Press Release - US 287 Recovery Project Set to Start
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
WWW.COLORADO.GOV/GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
CONTACT:
Bob Wilson, CDOT Public Relations, (303) 757-9431
U.S. 287 RECOVERY PROJECT SET TO START
BACA COUNTY -- The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) begins another project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) next week -- a seven-mile reconstruction of U.S. 287, just south of Springfield.
The project, which includes rebuilding the highway in concrete and shoulder widening, begins at the south end of Springfield (mile 29.8), and continues south seven miles (mile 22.4). Work also involves bridge widening and rehabilitation, new box culverts, erosion control, signing, striping and seeding.
"U.S. 287 is a critical highway to businesses, farms and families, and will continue to play a key role in the economic recovery of Southeast Colorado," said Rep. Betsy Markey. "Reconstructing this road will put Coloradans back to work, bring local jobs and make long-term improvements to our infrastructure. This is a great day for our corner of Colorado."
Initial bridge work is scheduled to begin at Cat Creek (just south of Springfield) during the week of October 26, requiring the lanes to be realigned and reducing traffic to one lane in each direction until the work is completed. A 35 mph speed limit will be in place at all times and vehicles wider than 14 feet will be restricted from traveling through this area. All work is scheduled during daylight hours, Monday through Friday.
A one-mile detour also will be constructed during the first phase of the project, allowing for bridge rehabilitation at Lone Rock Draw, five miles south of Springfield.
In April 2010, concrete paving is scheduled to begin, requiring pilot cars to alternate one lane of traffic for six miles. This operation will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with delays up to 30 minutes. CDOT will send out an advisory shortly before this phase begins.
The entire project is expected to be completed by September 2010.
Lawson Construction Company of Longmont, CO is the contractor for the $13.9 million project, all of which is being funded by ARRA.
CDOT has reconstructed 11 segments of U.S. 287 through southeastern Colorado since 1996, most recently a 13-mile section just south of Lamar in Prowers County. A nine-mile segment currently is under construction through Lincoln County.
"The ARRA funds enabled us to add another project in the important Ports-to-Plains corridor," says CDOT Regional Transportation Director Tim Harris. "It's taken a number of years but we're glad this is the project that will complete the 73-mile reconstruction of U.S. 287 from the south end of Lamar to the Oklahoma border."
U.S. 287 between the Oklahoma border (including U.S. 40 from just east of Kit Carson) and Denver is Colorado's portion of the Ports to Plains route. Concrete reconstruction of the highway is of primary importance due to its current and future use as a major truck route, its connection to Mexico's border and its potential to attract and serve markets associated with NAFTA and international trade.
Weekly lane closure information about this project and others will be available at www.dot.state.co.us/TravelInfo/currentcond/ or by calling 511.
In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million for transportation projects and $103 million for transit projects.