In case residents are wondering why improvements to the narrow and gravelly County Road 120 did not begin Monday as scheduled, the start date for the project has been pushed to the end of the week.
La Plata County staff reported that GCC Energy, the company paying for several phases of improvements to the road over five years, delayed work because the company did not secure a bond in time.
GCC Energy owns the King II coal mine on County Road 120 in Hesperus, and has agreed to pay for about $10 million for realignment and repaving of the road because company trucks are significant contributors to the road’s wear and tear.
The company spent months negotiating with county staff on the terms of the improvements.
“This phase is the first out of the gate, so it’s important that we’re strictly complying with the improvements,” county attorney Sheryl Rogers said.
GCC Energy will limit truck traffic to 55 daily moving north on the road while phase one work is underway.
The first phase will cover about a mile of road from the 2500 block to the 3200 block.
Traffic delays are expected when work begins.
