CO 13 Garco Rio Blanco Hill Widening

About the Project:

Construction crews will soon be back from winter shutdown to resume work on CO 13. The Garco Rio Blanco Hill project is located 11 miles northwest of Rifle and will create safety improvements for the busy stretch of highway. The start date for work in late March or April is weather-dependent. The project is part of CDOT’s statewide 10-year plan to improve highways across Colorado.

During the 2022 construction season, crews completed the installation of box culverts and 72” jacked steel pipes. Other items completed were asphalt patching and the relocation of the CDOT Intelligent Transport System (ITS).

The project team will stay in close contact with CDOT maintenance crews in the event of Interstate 70 closures in Glenwood Canyon. This coordination will help the project team prepare for detour traffic during I-70 closures.

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Project Benefits:

• Safety improvements on the project are designed to give motorists wider roads to travel on during inclement weather, accommodate higher traffic volumes, and to help prevent roadside erosion.
• The resurfacing and widening will create smoother pavement and improved driving conditions
• Adding chain up areas will significantly improve safety for travelers when weather conditions suddenly change.
• Two wildlife underpasses will help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

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Work Schedule

• Construction crews are working 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
  • Nighttime work - 8 p.m. - 6 a.m.
  • Daytime work - 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Beginning May 2022, crews will begin work to complete the headwall structure at 72” jacked pipe, storm drainage crossings, game ramps, wildlife fencing/animal crossings, concrete lined ditch, geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) wall, barrier walls, cattle/deer guards, aggregate base course, asphalt paving, roadway mitigation, storm drainage completion, permanent signage, permanent striping, and new guardrails. Project ends early Summer 2024.

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Traffic Impacts

• 24/7 one-lane alternating traffic
  • Daytime work: Traffic is guided by flaggers.
  • Nighttime work - A pilot car and flaggers are in place to direct motorists.
• Motorists can expect delays for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• There are multiple shoo-fly detours in place to accommodate traffic during construction.
• The speed limit is 35 MPH through the construction zone and reduces to 25 MPH in a couple locations.
• 12-foot-wide load restriction 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The project is now unpaved, and traffic will be traveling on loose gravel - Motorcyclists use caution.

Work this Week & Lane Closures
CO 13 Garco Rio Blanco Hill Widening