The Dec. 15 deadline to complete the Highway 160/491 South Broadway reconstruction project that started in July will not be met, and the contractor has been given an extension.
Nanci Regnier, public information manager for the project, said the Colorado Department of Transportation gave Lawson Construction an extension due to unforeseen problems the contractor encountered at the Seventh Street intersection, which included utility lines that had to be moved and contaminated soil.
The problems delayed any construction, but the contractor said that non-construction work was still being done.
The extension is for another three to four weeks, though not all of the work will be done at one time.
The contractor has planned to mobilize and shut down work soon, and will plan to return and finish the work in the spring when the striping will also take place.
Regnier said all the paving has been completed, but there will still be lane closures with curb and gutter work being conducted next week, weather permitting.
If the weather does not cooperate, Lawson Construction will finish the curb and gutter work in the spring.
The temporary striping, she said, has been installed on the roadways, but pointed out this type of striping only lasts a short amount of time.
Regnier said weather for the most part has cooperated, but mentioned the permanent striping can only be laid down when it is 50 degrees or warmer.
Lawson Construction is also waiting for the mast arm to be designed and delivered for the light signal and plans on doing this work in the spring as well.
"It's mostly finished now," she said. "There is just a little bit of curb and gutters (to install) at the intersections."
Regnier said unforeseen issues always present problems with projects like this.
"I think they have done a great job of keeping to their Dec. 15 deadline," she said.
michaelm@cortezjournal.com