The Colorado Department of Transportation began resurfacing U.S. Highway 160 west of Hesperus on May 10, but beginning this week, the project is expected to begin causing traffic delays.
The area designated for improvement begins two miles west of Colorado Highway 140 at Hesperus (milepost 71.1) and covers about nine miles of road west to the top of Mancos Hill, near the border of La Plata and Montezuma counties, at milepost 62.
The resurfacing is expected to take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, although if the weather causes delays, work also will take place on weekends, CDOT said in a news release. The project is scheduled to be completed mid-October.
“Drivers should expect some alternating, single-lane traffic in areas where only two lanes are present,” CDOT said. “Traffic should flow in both directions where three lanes exist. Crews will minimize impacts to eastbound, late afternoon, peak period travel.”
The project will level the surface of the road and add an asphalt overlay to prolong its surface life, CDOT said.
This is a continuation of work begun in summer 2014. The estimated cost is $7.3 million. Between 6,700 and 6,800 vehicles travel the section every day.
abutler@ durangoherald.com