Motorists traveling through Pueblo County can expect to see construction crews at work starting May 5, as the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Siete, Inc. kick off an improvement project at the intersection of US Highway 50C and Baxter Road. The upgrades, detailed by CDOT, are designed to enhance safety and increase operational efficiency with the aim to cut down on vehicular conflicts and ameliorate sight distance restrictions.
"This type of safety improvement project is critical for intersections such as this one that support a high daily volume of traffic," said Shane Ferguson, CDOT Region Transportation Director, as per CDOT. Construction plans include widening the north side of US 50C westbound to better the turning radius for vehicles entering and exiting Baxter Road, converting the right through lane on westbound US 50C into a dedicated turn and acceleration lane, in addition to installing channelized islands to separate opposing traffic. Ferguson's statement implies a commitment to quickly and efficiently complete the work slated to wrap up by late July.
Project scopes shared by CDOT reveal that the work zone for this project falls between mile points 7 and 8 on US 50C and extends on Baxter Road up to Gale Road. To keep the public informed and traffic moving smoothly, advanced warning signs will be visible before the intersection, alerting drivers to lane closures and construction presence. Those planning to travel through the area during work hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday should anticipate single lane and shoulder closures on both directions of US 50C, while overnight work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. may cause single lane closures on Baxter Road.
