US 85 and CR 8 intersection to restrict to right-in, right-out movement for safety concerns on Aug. 24

Travel Advisory

Fort Lupton - The intersection of US 85 and County Road 8 has been the site of several crashes recently which led the Colorado Department of Transportation to work with local officials to come up with a temporary solution by restricting movements there to right-in, right-out.

Work to restrict the intersection will start the evening of Aug. 24 and will be fully in place the morning of Aug. 25. Night work will continue at the intersection for several days to make the closure of the median at several areas along the area safer for all drivers.

This isn't the first fix CDOT has done at this intersection. About a year ago, accel and decel lanes were added, which helped but the turning of vehicles across the highway proved to be unsafe as traffic numbers increased.

CDOT will continue to study and design a longer-term solution for the intersection for the future, but moving forward with this fix now was stepped up to address the crashes in the area.

"We have seen the crash reports and heard from the community in this area," said CDOT Regional Transportation Director for Northeast Colorado Heather Paddock. "CDOT went to the US 85 Coalition, as well as talked with local first responders, about this immediate solution to improve safety while we continue to explore other long-term solutions to keep the travelling public safe."

To respond quickly, CDOT is working with regional maintenance crews to do the work which should be complete by the end of the month.

Travel Impacts

• Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Motorists should plan for shoulder closures, single lane closures and one-lane alternating traffic

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to "know before you go." Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• Check scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!