US 550–US 160 Connection South Project

Bridge to the Future "Open Road" Event May 9

Join us Thursday, May 9, from 10:30 a.m. to noon - for an “open road” celebration of the connection of US 550 with US 160 at the Grandview Interchange. The public is invited to arrive any time between 10:30 and 11:15 to drive over the Grandview Bridge, through a new roundabout and then over two new bridges - park and walk around if you like - and ask questions of the project team. At 11:30, there will be a brief speaking event with project partners.

Getting There

  • All visitors must enter via US 160 and the Grandview Interchange at the north end of the project
  • Those traveling from Durango or the west will use the US 160 eastbound off-ramp just east of the Farmington Hill intersection
  • Those traveling from Bayfield or the east will use the westbound off-ramp located approximately ¾ mile west of Three Springs Boulevard
  • Event signage and flaggers will direct visitors to Gulch A Bridge
  • No entry from the south at County Road 220
  • After the event, visitors will leave the project by continuing south and exiting at CR 220, with help from flagging staff.

About the Project

The Colorado Department of Transportation began construction of the US 550—US 160 Connection South in late summer 2020—the final phase of the project to complete the region’s first full interchange. CDOT will construct this project using the design-build process, partnering with a contracted team led by Lawrence Construction Company.

The overall project scope involves constructing a new, 1.1 mile, four-lane section of US 550 north of La Plata County Road 220 to connect the major highway with the existing US 160 interchange, and widening a 3.3-mile section of US 550 south of CR 220 to four lanes, tying into the CR 302 intersection.

Project Benefits

  • By realigning US 550 to connect with the US 160 interchange in Grandview, the project will greatly enhance safety for passenger and commercial vehicles, as well as cyclists.
  • The new connection will eliminate the steep, curved grade of the current US 550.
  • This realignment will greatly improve safety by creating a full-service, continuous-flow interchange that eliminates signalization and at-grade intersections (including that at the base of Farmington Hill) where crashes can occur.
  • Safety will also be improved through the widening of US 550 to four lanes, with widened shoulders and auxiliary lanes for safer merges onto and off of the highway.
  • The project will increase safety through wildlife underpass crossings and deer fencing, which will reduce animal-vehicle collisions.

Work this Week & Lane Closures
US 550/US 160 Connection South

Project Facts

  • Budget: $98.6 million
  • Contractor: Lawrence Construction Co. and RS&H, Inc.
  • Timeline: Summer Summer 2020 to Spring 2024
  • Location:
    • Highway: US 550 & US 160 Interchange
    • City: South of Durango, near Grandview and Three Springs
    • Mileposts: US 550 13-16
    • Mileposts: US 160 87-88
    • County: La Plata

Work Schedule:

  • Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024
  • From 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday (most weeks)

Traffic Impacts

  • Motorists may encounter brief, intermittent stops near CR 220 and/or on the eastbound US 160 off-ramp just east of the US 550 junction for trucks entering/exiting work areas.
  • The main Grandview interchange bridge will remain closed until early December 2023, when it will be connected to a new roundabout to the south, and to the new US 550 north and southbound lanes.
  • The existing US 550 alignment down "Farmington Hill" will be removed in spring 2024.
  • For weekly updates on specific travel impacts, please orange box, above, titled "Work this Week &Lane Closures."