CDOT to Resume Replacement of Crib Walls Below US 550 on Red Mtn. Pass

April 7, 2016 - Southwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 5 - The Colorado Department of Transportation will resume a project on April 13, 2016, that is repairing five crib walls (retaining walls) on the hillside below US 550 on Red Mountain Pass.

OURAY & SAN JUAN COUNTIES After a winter suspension of work, the Colorado Department of Transportation will resume a project on April 13, 2016, that is repairing five crib walls (retaining walls) on the hillside below US 550 on Red Mountain Pass. Work was completed at two work sites last summer (with replacement of two crib walls and reinforcement of one existing wall). The estimated total cost of this work, from design through construction, is $5.7 million. The construction contract was awarded to Rock & Company of Brighton, CO. This is a two-season project, scheduled for completion by August 31, 2016. The first season of work began on July 7, 2015, and continued into November 2016.

This project consists of repairing and replacing five crib walls and repairing/reinforcing one at the following work sites:

  • RESUMES APRIL 13:  Site 1 MM 79.5 to MM 79.4 – Just south of Red Mtn. Pass summit, about 13 miles south of Ouray – 3 crib walls
    Began: September 1st 2015/Ended for season: November 15th 2015 (resumes April 13, 2016)

Rock excavation and blasting, replacement of three crib walls below the highway

  • COMPLETED:  Site 2 MM 88.5 to 88.6 – Approx. 4 miles south of Ouray near snow shed- 2 crib walls
    Began: July 7th 2015/Ended: November 2015

Replacement of two crib walls, excavation, culverts, retaining wall construction, minor paving

  • COMPLETED:  Site 3 MM 89.5 to MM 89.7 – Approx. 3 miles South of Ouray – Repair of crib wall and placement of concrete “cap” over the wall for reinforcement
    Began: September 2015/Ended: November 2015

Excavation and roadway stabilization that included installation of a concrete “cap” over the existing crib wall, drainage improvements and paving

This stretch of US 550 receives an average annual daily traffic count of 2,164 vehicles a day. The repair and reconstruction project will improve the safety and integrity of the highway by reinforcing these under-highway slope-side walls.

ANTICIPATED TRAVEL AND ACCESS IMPACTS: From April 13-April 15, there will be lane closures controlled by flaggers as crews mobilize and bring in equipment and set up work zones. Beginning April 15 and ending August 31, anticipated travel impacts are single-lane, alternating traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, controlled by flaggers or portable traffic signals. Delays should be minimal on evenings and weekends when no work is underway; possibly five minutes. During daytime work, with hours varying through the summer, motorists may be delayed up to 20 minutes, depending upon traffic queues. Please note - there will be some blasting operations later in the summer at this work site; this will require full traffic stops in each direction, with delays exceeding 30 minutes as longer traffic queues are cleared. Further notice of the blasting schedule will be sent when details are known, likely in early June.

PROJECT INFORMATION:  For updates or to ask questions, the public may call the contractor’s project information line at (970) 209-3332. To sign up to receive project information and/or lane closure updates on state highways in the area of your choice, visit CDOT’s website at www.codot.gov and choose the envelope icon at the bottom of the page. Or, to see CDOT’s lane closure reports for projects statewide, visit www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. A brief on all upcoming projects (titled “Summer Construction Books” or soon “Traffic Watchers”) in CDOT’s Region 5 (SW Colorado) is posted here:  https://www.codot.gov/programs-projects/projects.