Montezuma County will apply chip and seal to about 5 miles of the West Mancos Road (Forest Road 561) from the forest boundary to Transfer Campground, beginning Monday, Aug. 7, according to a news release from the San Juan National Forest.
It’s the third delay for the project. It was originally scheduled to begin on July 24, then rescheduled for July 31.
The chip-and-seal surface will provide for a more comfortable ride for motorists and reduce dust emissions, washboards and potholes, the news release said. The Forest Service and Montezuma County expect to save money in road maintenance on this heavily traveled route, which is graded 10 times a year. The new surface will require occasional crack sealing and a new seal coat about once every 10 years.
The project is expected to last four days.
During construction, visitors will encounter dump trucks, distributor trucks, rollers and sweepers. Motorists can expect delays of up to 30 minutes during construction. Motorists should drive slowly until loose chips are swept from the road to prevent cracked windshields.
The Forest Service submitted the proposal for funding through the Federal Lands Transportation Program and will provide oversight of the project. The project is being funded jointly with Federal Highway and U.S. Forest Service road maintenance dollars.
Work will be conducted by Montezuma County Road and Bridge Department through an agreement with the San Juan National Forest.
For more information, contact Pete Merkel, San Juan National Forest roads manager, at 970-385-1323.