At an Aug. 24 joint meeting, the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and Pagosa Springs Town Council received an update on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT’s) downtown road reconstruction project.
Meredith Greene, a public information manager on the project, was on hand to inform the elected officials on the status of the U.S. 160 project, with an emphasis on wrapping up the two-year project.
The project is slated to be completed by December of this year, with only minimal work, “wrapping up odds-and-ends,” such as restriping the road, extending into 2027, Greene said.
“The only big lift that we have left is around the 1st Street intersection,” she added, and this would be done by Christmas.
The project is currently at 83 percent completion, she explained.
CDOT is managing, with WW Clyde as its contractor, the $24.5 million road reconstruction project, which is replacing old asphalt with a new concrete road surface between 1st and 8th streets in downtown.
The project is also widening sidewalks, adding new pedestrian crosswalks, upgrading ADA sidewalk ramps and upgrading underground utilities.
Greene noted that this coming Monday, the start of school for Archuleta School District, parents who are bringing their children to school should be mindful of traffic slowdowns due to the construction.
“Please ride the bus, when you can, to help mitigate the traffic,” she urged.
After Labor Day, drivers will see a traffic shift from the dog-leg (near the former courthouse) to 8th Street, moving traffic to the north side of U.S. 160, she explained.
This will allow “milling” to begin on the south side from the dog-leg to 8th Street and stormwater utility work at 5th and 7th streets, she explained, adding that the intersection improvement at Piedra Road and Harman Park will also begin in mid-September.
When opened to questions from the elected officials, town council member Brooks Lindner wanted to know the total number of days worked so far and the total expected number of work days remaining.
“In reality, it really doesn’t mean much to tell you the total number of days, because it’s just literally the number of days worked,” Greene said, adding, “I thought the 83 percent was a better number to give you.”
Lindner asked, “But we have some considerations based on the total number of days, no?”
Greene explained that the total number of days worked sits at 270, and that “this is the same” as that 83 percent number.
On the number of days remaining, she didn’t have an exact number, but explained that the road should be fully open by Christmas.
“I know it seems like a lot, but we really don’t have that much more to do,” she said.
In talking with her “construction team, the only heavy -lift that remains is the 1st Street work,” she added.
CDOT is also working with the school district to inform parents about closures from 7th to 10th streets during the fall school months, but that only one road at a time would be closed, allowing navigation through the other routes, she explained.
Commissioner Warren Brown said to Greene, “Thank you for your updates. We really appreciate it.”
CDOT states on its website about the project that replacing the old asphalt with concrete “will increase the lifespan and longevity of the roadway, requiring less frequent maintenance.”
It adds, “Concrete is less susceptible to wear and tear under heavy traffic volume and is less prone to weather damage.”
derek@pagosasun.com
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