LAKE CREEK EAST PROJECT: April through November, 2009
Daytime delays of up to 20 minutes, possibly more during intermittent blasting operations.
CURRENT PROJECT INFORMATION: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor SEMA Construction, Inc. continue construction on US 160 Wolf Creek Pass April 6, 2009. CDOT awarded the contract to SEMA for $4.1 million to widen the roadway to create a rest area and parking facilities within the Rio Grande National Forest; the work began April 6. Blasting will continue for the next few weeks. Truck hauling and other major construction activities will continue throughout the summer months.
This construction phase involves a one-half mile stretch of US 160 east of the tunnel/Big Meadows CR 410 (between mile markers 175.1 and 176.8). Crews will be blasting and removing rock on the north side of the highway, constructing rock walls on both sides, installing a precast culvert and a prefabricated composting toilet building on the north side, realigning the roadway with the parking area (which will have seven regular parking spaces and three RV spaces) and upgrading guardrail on both sides to meet current federal safety standards. The parking facility on the south side will have the same number of vehicle and RV spaces.
DAYTIME DELAYS: For most of the day, motorists will encounter single-lane, alternating travel through the work zone and delays of up to 20 minutes depending upon traffic volumes. During intermittent blasting operations, traffic will be fully stopped for 20 minutes before it is cleared in each direction. Work hours are from 7:00 AM 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday and from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Fridays. No traffic delays will occur on Saturday or Sunday. The work will continue through November 20 but may be completed sooner, if weather conditions allow. There will be no work over the July 4 holiday weekend (Friday, July 3, through Monday, July 6).
For updated project and traffic delay information, or to leave questions or comments, the public may call the construction hotline at (719) 850-0429.
