The Colorado Department of Transportation is planning a chip seal construction project on U.S. Highway 160 that will increase travel time this summer in Southwest Colorado.
The speed limit will decrease to 40 mph in work zones, where traffic fines double. The highway will be reduced to single-lane alternating traffic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during weekdays for the duration of the project, which is expected to last until September.
The first section of construction, on a 20-mile segment between Durango and Mancos, is set to begin June 17. CDOT estimates the drive will take 20 minutes longer than usual.
Later in the summer, CDOT plans to begin construction on a second segment of the highway, a 16-mile stretch just east of Bayfield. CDOT has not yet specified a start date for the Bayfield construction segment.
Chip seal projects restore the road and help ensure its integrity.
“This summer’s work is a cost effective way to extend the life of these heavily trafficked corridors and create a smoother skid resistant surface for the cooler months to come,” said Julie Constan, regional transportation director for CDOT, in a news release.
