The Colorado Department of Transportation announced Monday that the first phase of safety improvements and restriping to U.S. Highway 550 are complete.

Northbound travelers will find lanes have been reduced from two to one approaching Purgatory Resort between mile points 47.7 and 51, and there is a continuous right-turn lane between Engineer Drive and Tacoma Village.

“Oftentimes, motorists traveling northbound to the ski area would jockey for position into that left-turn lane, creating an unsafe situation, particularly when the road is snowpacked and icy,” CDOT Region 5 Traffic and Safety Engineer Mike McVaugh said in a news release.

“Now, they have a bit more time and space to ease into that extended left-turn lane, also giving space for through travelers to maintain a more constant and safe speed.”

A southbound continuous right-turn lane between the resort and the Gelande ski parking was also restriped so drivers can slow down out of traffic’s way.

CDOT, Purgatory Resort and Purgatory Metro District partnered and anted up $38,500 for the improvements, which have been underway since September near the resort to facilitate safer, slower turns.

The next step will be an expansion of chain-up and chain-down stations and lighting north of the resort, as well as overhead electronic signs for northbound travelers. These improvements will be installed in spring.

The entire project, including design costs, will total about $790,000.

CDOT reports that this portion of the highway sees an average of 2,900 vehicles daily each year during the busiest hours and 1,200 vehicles per hour in one through lane. The narrowing of the road is expected to reduce traffic speed and passing.

jpace@durangoherald.com