CDOT has finished resurfacing Colorado Highway 46 at Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Project Announcement

Gilpin & Jefferson County - The Colorado Department of Transportation and contract partner, Martin Marietta, have completed the CO 46 Resurfacing in Gilpin and Jefferson counties project. The purpose of the project was to improve safety and mobility along this 6.6-mile, two-lane highway that runs from CO 119 through Golden Gate Canyon State Park to the Jefferson County line. Work began on Sept. 1 and was completed on schedule.

The primary scope of work consisted of milling and paving the full length of the highway, including side street approaches, with two inches of high-quality asphalt. Other work included cleaning culverts, installing signs and delineators, adding striping and other pavement markings.

The newly resurfaced pavement and infrastructure upgrades have greatly enhanced driving conditions, providing a smoother ride and improved safety on this vital mountain corridor.

"Mountain highways face unique challenges from changing weather and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. CO 46 needed repair due to impacts from weather and high volumes of traffic," said CDOT Region 1 Transportation Director Jessica Myklebust. "This project addressed pavement deterioration and added safety features, improved drainage and updated pavement markings to help motorists travel more safely."

Originally built in the mid-1980s, the highway had undergone routine maintenance and some repaving at the east end over the decades to address age, wear and freeze-thaw cycles. By resurfacing the full length of the highway, crews have restored the road surface to optimal driving condition, preserved the road base and ensured the safety of the traveling public. Key benefits include:

• Enhanced Safety and Mobility: The primary purpose of the project was to improve overall safety and traffic flow along this two-lane mountainous corridor.
• Smoother Driving Surface: Paving the highway with two inches of new asphalt eliminates potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces, creating a much smoother ride and reducing vehicle wear and tear.
• Improved Navigational Visibility: The addition of fresh, highly visible lane striping and updated wayfinding signs improves driver guidance, especially during night driving or inclement mountain weather.
• Better Stormwater Infrastructure: Specialized cleaning of roadside culverts prevents water from pooling on the asphalt, ensuring efficient storm drainage runoff and minimizing hydroplaning hazards.

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!