In early July, the Colorado Department of Transportation and Concrete Works of Colorado began a project to improve the intersection of US Highway 160 and CO Highway 17. Upgrades to the intersection include a new traffic signal that will replace stop signs, deteriorating asphalt will be removed and upgraded with concrete pavement, and a new storm sewer system will improve drainage.
The East Alamosa Water and Sanitation District took the opportunity to make upgrades to the sanitary system while the new intersection was being constructed. The improvements to the existing system are necessary due to a previous video assessment of a problematic section with deteriorating lines. The plans for the sanitary system consists of abandoning an existing sanitary sewer line and replacing it with approximately 606 linear feet of 8-inch PVC, four manholes, two service connections, the removal and replacement of one fire hydrant, and the re-location of a 2-inch remote read metering station.
Coordinating the sanitary system upgrades with the CDOT project saves EAWSD a considerable amount of money. A large portion of the excavation, traffic control, and infrastructure costs will not be absorbed by EAWSD. And, by replacing the sanitary system lines now, it will ensure a long life for the new lines that will be located under a concrete roadway. Repairs that would have been made in the future to the older line would have been almost impossible and astronomical in cost. RMS Utilities of Alamosa is performing the work for EAWSD which will have to be done in four stages, moving in and out of the CDOT project each time.
The public is encouraged to sign up for notifications to stay informed. Subscribe to updates by contacting the project hotline phone number at: 970-903-9785 or emailing US160CO17@gmail.com. Additional information can be found on the website: www.codot.gov/projects/us160-co17-alamosa-intersection.