Colorado Department of Transportation will be paving U.S. Highway 160 south of downtown Durango over the next two weeks causing traffic delays.
Travelers can expect roadwork from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Aug. 25. Crews will pave both eastbound and westbound lanes from Dominguez Drive near Walmart to River Road by Home Depot.
“Maintenance crews address 1-mile increments of the highway that are due for some tender loving care,” said CDOT spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes. “And this roadway ... from River Road in front of Home Depot all the way to the High Bridge, was due.”
Roadwork began Sunday night, however, work was suspended Monday because of heavy rain Schwantes said maintenance crews would try again Tuesday night to stay on schedule but may have to work on Friday, which was scheduled to be a day off, to make up for the lost night. Originally, the plan was to complete paving from Dominguez Drive west to the High Bridge by Thursday.
Paving from Dominguez Drive east to River Road should be complete by the end of next week.
“We’re doing our best to get this done within a two-week period,” Schwantes said. “But if we can’t because of rain or having our crews out there safely because of lightning, it has to get pushed out.”
If rain continues to slow progress, maintenance crews could be working on Aug. 26. She said intersections near Home Depot should not be blocked by road maintenance. However, the frontage road by Dietz Market may have restrictions.
“But the actual intersection of River Road will be allowing traffic through,” she said.
Traffic will keep flowing through work zones with lane shifts and drivers should expect to be guided by cones, signs and flagging personnel. Drivers may encounter frequent stops, and access in and out of intersections may be restricted. The speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph through the work zone.
CDOT said drivers should expect delays and allow extra time for travel.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
