Don't be in a hurry

Brief by Central Staff

Transportation - July 2002 - Colorado Central Magazine - No. 101 - Page 6

Copyright © 2002 by Central Colorado Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

There's an old joke that Colorado highways are either under construction or overcrowded. But U.S. 285 will be both this summer.

The crowds are the usual summer traffic, which seems to be holding up despite the economic slowdown, the 9-11 travel worries, and worries about drought and wildfire.

That traffic will be delayed in the Buena Vista area this summer. The Colorado Department of Transportation has started applying new pavement from about 11 miles south of B.V. to the town limits along U.S. 285 and U.S. 24. There will be intermittent lane closures, with delays of up to 15 minutes, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays through mid-August.

Other regional road construction that might cause delays:

• U.S. 50 near Maysville, bridge replacement and minor alignment changes. Reduced speed limit and one-lane traffic at times, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through September.
• U.S. 50 near Sargents, delays of up to 15 minutes for repaving and bridge replacement, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. through July.
• U.S. 285 through Villa Grove, one-lane alternating traffic for concrete reconstruction. Delays of up to 15 minutes, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday through August.
• U.S. 285 south of La Jara, delays of up to 15 minutes while lanes are being added, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays through August.
• Colo. 149 between Creede and South Fork, one-lane traffic with delays of up to 20 minutes as the road gets rehabilitated, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through August.
• Wolf Creek Pass construction will continue into 2003, with lane closures and delays of up to 45 minutes, around the clock. CDOT suggests taking an alternate route to the Four Corners, like U.S. 285 to Antonito, then Cumbres Pass west to Chama and Durango.