Road Closure - CR 220 Connection to US 550

US 550 Connection CR 220 ClosureThe Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Lawrence Construction will build a new alignment for CR 220 where it connects with US 550 just south of Durango. This construction of a new segment of CR 220 will replace the two existing CR 220 legs - which both connect with US 550 at acute angles - with an alignment that meets the highway at a right angle. This new T intersection will create a much safer junction, particularly as the future US 550 alignment will have acceleration/deceleration lanes at CR 220 as well. 

To facilitate construction of the new CR 220 alignment, as well as accommodate the US 550 traffic switch onto the temporary detour, CDOT, in coordination with La Plata County, will close CR 220 between CR 301 and at US 550 for one week. From Saturday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 a.m. to Saturday, Aug. 21 late evening, that segment will be closed to through traffic - with signage and a barricade in the westbound lane - and open to local traffic at CR 301 only (no public traffic will be able to turn onto CR 220 from US 550).

"This project broke ground almost a year ago, with relatively minimal impact to traffic and local residents," said CDOT Southwest Regional Transportation Director Julie Constan. "The project team and La Plata County officials have successfully collaborated to schedule this traffic switch and county road closure before local students head back to school on Aug. 23."

Saturday Morning, Aug. 14:  CR 220 closed to through traffic: Crews will stripe the new two-lane, 1,400-foot paved shoo-fly detour that was built adjacent to the US 550 southbound lanes at CR 220. US 550 traffic will be switched onto this detour. The US 550 detour will be in place for about a year, while the new US 550 northbound lanes are constructed. To tie into the temporary US 550 detour, CR 220 will be closed to construct the new 1,000-foot alignment that will extend across the existing US 550 alignment to connect with the detour. 

Saturday Evening, Aug. 21: CR 220 re-opens: On August 21, the new leg of CR 220 will be striped and ready to open for traffic by the evening. Traffic will be switched onto the newly constructed final alignment of CR 220, which temporarily will connect with the US 550 detour. 

Date TBD: CR 220 closed to through traffic for one to two days: On a date yet to be determined, CR 220 will be closed to through traffic again (for one to two days), between CR 301 and US 550, to enable crews to erect a temporary construction traffic bridge over the county road. 

For more information, please contact Nancy Shanks, Project Public Information Manager at (970) 880-2800 or  us550.us160connectionsouth@gmail.com