The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Region 5 will have an estimated $115.23 million in highway, traffic and safety improvement projects for this year across 15 counties in southwest and south-central Colorado.
The list of 40 projects includes the recently completed stoplight and improvements at the Highway 172/ 151 intersection in downtown Ignacio; the wildlife underpass and wildlife fencing on Highway 160 west of Gem Village; region-wide striping on 650 miles of highway, also pavement markings and sign replacements; improvements at 45 signal intersections, including Bayfield, to enhance signal timing and add yellow flashing left turn arrows that mean a left turn is okay if there isn't oncoming traffic; and replacement of the two green bridges over the Pine Rver on Bayfield Parkway, with estimated cost of $4.4 million. This includes a shared use path under the east bridge to connect Eagle Park and Joe Stephenson Park.
CDOT lists the bridge replacement as starting in November this year and going to December 2017. Traffic will be detoured onto Hwy. 160.
"We've inventoried our assets across the region prioritizing where and how our resources get spent in order to get the best bang for the buck, and how to best maintain our existing infrastructure," said CDOT Region 5 Director Mike McVaugh. "By identifying roads and structures that are in most need of repairs or upgrades, we can extend the life of these assets and make the investment to keep our roads safe and operational to the public."
The west side of Region 5 (La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, San Juan, and Dolores counties) will see 14 construction projects totaling $52.8 million. The region's east side (Conejos, Costilla, Alamosa, Rio Grande, Mineral, Saguache and Chaffee counties) will have 10 construction projects totaling $36.63 million.
Meanwhile, there will be six traffic and safety projects taking place throughout the entire region. This may include installation or upgrade of signals, new highway striping, and intersection improvements. Traffic and safety projects will total $8.81 million.
A few of the 2016 projects will be receiving money from outside sources. Off-Systems Local Agency projects such as the Bayfield bridge replacement are typically funded in part through the federal government's Transportation Alternative's Program (TAP), administered by CDOT and matched by the local agency or municipality.
Other projects have been funded with RAMP dollars. RAMP, or Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships, is a short-term program to accelerate priority local projects.
For more information about individual projects and to obtain updates as project work progresses, contact the Region 5 communications manager at lisa.schwantes@state.co.us or 749-2015.
Updated information regarding traffic impacts is available at https://www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html or by calling 511. To receive project updates via wireless device or e-mail, visit www.codot.gov and click on the envelope icon at the bottom of the page. The link takes you to a list of items/areas you can subscribe to.
