Plugging along.
It's getting closer to completion, but a lot of work still needs to be done on the South Broadway Reconstruction road project that started eight months ago.
Lawson Construction, the contractor for the project, this past Sunday completed a majority of the concrete reconstruction.
As temperatures continue to warm up, crews will finalize concrete and curb and gutter work at the intersection of highways 160 and 491.
Meanwhile, the northbound Highway 491 detour will remain in effect until all work is complete at this intersection.
Nanci Regnier of Regnier and Associates Inc., the firm that is handling the public relations part of the project, said the plan is to complete the project by the end of the month.
Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nancy Shanks said the plan is to have the installation of the traffic signal at the intersection of highways 491 and 160 completed by the end of the month, provided the weather cooperates. There will still be curb and gutter and cleanup work through the middle of April.
The construction of the South Broadway project was suspended a few months back because of the cold and wintry weather.
Shanks said it would have been much more costly to continue the work in cold weather.
Lawson Construction will continue with the installation of traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, minor curb and gutter work at various locations throughout the project and final striping.
Construction crews anticipate activation of the new traffic signals by the end of March and a completion of the project with final signing and striping in the middle of April. All the projected completion estimates will depend on the weather.
With the exception of the US 160/491 intersection and detour, all traffic control devices and barrels have been removed and the roadway is fully open to traffic. Motorists can expect intermittent single-lane closures and minor traffic delays over the next few weeks while crews perform curb and gutter work at various locations throughout the project.
Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
For information on the South Broadway Reconstruction Project visit www.coloradodot.info/projects/us160-cortez.
Once the South Broadway Reconstruction Project is completed, work on the highway between Towaoc and Cortez will begin. The budget for this project is $8.8 million.
Shanks said no contractor has yet to be selected for this project.
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michaelm@cortezjournal.com