Crews with the Colorado DOT (CDOT) are continuing work along the state's highways and roadways while noticing that less traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic response is increasing safety in work zones as well as allowing for more schedule flexibility.
According to a report from KOAA-TV, CDOT crews are seeing a drastic drop in traffic since the state's stay-at-home orders were put into place, with one engineer—who oversees the State Highway 24 project between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs—saying he estimates between a 40% to 50% reduction in traffic.
The lighter amounts of roadway traffic is allowing crews to continue road construction work both day and night, while making it easier to close lanes without a major impact to the traveling public.
CDOT has announced the beginning or continuation of work for a number of projects on its website within the past few weeks, including—with the help of contractor partner Kiewit Infrastructure Co.— the construction of passing lanes in both directions of U.S. Highway 24 between McKenze Lane and Bradshaw Road west of Peyton. In addition, just this week CDOT announced it was resuming work on the final phase of the U.S. 160 improvement project south of Cortez, near Towaoc, with contracting partner Oldcastle SW Group.
The department also just began significant pavement rehabilitation work on U.S. 36 in the Denver metro area, which will require double lane closures in both directions of U.S. 36 for a two-mile stretch from Federal Boulevard to Pecos Street. Finally, CDOT announced work to begin later in the month to replace two existing timber bridges over the North Fork River on U.S. Highway 34 in Wray.
While it is too soon to tell whether or not some of these projects can be completed ahead of schedule during this time, CDOT leaders told local news outlets that they are optimistic about the road work that can be accomplished in the coming weeks with the stay-at-home orders in place.
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SOURCE: KOAA-TV / Colorado DOT
