Motorists who frequent Weld County Road 44 may need to plan for a change in their usual routes. The final leg of upgrades, which kicked off this week, entails the demolition and reconstruction of Bridge 44/51A, a vital connection on the road stretching from WCR 49 to WCR 57. This segment of roadway near Kersey will be closed beginning October 14 and is not anticipated to reopen until the end of February 2025.
According to Weld County, travelers can find detour information on the county’s Road Advisory Map during the closure of WCR 44, which will impact the stretch between WCR 51 and WCR 53. The new bridge promises a stronger structure, an improved driving surface, and dimensions to accommodate the heavy traffic it endures, nearly half of the average 1,473 daily vehicles being heavy trucks.
Weld County Commissioner Chair, Kevin Ross, acknowledged the inconvenience posed by the roadwork but emphasized the long-term vision. "Making our roads as safe and efficient as possible is a priority every year, and this bridge project helps us meet that goal," Ross said, as per Weld County. "We know road closures can be inconvenient, but we believe the end result will be a bridge that benefits the traveling public for many years."
The transformation of WCR 44 has been on the table for a while, with various sections having already been upgraded. Public Works Director Curtis Hall expressed his enthusiasm for the culmination of these efforts with the bridge's completion. "The bridge will tie together the work we’ve done over the past few years on WCR 44 from WCR 49 to WCR 57," Hall mentioned, as noted by Weld County. "It’s taken a while to work through ditch companies’ concerns, but we’re ready to get this project started and eager to deliver on our vision of a safer, more efficient road, with the bridge being the final piece of the project."
