DURANGO TRAFFIC ADVISORY Bridge maintenance to begin on two U.S. 550 structures near New Mexico state line

October 17, 2019

SOUTHWEST COLORADO — Motorists using U.S. Highway 550 near the Colorado/New Mexico state line at MP 1.2 and 1.9 will experience travel impacts beginning next week. The Colorado Department of Transportation will be upgrading two bridge structures in this area of southern La Plata County. Work will consist of concrete deck repair, placement of polyester concrete deck overlay and drainage improvements between the bridge structures. 

TRAVEL IMPACTS 

Beginning Monday, October 21 work will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The following traffic configuration is expected to be in place through the beginning of December 2019. CDOT will issue updated advisories when this configuration changes.

U.S. 550 bridge configurations near the NM state line

  • Traffic will be narrowed to a single lane in both directions on the bridge structures.
  • Motorists are required to reduce their speed to 40 mph.
  • Wait times of less than 10 minutes may occur.
  • Travelers should follow all traffic restrictions, signage and flagging personnel through the work zone.

The traveling public is also reminded that work continues to take place on the U.S. 160/550 high bridge in south Durango, between Bodo Park and Walmart. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction on the high bridge. As motorists approach the work zone they are urged to obey the signage instructing vehicles to use both lanes of traffic all the way up to the merge point. This “zipper merge” flow, decreases wait times, moves traffic more efficiently and reduces the chances for crashes. 

PROJECT INFORMATION 

For additional information about this multi-bridge project, call the project information line at 970-840-8517, email the team at [email protected], or visit the project website at www.codot.gov/projects/southwestern-colorado-bridge-maintenance.

REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative. This initiative takes a systematic, statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

ABOUT CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated inter-regional express service. Governor Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s inter-modal mobility options.