Garfield County is closing the bridge over the Crystal River on County Road 108 (Thompson Creek Road) near Carbondale to all traffic on Tuesday morning, May 26. The closure is to ensure worker safety and the safety of the traveling public following an accident that occurred on Friday involving vehicle traffic.
The bridge is being repaired after corroded decking and joints were discovered after a large pothole appeared on the structure in April. Crews are currently clearing the bridge deck of asphalt in the damaged lane and removing concrete from the bottom of the north wall of the bridge. This closure comes a week earlier than the originally planned closure.
Crews continued clearing the bridge deck of asphalt in the damaged lane, and began detailed measurements of the steel deck to place the order. The deck will be increased in thickness to sustain the heavier traffic using it now to 7-gauge industrial steel. The steel is manufactured in the United States, and will provide a long lasting fix to the approximately 75-year old bridge.
Crews also are currently removing concrete from the bottom of the north wall of the bridge to make it flush with the deck. A small section of decking has been removed to assess the center beam. More barriers were added to the center line to wall off the construction zone.
The county is striving to keep the pedestrian bridge open to the public. Cutting of metal and welding is planned in coming days along the pedestrian walkway side of the bridge to shore it up while the deck construction is addressed. Pedestrians should be cautious when crossing the bridge.
The bridge is open in one lane with traffic light switching currently, but will close for the main construction in a couple of weeks when the deck is removed and the new deck is installed.
Updates will be broadcast before 7 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays on KMTS 99.1. Subscribe to email notifications at Garfield County news in the upper right side menu, or visit the main Garfield County website.
Materials on order to make emergency repairs to the structure
GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County is replacing the decking on the bridge over the Crystal River on County Road 108 (Thompson Creek Road) near Carbondale with heavier gauge metal in the coming weeks. The repair project is expected to potentially extend over a few months as the decking was found to have rust and corroded joints, and rubber membrane is needed to avoid further corrosion.
The Board of County Commissioners has approved emergency repairs to the bridge deck in an amount not to exceed $650,000. The emergency nature of the repair work necessitated approval to move forward with the project in an expedited manner to lessen impact on the community. The county’s goal is to complete the repairs as safely and quickly as possible.
One lane of the bridge will remain open at most times for the next 2-3 weeks, but closures may occur at any time during repair work. Stop lights are in place to regulate the flow of traffic and vehicles are currently limited to less than 24,000 pounds. The overall length of the project is dependent on availability of materials, and no definitive timeline for the work is yet determined.
The county has contracted with Con-Sy, Inc. to perform the work and the company has been given approval to order new corrugated metal decking. Con-Sy is replacing the decking in two phases, first removing the pedestrian walkway side of the bridge and placing the new decking, followed by similar work on the opposing lane, to provide consistent access for emergency vehicles if needed.
The county is striving to keep the pedestrian bridge open to the public; however, intermittent closures may take place during construction to ensure safety. Cutting of metal and welding is planned in coming days along the pedestrian walkway side of the bridge, and crossings may be briefly delayed at times.
“Through Con-Sy’s great work, we’ve found a supplier for the decking materials,” said Garfield County Deputy Manager Rob Hanna.
A large pothole appeared on the bridge structure in previous weeks, and a construction crew from Con-Sy removed asphalt from the bridge May 12 to get a better view of the decking. The corrugated metal decking showed corrosion and some eroded welds, which led to a “bounce” when vehicles passed over the bridge.
One lane of traffic is available during emergency repair design work
May 15 UPDATE – The weight restriction on the County Road 108 bridge being limited to less than 24,000 pounds.
GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County is temporarily reopening one lane of the bridge over the Crystal River on County Road 108 (Thompson Creek Road) near Carbondale while emergency repair options are assessed. For the open lane, vehicle traffic is limited to less than 24,000 pounds (UPDATED from 54,000), and no oversized or commercial semis are allowed. Stop lights are in place to regulate the flow of traffic. The pedestrian bridge is also open alongside the bridge.
Oddo Engineering and Con-Sy, Inc. construction contractors are looking at several repair options and will provide estimated costs to the county.
A large pothole appeared on the structure earlier this spring, and construction crews from Con-Sy removed asphalt from the bridge May 12, to get a better view of the decking. The corrugated metal decking showed corrosion and some eroded welds, which led to a “bounce” when vehicles passed over the bridge.
“Our top priority is the safety of the community. We are expediting repairs to get the road back open as quickly as possible for public use,” said Garfield County Road & Bridge Director Scott Marsh.
Variable message boards are located on State Highway 133 in Carbondale; along County Roads 108 and 109; and at the junction of Dry Park and Four Mile roads to keep commuters updated on the current situation. Garfield County Road and Bridge staff is conducting traffic control during the repairs.
Asphalt was removed from the damaged side of the County Road 108 Thompson Creek Bridge Tuesday. Spots on the underlying steel deck revealed some erosion has occurred to the metal, and engineers are inspecting the deck to assess stability.
Parking in the vicinity of the bridge on either side is not available at this time, with private properties bordering the bridge and little easement along the road.
Pedestrian access is available to cross the bridge for residents in the immediate area.
Updates will be broadcast daily before 7 a.m. on KMTS and are linked from KMTS.com. Subscribe to email notifications at Garfield County News in the upper right side menu, or visit the main Garfield County website.
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