Early morning travelers will face traffic disruptions between 4 and 6 a.m. Saturday as six concrete bridge girders, each 140 feet long and weighing 185,000 pounds, will be transported to the U.S. Highway 550-160 Connection South project site.

Traffic at the U.S. Highway 160 and Colorado Highway 172 intersection will be fully stopped at least three times as six trucks move through the junction. Two trucks will move through the intersection at a time, then turn south on Highway 172.

The trucks will continue south and turn west on County Road 220 to reach the project site at County Road 220 and U.S. Highway 550. The process could affect travel on County Road 220 until about 7 a.m.

There will be two additional mornings next week when girder transportation will affect traffic, but those dates are not yet confirmed.

On two mornings during the week of May 10 and possibly May 17, bridge girder transport will affect traffic at the Highway 160/172 intersection, as well as Highway 160 off-ramps at the interchange and the Wilson Gulch Road roundabout.

On May 10 and possibly May 17, the westbound Highway 160 off-ramp will have short delays and the eastbound Highway 160 off-ramp will be closed all day, from about 4 a.m. to about 6 p.m.

Travelers should plan an alternate route.

dgladden@durangoherald.com