Colorado Department of Transportation, with contractor Rock and Co., will begin to replace several under-highway retaining walls, known as crib walls, May 8 on Molas Pass to improve the safety and integrity of U.S. Highway 550. Work is expected to be completed by mid-October.
Two separate crib walls will be reconstructed about two miles south of Silverton. Motorists will be restricted to single-lane alternating traffic, controlled by flaggers, during construction.
The section of U.S. Highway 550 between Purgatory Resort and Silverton will be closed to all motorized traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 27 for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Cyclists will encounter a short, single-lane section in the project zone.
On June 14, Ride the Rockies cyclists will travel between Durango and Ridgway on U.S. Highway 550. The project area will be restricted to single-lane traffic.
The project team will be in close communication with the town of Silverton to update the community about work anticipated during special events, such as the Fourth of July celebration.
The May 8 start date will depend on avalanche and slide conditions.
Travel impacts will be:
May 8 to May 15: occasional single-lane restrictions controlled by flaggers as crews prepare work zones.May 15 to Oct. 15: 24-hour single-lane, alternating traffic conditions, controlled by flaggers or portable traffic signals.Wait times will typically last up to 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.
Wait times during non-work periods and on Sundays will be about 10 minutes or less.
Work will occasionally occur on Sundays and be announced in advance.
For more information, call 209-3332, email highwayinfocolorado@gmail.com or visit www.codot.gov.
fstone@durangoherald.com
