The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has begun two projects to improve intersections at State Highway 151 at County Road 521 (Buck Highway) east of Ignacio and at SH 172 at CR 307 west of Oxford.
These projects have received federal Hazard Elimination System program funds. Both will widen the state highways to add left-turn lanes to improve overall safety. Both jobs were awarded to Tricon2 LLC.
The Hwy. 172/ CR 307 project is budgeted at $626,000. It includes adding a left turn lane from Hwy. 172 onto CR 307 to improve safety with increasing traffic loads, especially large trucks. Average daily traffic there is 7,100 to 9,300 vehicles.
Impacts to travel will be between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Expect lane shift shifts and periodic single-lane traffic and delays, as the speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph (down from 65 mph) during work hours. Fines will be doubled in the work zone. Work will continue to late November.
The Hwy. 151/ CR 521 project is budgeted at $815,700. This project will add a continuous left-turn lane on SH 151 just east of Ignacio to serve both CR 521 (Buck Highway) to the north and CR 321 to the south. Shoulders also will be added. Average daily traffic there is 2,900-plus. The accident history at this intersection shows a high incidence of collisions involving left-turning vehicles.
Impacts to travel will be between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; expect some single-lane traffic and some delay, as the speed will be reduced to 40 mph. Work will continue to late November.
For information on these projects, call (970) 343-9946
