I-76 Reconstruction from Brush to Fort Morgan Begins This Week

MORGAN COUNTY — Today, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) began an interstate reconstruction project in both directions of I-76 from Brush, mile marker (MM) 84.9, to Fort Morgan, MM 91.1. The project is expected to last until December 2014.

“This area of Colorado is growing very quickly, and the project will help improve the existing infrastructure, which is currently in poor condition,” said Project Manager Gale Siedenburg. “By helping to modernize the transportation system, we hope to help support economic growth in the area and give motorists a safer drive.”

As part of the project, crews will build or replace 13 bridges and one box culvert, will reconfigure two I-76 interchanges at State Highway 71 and Dodd Bridge Road to standard diamond interchanges, and will lengthen all on- and off-ramps for a safer transition onto and off of the interstate. The existing six miles of roadway throughout the project, including shoulders and ramps, will be repaved with concrete. Additionally, long term drainage improvements will be made along the interstate in Brush.

In late March 2013, the Dodd Bridge Road westbound ramps will be closed for approximately one week to facilitate the construction of new ramps. After the Dodd Bridge ramps are reopened, the Hospital Road westbound ramps will be closed for the same duration. Local, signed detours will be in place during both closures. Additionally, beginning April 8, both westbound lanes of I-76 will be closed until fall 2013. During this time, all traffic will be rerouted in a head-to-head configuration in the eastbound lanes with one lane dedicated to each direction of traffic.

Throughout construction, motorists can expect to see crews working Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional night and weekend work. Delays during working hours will be kept to a minimum, and only one interchange will be closed at a time for construction. Various lane closures on both eastbound and westbound I-76 from Dodd Road Bridge to State Highway 71 will be in place during the first weeks of March. Throughout the construction zone, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 MPH, and motorists are encouraged to drive Slow for the Cone Zone!

This project has a contracted cost of $37.6 million to Castle Rock Construction Co.

For additional information about the project, contact the project public information line at 970-840-7090 or at [email protected]. The project also has a website atwww.coloradodot.info/projects/i76brushreconstruction.

To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visitwww.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. Live road conditions are available at www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.