Southeast Colorado bridge maintenance project to begin first phase

News Release

October 15, 2020 - Southeastern Colorado - Construction to begin October 19

Southeast Colorado – The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin the first phase of bridge maintenance in southeast Colorado on Monday. The project will take place in Kiowa and Baca Counties at several locations. Myers and Sons Construction has been selected for this project.

SE Colorado Bridge Maintenance Map

Maintenance operations will begin north of Springfield on US 287 at three locations: MP 42.4 MP 40.0, and MP 39.9. After completion of the first three project sites in November and weather permitting, construction will continue at the fourth location at MP 38.3. Construction will then be halted until the spring. The project will then resume on US 287 at MP 32.2 and 21.1, as well as on the second project site in Kiowa County on US 287 at MP 122.5, eight miles north of Eads, and MP 100.5, 14 miles south of Eads. The project is expected to be completed in July 2021. 

This maintenance project consists of removal of concrete pavement, asphalt mat, and portions of the present bridge structures. Construction will then begin laying concrete pavement, starting flow fill, resetting the bridge rail, and sealing and waterproofing the bridge. 

TRAFFIC IMPACTS: 

Travelers will encounter bridge repair operations Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Speeds will be reduced to 40 mph in work zones. Traffic control and temporary signals will be operating 24/7 with one lane closures at project work zones. Wide load restrictions of 12 ft will be in effect. Motorists are urged to use caution and watch for heavy equipment. At times, through lanes and turn lanes may be temporarily closed to traffic causing brief travel delays. Any temporary closures are to ensure the safety of the workers and the traveling public.

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!

PROJECT & TRAVEL INFORMATION For additional information about this project: 

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:

Connect with us on social media: Twitter @coloradodot and Facebook facebook.com/coloradodot

COVID-19 

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for all of us, particularly for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, CDOT maintenance and construction crews  follow social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks.  As traffic returns to normal levels, motorists must drive cautiously and heed the speed limit so all of us can return home safely. 

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY. In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. 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. Gov. Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s multimodal mobility options.