Road improvements on Colorado Highway 172 from the junction with U.S. Highway 160 through Ignacio will begin March 13, and the Colorado Department of Transportation advises drivers to be prepared for up to 30-minute delays.
The work, which will cost $13.3 million and occur over 16.7 miles of road, is expected to continue through December.
Highway 172 is the primary route to the Durango-La Plata County Airport, to which few alternatives exist.
CDOT’s work will include surface treatment of the entire stretch, several culvert upgrades, as well as the installation of some sidewalk and several wheelchair compatible ramps in downtown Ignacio.
The contractor, Oldcastle SW Group, Inc., will have to pass over the road twice to replace both the bottom and top layers of asphalt.
“A smoother pavement surface improves the safety and mobility of the traveling public,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Tony Marusiak in a statement emailed to The Durango Herald. “The project will also prolong the life of the highway.”
While work is in progress, drivers can expect to encounter lane and shoulder closures. In some cases, traffic will be directed through a single lane and controlled by flaggers, temporary signals and a pilot car.
Marusiak said lane closures can extend up to 2 miles.
Work will begin with the culvert enhancements on the stretch of highway between the airport and Ignacio. Marusiak said the rest of the work will take place within one or two separate work zones conducted “anywhere throughout the project area.”
“It is critical that those planning their trips to Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) add at least a half hour to their travel time,” he said.
Updates on travel impacts and the specific sections of road impacted throughout the project can be found at www.cotrip.org.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
