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The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and its construction partner, ABCO Contracting, will perform preventative maintenance improvements to the U.S. 160 Wolf Creek Pass tunnel starting Monday, May 18.
Motorists will be guided by signage onto the nearby paved tunnel bypass lanes. This configuration will ensure crew safety and minimize disruptions to traffic flow during construction.
The tunnel, located between South Fork and the pass summit (mile point 174), will be closed throughout the duration of the project. Work is expected to be complete in early October.
The comprehensive maintenance project will restore smooth driving surfaces and reduce the frequency of icy or slick conditions. The current concrete travel lanes through the tunnel will receive a diamond grind surface treatment, a rehabilitative technique that establishes small grooves on the road’s surface to improve water drainage and increase friction for better traction. A new impermeable barrier will be installed along the interior canopy of the tunnel to reduce water seepage and prevent cracking. Minor repairs to the tunnel's drainage system will also be addressed.
“Tunnels are susceptible to icy road surfaces, especially during cold weather and in mountainous environments like Wolf Creek Pass,” said Transportation Director Julie Constan. “The new skid-resistance surface is just one of the many safety features we are updating to make the highway structure safer for motorists along this critical high country transportation route.”
Additional safety improvements include new signage, refreshed paint striping, guardrail and a new coat of paint on the walls to enhance the tunnel’s lighting.
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