A roadway improvement project in Las Animas County has been completed, adding new passing capacity and rebuilding pavement along a section of Colorado Highway 12 west of Weston.
The Colorado Department of Transportation partnered with United Companies on improvements between Mile Points 46.7 and 48 along the highway, part of the corridor connecting Trinidad and La Veta.
Construction included a 16-foot roadway widening along with full-depth reclamation and reconstruction. Existing roadway materials were pulverized and reused as part of the new pavement structure, followed by hot-mix asphalt paving.
The project also added a 12-foot eastbound passing lane and expanded shoulders by 4 feet. The improvements are intended to provide additional opportunities for motorists to pass slower-moving vehicles while improving roadway durability.
Beyond the main roadway reconstruction, crews completed repairs to culverts and installed new pavement markings and signs.
The rebuilt pavement is expected to provide a smoother driving surface while improving resistance to rutting and other roadway deterioration. The work also supports continued use of CO 12 as a key travel route in southeastern Colorado.
Construction began April 13 and reached completion at the end of September, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The completed project adds passing capacity and upgrades the pavement structure on a rural highway corridor where slower-moving traffic can affect mobility. Reusing existing roadway materials through full-depth reclamation also formed part of the reconstruction approach.
For transportation owners and contractors, the project demonstrates how roadway widening, passing lanes, pavement reconstruction and drainage-related repairs can be combined within a single corridor improvement program.
Source: CODOT Gov.
