JEFFERSON COUNTY - The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) closed the left lane of northbound and southbound US 285 between Willow Springs Road and Turkey Creek Road (milepost 248 and 250) Sept. 26. The lane closures will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the project; however, US 285 will be realigned various times throughout the project to accommodate construction activities.

"Next week, we will be preparing the area for the first main phase of construction, which is the demolition and construction of both northbound bridges," said CDOT Project Engineer Scott Smith. "Once our preparatory work is complete in a week or two, we will shift both northbound and southbound US 285 onto the southbound lanes in order to demolish and construct both northbound bridges. Once the northbound bridges are complete, traffic will be switched onto the northbound lanes to complete the new southbound bridges."

Below is a tentative schedule of activities for the project:

-Phase I- Mid to late September 2006 through early April 2007: Demolition and construction of both northbound bridges will be underway. US 285 will be placed in a temporary alignment with traffic placed on the southbound lanes and only one lane open in each direction.

-Phase II- Early April 2007 through September 2007: Demolition and construction of both southbound bridges will be underway. US 285 will be placed in a temporary alignment with traffic placed on the northbound lanes and only one lane open in each direction.

-Willow Springs Road and Turkey Creek Road will close three times during each phase for bridge demolition, girder installation and pipe installation. More information will be released once the closure dates have been determined.

For the duration of the project, motorists on US 285 can expect delays, especially during the morning and evening rush hour. Alternate routes are strongly advised. In addition, the speed limit on US 285 will be reduced to 50 MPH and fines for speeding and infractions related to careless driving in the work zone will be doubled.

Ames Construction Inc. is the contractor of this $5.1 million project, which is schedule to be complete by the end of September 2007.

Mindy Crane, CDOT