This past July, I was sworn in as the District 8 Transportation commissioner, serving and advocating for transportation needs in Southwest Colorado and the San Luis Valley. The state’s transportation system is managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation with direction and guidance from this commission, which is made up of 11 commissioners and districts, each appointed by the governor and serving four-year terms.
District 8 includes the 13 counties of Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan and San Miguel. As opposed to the Front Range and Colorado’s urban metro areas, the district has unique characteristics requiring distinct needs for our rural communities. Even though ours is the only district across Colorado without an interstate, we recognize that our district’s U.S. and state highways are critical routes for residents, visitors and freight, demanding upkeep and continued improvements.
Local projects completed in 2025
During a typical construction season, CDOT’s local engineering division usually oversees about 20 regional projects between March and November. Three noteworthy projects within, or in proximity to, La Plata County were successfully completed in 2025:
The U.S. Highway 550 Coal Bank Pass project took care of needed repairs at three locations between Durango and Silverton. A retaining wall was rebuilt under the highway, a culvert was replaced and a slope was stabilized to prevent rockfall. The work enhances safety for travelers along this busy mountain corridor by increasing road integrity and preventing hazardous rockfalls. At one point, all construction was halted here as 18 modular homes were transported to Silverton to expand affordable housing opportunities. It was amazing.
Nine miles of U.S. 160 Wolf Creek Pass was resurfaced on the west side. The old surface was prone to frequent potholes caused by moisture, diligently patched by maintenance workers in the past few years. The newly paved highway from Treasure Falls to the pass summit is expected to last 20 years or more with adequate maintenance.
Colorado Highway 151 was also resurfaced. The project improved 13 miles of road east of Ignacio from Allison to Chimney Rock National Monument. To enhance driver safety, rumble strips, new guardrails and new signs were installed. Six culverts were also replaced throughout the project limits to manage water flow, potential flooding and road erosion.
Looking to the future
To maintain our existing infrastructure and build new assets, the commission turns to the state’s 10-year Plan to determine how best to distribute strategic transportation funding. Through 2036, our region will see $172 million dedicated to priority projects. These priority projects are identified through a collaborative process with local municipalities and counties.
The commission has also adopted performance-based goals to help guide transportation funding. These goals will steer efforts for the next 25 years with CDOT’s 2050 Statewide Plan and include:
- Fix Our Roads – We will prioritize strategic investments to improve highways and infrastructure by accessing the condition pavement, bridges and culverts.
- Advancing Transportation Safety – We are committed to provide a safe and efficient transportation network by scrutinizing data that informs us of traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
- Sustainably Increase Transportation Choice – We will provide alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel that increase travel and transit choices to reduce transportation-related air pollution.
Guided by these plans and goals, one new 2026 project will be quite significant for local residents and travelers. This spring, six miles of U.S. 160 will be resurfaced between Durango’s high bridge and Elmore’s Corner. The project will also include repaving of the Grandview interchange ramps and crosswalk improvements at key intersections along the corridor. Work will be completed mainly at night to reduce traffic impacts.
I encourage you to stay informed about regional CDOT projects through several resources. Download the COtrip Planner app and click the “construction” layer. Visit the “projects” page at COdot.gov. For those who partake in social media, join the CDOT News Southwestern Colorado Facebook group.
Barbara McLachlan serves on the Colorado Department of Transportation Transportation Commission, representing 13 counties in Southwest Colorado and the San Luis Valley through 2029. She previously served four consecutive terms as state representative for House District 59, the first person to do so in that district.
