Hwy 67 remains closed between Florence and Wetmore

State Highway (SH) 67 remains closed to through traffic between Florence and Wetmore after last week’s rainstorm heavily damaged a bridge crossing a normally dry channel, five miles north of Wetmore.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) currently is providing site visits for potential contractors and gathering bids for construction of a paved detour around the bridge site. A contractor is expected to be selected Wednesday and given a Notice to Proceed by Friday, August 10.

Detour construction is expected to begin sometime next week, depending on how quickly the contractor can mobilize crews and equipment. CDOT expects the detour to open in another one to two weeks. Once opened, a signal will alternate northbound and southbound traffic through the area.

After the detour opens, CDOT will advertise for a contractor to build a new bridge. The timeframe for building it is unknown until a contractor is in place. However, CDOT expects it to take up to six months. Work also would include improvements to the water channel, which is approximately 34 feet deep.

Local traffic still is able to access areas north and south of the bridge. Until the detour is opened, through traffic will need to use the following highways to access areas north and south of the closure points:

Areas north of the bridge – U.S. 50
Areas south of bridge – From Pueblo: SH 96; points west of Wetmore: SH 69 & SH 96