Work to Continue on Highway 50 Project during Fair

August 28, 2015 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - PUEBLO COUNTY – Lane closures will remain in place on the U.S. 50 reconstruction project in the Baxter area during the State Fair as a cost saving measure.

A one mile segment is closed in each direction of Highway 50 between Baxter Road (State Highway 233) and 36th Lane (State Highway 231) as the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reconstructs the roadway to accommodate safer transitions between the highway and the numerous side roads and access points through the area.   

“Normally, we suspend all lane closures during the State Fair but in this instance, it would cost us about $450,000 to remove and then reinstate lane closures through the project,” said CDOT Traffic Engineer Matt Jagow.  “Since the project is located several miles away from the State Fair and there’s an alternate highway into Pueblo, we couldn’t justify the cost versus the benefit of removing the closures.”

If necessary, U.S. 50 Business is available as an alternate route through Avondale and Vineland.

The lane closures and a 55 mph speed limit remain in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, short traffic stops are possible during work hours – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

When complete, the following improvements will enhance safety, traffic flow and ease congestion through the 2 ½ mile segment of Highway 50:

  • Add an eastbound left turn exit lane at 32nd Lane
  • Add a continuous eastbound right turn entrance and exit lane between Baxter Road and 32nd Lane
  • Add a continuous westbound left turn  entrance and exit lane between 32nd Lane and Baxter Road
  • Add a continuous eastbound right turn entrance and exit lane and a continuous westbound left turn entrance and exit lane at Cottonwood Avenue, between 33rdLane and 34th Lane
  • Realign the westbound lanes to extend the existing westbound left turn entrance lane at 36th Lane

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. of Westminster, CO is the prime contractor for this $3.9 million project.  It is scheduled for completion in December 2015.

Additional information is available by calling the project hotline at719-299-5259 or via email at: [email protected]

Traffic information about this or other CDOT projects is on thecotrip.org website, by calling 511 or via subscription e-mail or text.  To subscribe, please visit www.codot.gov and click on the small letter icon at the bottom of the page. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including Southeast Colorado (Everything East of I-25 and South of I-70). 

Real-time traveler information also is available via CDOT Mobile.  It includes highway and traffic conditions and speeds, allowing drivers to make better travel decisions.  CDOT Mobile is free and available by downloading CDOT Mobile from the App Store or texting “CDOT” to 25827.