction.

Traffic will remain on the paved detour roundabout throughout the project. Impacts to travelers should be minimal.  Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., motorists may expect minor delays with occasional stops for construction work. There will be NO IMPACTS TO TRAFFIC after 5:30 p.m. and at this time, no night or weekend work is anticipated.

For travel information, contact the project information office by calling 970-325-2244 or by sending an email to [email protected]. GET WIRELESS NOTIFICATIONS:  If you would like to receive e-mail and/or wireless notifications for this (and other) CDOT projects, please go to CDOT’s web site at www.coloradodot.info/projects/sh145tellurideroundabout and select the green phone icon in the upper right corner; go to projects and sign up for the “sh145tellurideroudabout” list to receive messages. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

*FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery) was established by the Colorado General assembly via Senate Bill 09-108 to fund the repair of Colorado’s structurally deficient bridges and make safety improvements to Colorado’s key corridors.