Motorcyclists use caution on SH 85 north of Ault

July 31, 2015 - Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - Travelers should be aware of change in road condition during resurfacing.

WELD COUNTY — This is the time of year when we see a lot of motorcycle events – both in our state and elsewhere. US 85 tends to get a lot of motorcycle traffic and so the Colorado Department of Transportation is urging motorcyclists to use extra care while riding on State Highway 85.

CDOT is doing major resurfacing work to increase traveler safety on SH 85 from Ault to the Wyoming state line. Crews will be replacing roadway and adding shoulders, rumble strips and protective weather features. The road condition will be significantly altered during construction. Motorists, and motorcyclists especially, should proceed with extreme caution.

Since the beginning of July, crews have made significant progress on the project, including work to widen the shoulder areas from County Road 100 to CR 90 and completing shoulder widening at CR 108. Culvert extensions which aid with water drainage near CR 120 and CR 122 are also nearing completion. Crews have added base course at various locations between CR 100 and CR 90 to prepare for paving.

In August, crews will conduct Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) followed by paving on the north end of the project near Rockport and proceeding south toward Nunn. Crews will continue working to widen shoulders north of Pierce at CR 100-CR 90.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Motorcyclists should be aware of gravel roads without center striping when traveling north on SH 85 between Nunn and Rockport. Construction will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Speed limits through the project zone will be reduced to 40 mph at all times, including nights and weekends, due to uneven lanes. Travelers should expect delays up to 15 minutes during construction times. Pilot cars will direct travelers through several single-lane closures spanning up to two miles each throughout the project site. Motorists should exercise caution at all times while navigating the work zone.

For project updates, please email [email protected], call the project hotline at 970-373-1584 or log on to the project website: https://www.codot.gov/projects/us85aulttowyoming.

For information about other CDOT projects, the public may log on to CDOT’s traveler information website at www.codot.gov, www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!