Two construction projects on heavily traveled thoroughfares in Durango are causing headaches for drivers during the late fall and early winter – a time when commuters are typically given a reprieve from major road work.
Both construction projects have taken four-lane highways down to two lanes. The newest project is in the 1100 block of Camino del Rio, a busy road that drivers often encounter to access downtown and south City Market. The other project is at the High Bridge on South Camino del Rio, north of Walmart.
Both have caused bottleneck conditions.
Nearby businesses have been inconvenienced. Drivers have been frustrated. And Durango Fire Protection District has responded to a number of crashes at both locations, none of which have caused serious injuries, said DFPD Deputy Chief Randy Black.
It’s been “more vehicle damage than anything else,” Black said.
Construction at the High Bridge has caused a number of “preventable” crashes, Black said. When construction started in September, DFPD responded to an average of two crashes each day on either side of the bridge, he said.
Most crashes are caused by drivers rushing through the construction zone, Black said. The Colorado Department of Transportation has asked drivers to “zipper merge,” a traffic pattern in which drivers use both lanes of traffic until the merge point.
“Sadly, it’s typical when you take a highly traveled, 50 mph speedway and jam it down into one lane at 40 mph, that it will create issues,” Black said. “If everyone lets one person in front of them (at the merge point), the ride to work would be a lot different.”
Fewer crashes have been reported in front of Town Plaza on Camino del Rio, Black said. Traffic managers on Monday reduced northbound and southbound transit to one lane, according to the city of Durango. The lane closures are allowing developers of a new hotel at 1111 Camino del Rio to install water and sewer lines.
The stretch of road has always been “a bad area in town to be driving,” said Lexis Loeb, an employee at Art Supply House in Town Plaza. With the construction, Loeb said she has heard more horns than usual, but the business has not seen a significant dip in sales.
The construction has also blocked traffic to Prohibition Herb and made it “an inconvenience” for customers and employees to reach the recreational cannabis company, said Sayrah Sims, a manager at the business. Foot traffic has been most affected by the construction, Sims said, but business has not suffered.
City planners and fire officials said they have worked with the company contracted for the work to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in front of the fire department’s downtown station and River City Hall, which houses the city’s Community Development Department. Both city and DFPD officials said the contractor has been responsive to requests.
“Obviously, there’s been a little bit of congestion, and we’re working to minimize the impacts as much as possible,” said Durango Planning Manager Scott Shine. “We realize it’s a bit of an inconvenience for people.”
Construction in front of Camino del Rio is expected to restrict traffic until at least mid-January. Construction at the High Bridge could continue into the spring.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
