Busy Highway Construction Season Under Way

The Colorado Department of Transportation recently announced its plans for the 2008 construction season in southeastern Colorado, with projects ranging from highway and interchange reconstructions to new signal installation.

“It will be an active construction season, which means motorists will encounter numerous cone zones in Colorado Springs, Pueblo and elsewhere throughout southeastern Colorado,” said Russel George, CDOT executive director. “Ultimately, we’re improving our infrastructure, making the highways safer and more efficient.”

This season’s highway construction includes:

• Interstate 25, between Northgate and El Paso/Douglas County line. This $6.1-million project consists of rotomilling and paving, culvert and bridge repairs and chain station construction along northbound I-25. Schmidt Construction Co. is the general contractor.

• Powers Boulevard—Interchange construction at Woodmen Road. R.E. Monks Construction Co. is the contractor for the $26-million project.

• I-25–interchange reconstruction and widening of State Highway 16 between I-25 and U.S. 85 at Fort Carson. Sema Construction is the general contractor of phase one of this $65-million project.

• I-25–Interchange reconstruction, including widening of Baptist Road east to Jackson Creek Parkway, west to Old Denver Highway. A general contractor has not been assigned to this $15-million project.

• State Highway 96—Reconstructs and widens the Fourth Street Bridge over the Arkansas River, BNSF and UP railroads in Pueblo. Flatirons Constructors Inc. is the general contractor for this $33-million project.

• I-25 – Reconstruction to northbound I-25 from Van Buren Street to Goddard Avenue, including the viaduct, mainline bridges over the Purgatoire River and Main Street through Trinidad. Lawrence Construction Co. is the general contractor for the $37-million project.

• U.S. 287— Reconstructs the highway in concrete and shoulder widening. Work also includes bridge widening, new concrete box culverts and embankment work. Castle Rock Construction Co. is the general contractor for this $17.3-million project.

Smaller-scale projects also are or will be under construction throughout southeastern Colorado this season:

• S.H. 83 at Hodgen Road (north of Colorado Springs);
• S.H. 94 at Curtis Road;
• S.H. 67 at County Road 81 (north of Cripple Creek);
• S.H. 115 at County Rd F45;
• U.S. 50 Business at Salt Creek (east Pueblo);
• U.S. 50 west Pueblo;
• S.H. 120 east of Penrose;
• U.S. 50 at 15th and 16th streets in Cañon City;
• I-25 south of Pueblo (mile 69-85);
• S.H. 69 south of Westcliffe;
• S.H. 69 north of Walsenburg;
• S.H. 10 east of Walsenburg;
• U.S. 50 west of Fowler;
• S.H. 12 east of Weston.

Additional cone zones will be in place along I-25 between Monument and the Denver area:

• I-25 Tomah Road to Douglas Lane (south Castle Rock) consists of rotomilling, paving and bridge work.

• I-25 between 5th Street and Douglas Lane (south Castle Rock) consists of reconstruction, including the Plum Creek Interchange, and widening.

• I-25 and I-25 Frontage Road between Meadows Parkway and Schweiger Interchange. Construct a fourth lane on northbound and southbound I-25 between Schweiger and Castle Pines Parkway. It adds a fourth lane by restriping northbound and southbound I-25 between Castle Pines and Meadows parkways. The project also includes construction of a two-lane frontage road between Schweiger and Castle Pines, east of I-25.