Work has begun to replace the Hardscrabble Creek Bridge on Colorado Highway 120 near Portland, about four miles east of Florence. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project involves removing the current structure and construction of a new bridge, detour paving, road reconstruction, new guardrails, seeding and signing.
Highway 120 remains in its original alignment while the detour is under construction, just north of the old bridge. When completed, traffic then will be shifted onto the detour, allowing the new bridge to be built. The detour is expected to open to traffic in late December or early January. Traffic impacts will be minimal, requiring only occasional stops for truck hauling operations and when traffic is shifted to and from the detour route. All work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
"The bridge was originally built in 1928 and after 80 years, it's become functionally obsolete, especially with the amount of truck traffic that uses this route to and from the Portland cement plant," said CDOT Resident Engineer David Miller. "When it's completed, there'll be wider shoulders through the immediate area, improving safety as well."
Tezak Heavy Equipment Co. of Canon City, is the contractor for the $2 million project. It is scheduled for completion in April 2009.
Motorists are reminded to please Slow for the Cone Zone, stay alert and pay attention to and obey all work zone/advisory signs and flaggers. Traffic information about this or other CDOT projects is on the www.cotrip.org website or by calling 511 statewide.
Highway 120 remains in its original alignment while the detour is under construction, just north of the old bridge. When completed, traffic then will be shifted onto the detour, allowing the new bridge to be built. The detour is expected to open to traffic in late December or early January. Traffic impacts will be minimal, requiring only occasional stops for truck hauling operations and when traffic is shifted to and from the detour route. All work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
"The bridge was originally built in 1928 and after 80 years, it's become functionally obsolete, especially with the amount of truck traffic that uses this route to and from the Portland cement plant," said CDOT Resident Engineer David Miller. "When it's completed, there'll be wider shoulders through the immediate area, improving safety as well."
Tezak Heavy Equipment Co. of Canon City, is the contractor for the $2 million project. It is scheduled for completion in April 2009.
Motorists are reminded to please Slow for the Cone Zone, stay alert and pay attention to and obey all work zone/advisory signs and flaggers. Traffic information about this or other CDOT projects is on the www.cotrip.org website or by calling 511 statewide.