Drivers traveling to Towaoc, Cortez or Cortez Municipal Airport may be delayed along U.S. Highway 491 with stops lasting anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes as road work continues through Friday.
Cars backed up bumper-to-bumper for miles Wednesday at peak commute hour, but the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a traffic update the work is expected to finish on Friday at the latest.
Road crews are repaving stretches of U.S. 491 and creating access roads from the highway for the new Maverick gas station across from County Road G.2 at 7255 U.S. Highway 160/491. The gas station is not opening until crews complete highway access.
Road crews are directing traffic with flaggers and some vehicles may come to a full stop. CDOT recommended taking into account the delay and planning extra time if traveling to the airport to or from Farmington or beyond.
Some lanes are entirely closed and others are shifted, as south and north traffic is directed to alternate with those lanes reduced to one.
Construction crews are milling, paving and striping the road to construct new left and right turn lanes to and from the Maverick gas station. CDOT spokesperson Adair Christensen said the project is being completed by the private developer of gas station, a requirement within CDOT’s site planning process.
awatson@the-journal.com
