Road construction on U.S. 491 has paused for the Fourth of July holiday, but work will resume on Wednesday.

Drivers will continue to encounter single-lane, alternating travel for paving operations between County Road M and just south of Colorado Highway 184, the first of two asphalt overlays the stretch will receive. As summer traffic increases, drivers may be delayed up to 20 minutes at times.

Also, there will be alternating travel along Colorado Highway 184 across from Narraquinnep Reservoir, with 10-15 minute delays possible, as crews replace the guardrail.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is resurfacing, signing and striping a 9-mile section of U.S. 491 north of Cortez. The $6.9 million project reaches from just north of Lebanon Road to about a half mile south of the Colorado 184 junction. The project is scheduled for completion before December.

The project includes upgrades to 3,000 feet of guardrail on Colorado 184 to replace the old barrier structure near Narraguinnep Reservoir. Delays of 10-15 minutes are expected.

“We’re out of your way today and tomorrow, in observance of Independence Day,” CDOT said in a news release. “Then Wednesday through Friday we’re back to work.”