Rough Terrain Crane Ops Resume on COSMIX/U.S.36 and McCaslin Bridge Opens/Final T-Rex Light Rail Car Arrives

Following two accidents within a five-week period, the Colorado Department of Transportation temporarily suspended rough terrain crane operations on the COSMIX project in Colorado Springs. The stop-work order was lifted after 11 days after officials OK'd Rockrimmon Constructors' corrective action plan.

Rough Terrain Crane Ops Resume on COSMIX

The Colorado Department of Transportation suspended rough terrain crane operations on the COSMIX project in Colorado Springs for nearly two weeks in June.

The stop-work order was issued on June 2 following two accidents in five weeks.

In the first accident on April 24, Rockrimmon Constructors crane operator Humberto Rodriguez was killed when the crane he operated tipped over.

No one was injured during the second accident, which occurred shortly after midnight on June 2 on the outside shoulder of northbound Interstate 25 between the Woodmen Road and North Academy Boulevard interchanges.

CDOT lifted the order on June 13 after officials reviewed and approved Rockrimmon Constructors' corrective action plan. The plan addressed the operation of the rough-terrain crane, the training of employees and the planning and review processes necessary to avoid this type of accident in the future.

Both incidents and Rockrimmon Constructors' overall safety procedures are currently under review by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Specific safety concerns identified by OSHA will be addressed by Rockrimmon Constructors' plans. CDOT's primary concern is that all measures are being taken to prevent future crane accidents and ensure the safety of construction crews and the traveling public.

Rockrimmon Constructors has also developed a Crane Task Hazard Analysis, which will be incorporated into the planning process for each crane task. This risk assessment is a checklist for potential hazards to prevent future accidents.

U.S. 36/McCaslin Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge Opens

The new 243-ft-long U.S. Highway 36 and McCaslin Boulevard Bridge opened in June.

The new RTD-funded structure - considered one of the first visible signs of progress on the FasTracks project - provides a direct connection across U.S. Highway 36 for transit riders, allowing motorists to park on the north side of the highway and avoid interchange traffic, while providing safe access across the highway for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Edward Kraemer & Sons was the general contractor for the $4.2 million project, designed by RTD architects. Construction began in May 2005.

Final T-REX Light Rail Vehicle Arrives at Elati Maintenance Facility

The Transportation Expansion Project in Denver celebrated another milestone earlier this summer with the arrival of the last of 34 new light rail vehicles.

The final vehicle was delivered to the Elati Light Rail Maintenance Facility after being shipped from the Siemens Transportation Systems plant in Sacramento, Calif., via truck and oversized trailer.

T-REX remains on schedule and within budget. Major highway and light rail construction is scheduled to finish by Sept. 1 and Southeast Light Rail will open on Nov. 17.

New Projects Under Way in Northwestern Colorado

CDOT crews are working on two new projects in the northwestern region of the state.

In Routt and Grand counties, the department is resurfacing and reconstructing a section of State Highway 134 between S.H. 131 and U.S. Highway 40 west of Kremmling.

The project, scheduled for completion by Aug. 31, involves asphalt resurfacing, removal and installation of new guardrail, shoulder material and repairs of a slide area just east of the summit of Gore Pass.

In Mesa County, CDOT is resurfacing parts of S.H. 65 on Grand Mesa.

The work, which will be complete by late September, will be done in two separate zones - totaling 16 mi. - on either side of the summit. The southern work zone starts near the visitors' center and extends north six mi. to the summit at Skyway. The northern work zone begins about six mi. north of the summit and extends 10 mi. to approximately five mi. north of Powderhorn Ski Area.

Widening of State Highway 83 Begins

The widening of State Highway 83 from north of Shoup Road to Northgate Road began in June in Colorado Springs.

Construction includes widening approximately one mile of S.H. 83 from two to four lanes, adding turn lanes at Northgate Road, and asphalt paving the existing highway lanes.

Classic Homes is widening the highway as part of an annexation agreement with the city of Colorado Springs. CDOT is overseeing the project to ensure construction complies with all CDOT design guidelines.

The project is scheduled for completion in early 2007.

Safety Improvements Planned for School on U.S. 550/C.R. 218

CDOT, La Plata County and BP America Production Co. are partnering on intersection safety improvements at U.S. Highway 550 and County Road 218 at Sunnyside Elementary in Durango.

Because the school is located on the east side of U.S. 550, bus turning movements onto and off the highway can be difficult - left turns onto southbound U.S. 550, in particular.

La Plata County crews began working in June to make minor widening and turning-radius improvements on C.R. 218 at U.S. 550. The widening - from about 26 ft to 34 ft - and 50-ft radius on the north side of the county road will improve bus turning, allowing them to more safely and easily enter U.S. 550 traffic.

BP America Production Co. in Durango will donate about 150 tons of gravel for the project. CDOT maintenance crews will pave the new approach to U.S. 550 at a later date.

Highway Work Under Way on U.S. 13 North of Meeker

CDOT is resurfacing a a stretch of State Highway 13 north of Meeker in Rio Blanco County.

The project, which extends from mile marker 42.8 to mile marker 76 (Meeker to Hamilton) includes guardrail repair and upgrades, shoulder work and chip sealing of the highway surface.

Resurfacing work will begin at the north end, just north of the bridge in Hamilton, and move south toward Meeker.

Intermountain Slurry Seal of Salt Lake City is the contractor for $1.2 million project, scheduled to finish late this month.

CDOT Starts Improvement Project on Hoosier Pass

Work is under way to upgrade a three-mile segment of State Highway 9 on the north side of Hoosier Pass.

The project involves rotomilling and asphalt paving, cross culvert replacements, installation of rumble strips, seeding, mulching and striping.

Kiewit Western Company of Littleton is contractor for the $2.5 million project, which is scheduled for completion in September. Construction will be suspended through the Labor Day holiday.

Interchange Improvement Starts at I-25 and Speer

Work on an interchange improvement project at I-25 and Speer Boulevard started earlier this summer.

The project will eliminate the loop ramp from southbound I-25 to southbound/eastbound Speer Boulevard and from northbound/westbound Speer Boulevard to southbound I-25, replacing them with a signalized intersection.

A new bridge will also be constructed, taking the 23rd Avenue off-ramp over the Speer Boulevard on-ramp, and the bridge rail will be replaced on Speer Boulevard.

Flatiron Constructors Inc. is the contractor for the $6.6 million project, which will be complete by the end of July 2007. This project is funded mainly by the City of Denver with funds from the Federal Highway Administration and CDOT, but CDOT has construction oversight.

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