​Durango Mall contractors are reconfiguring the intersection of U.S. Highway 160 and Sawyer Drive in response to long-standing safety concerns.

The new configuration will reduce the number of vehicle paths that conflict between the two adjacent intersections of U.S. Highway 160 and East Sawyer Drive and the U.S. Highway 160 frontage road and East Sawyer Drive.

Permanent striping through the intersection and recalculation of the signal timing are scheduled to occur May 21.

While changes will improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection, motorists are urged to become familiar with the new configuration, watch for orange barrels and cones and stay on the right side of the median at all times.

To access the Durango Mall, northbound and southbound travelers on U.S. Highway 160 should turn into the mall on Sawyer Drive as usual.

To access the businesses along the frontage road north of the mall, southbound travelers on U.S. Highway 160 should turn left at the County Road 210 traffic signal near Nature’s Oasis Food Market and continue south on the frontage road. Northbound travelers on U.S. Highway 160 should continue past Sawyer Drive and turn right onto the frontage-road access past Serious Texas Bar-B-Q.

On the frontage road north of Durango Mall, southbound left turns into the mall are no longer allowed on the east side of the highway.

From U.S. Highway 160, northbound right turns onto East Sawyer Drive that are followed by an immediate left turn onto the east frontage road are no longer allowed.

For more information, visit www.codot.gov.

fstone@durangoherald.com