Highway improvements begin on US 24 and CO 300 south of Leadville

Travel Advisory

June 1, 2021 - Northwestern Colorado -

LAKE COUNTY —The Colorado Department of Transportation and APC Southern Construction will begin improvements to US Highway 24 and Colorado Highway 300 in Lake County beginning Monday, June 7. The project is part of CDOT Rural Paving Program and will improve approximately 17 miles of US 24, beginning south of Leadville at Mile Point 176 and continuing west to MP 194. Work will take place on CO 300 from MP 0–4.4. Motorists should anticipate one lane of alternating traffic and plan for travel delays of up to 15 minutes.

Work on both roadways includes resurfacing a total of approximately 21.4 miles with deck milling, sealing, and repaving at bridge structures; erosion control; guardrail replacement; signing and final striping. Shoulder widening on US 24 will take place between MP 178 and MP 181. The project is expected to be completed in October 2021.

This project will enhance safety for motorists traveling along the two-lane highway. Once the resurfacing work is completed, drivers will find a smoother roadway surface with new guardrail, new signage, high visibility markings and stabilized shoulders. These enhancements will make the highway safer for residents, visitors and commercial truck traffic.

Traffic Impacts

During work hours motorists are asked to use caution when approaching and driving through the work zone. Travel impacts for the project include:

  • Project work hours are daylight hours, Monday through Friday. No weekend or nighttime work is currently anticipated. 
  • Expect travel delays of up to 15 minutes.
  • Motorists will encounter brief closures with single-lane alternating traffic to allow trucks and equipment to enter and exit the work zone.
  • The speed limit is reduced to 40 mph through the work zone. 
  • Crews will begin work at the east end of the project limits, on US 24 at MP 176.0
  • Flagging personnel will be on sight to direct travelers through the area as construction equipment enters and exits the work zone.
  • 12-foot width restriction will be in place during project work hours.
  • All business and residence access will be maintained but may be temporarily alerted.

Notice to Commercial Truckers and Through Travelers on US 50

Westbound commercial truck drivers and other travelers should be aware of major closures due to the US 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon project, located west of Gunnison. Travel time between Sargents (west of Monarch Pass) and the Little Blue Creek Canyon closure point is approximately 1.5 hours. Travelers are urged to plan ahead. Visit the project website for more information about the US 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon Project: www.us50info.com.

Currently, Little Blue Creek Canyon Project is open to single-lane, alternating traffic ONLY at these times: 

Monday-Friday (two-hour time blocks in the morning and evening and one-hour time block mid-day)

  • 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. 
  • 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
  • 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Project Information

For additional information about this project, contact the project team. 

For information on road work and travel conditions visit COtrip.org, sign up for travel alerts or call 511. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and CDOT’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/coloradodot.

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.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • 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.
  • Be patient!