Colorado Department of Transportation will set a 700-foot concrete barrier in place Monday on U.S. Highway 550 south of Durango where a large slab of rock broke away from the mountainside and landed on the road.
The concrete barrier will close off the northbound inside lane of the three-lane highway. The barrier will cordon off the remains of an estimated 700 tons of rock that was pushed against the hillside to reinforce it and protect the highway from more rockfall during the freeze-thaw cycle during spring months.
Drivers can expect single-lane, alternating traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday as the barrier is set, according to a news release issued Friday by CDOT.
The 150-foot slab broke off early Feb. 14, nearly hitting a New Mexico newspaper driver. The rock broke into several large chucks, including some about the size of a bus.
The highway department plans to leave the rocks along the side of the highway until late spring or summer when they will be hauled away. It is estimated it will take 70 dump truck loads to remove all the debris.
In the meantime, a mitigation plan will be put in place to protect the road from further damage, according to the release. The cost and scope of the project are expected to be released this week.
shane@durangoherald.com
