A safety closure has been in place on CO 133 since Tuesday, May 2, at Mile Points 14-19. The safety closure is due to significant road damage. The damage originally began with a small sinkhole and lane closure during the weekend of Saturday, April 29. Major flooding from nearby Bear Creek early the week of May 1 filled a culvert with debris and flooded the roadway, pushing the culvert through the other side of the road and eroded roadway embankment, causing the road to collapse. The damage and safety closure are near Somerset, just north of Paonia. Access to Somerset from the north, via CO 133 McClure Pass, continues to be open. Learn more from CDOT.
Anticipated Travel Impacts Pertaining to Livestock Haulers:
- The Hwy 133 temporary bridge north of Paonia that is scheduled to be built in June is rated for 85,000 lbs. According to the Colorado State Patrol’s Port of Entry officers, the average fully-loaded livestock hauler (cattle truck) is 85,000 lbs, but with additional permitting and axles, they can be over 100,000 lbs.
- Once the temporary bridge is in place and CO 133 is safely reopened for the traveling public, there will be a lowered speed limit of 40 mph. Commercial motor vehicle traffic will be restricted to 85,000 lbs and 11-foot width.
- Bridge parts are anticipated to arrive the first week of June. CDOT continues to negotiate details and the schedule with contractor partner, R.L. Wadsworth, with the goal of having work completed as soon as possible. The temporary bridge will allow CO 133 to reopen to motorists.
CDOT will continue the free shuttle service on Tuesday, May 30, following the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The shuttle service will run Tuesday, May 30- Friday, June 2 next week. Schedule times are departure from Paonia at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., and 7 a.m. Shuttles will depart Carbondale at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. The Paonia pick-up location is at Paonia Town Park. The Carbondale drop-off and pick-up location is at the RFTA Carbondale Park & Ride. CDOT will continue to evaluate the shuttle service schedule and whether changes are needed for the service to be useful for commuters. An updated schedule will be shared in time for the week of June 5.
To listen to a radio interview by CDOT Communications Manager Elise Thatcher, please click on the link below: https://www.kvnf.org/show/rain-shine/2023-05-25/rain-shine-cdot-update-on-highway-133
For further information please contact:
Dan Frazen, Agriculture Emergency Coordinator, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Office (303) 869-9143
Cell (720) 916-2804 Â
305 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield, CO 80021
https://ag.colorado.gov/animals/emergency-preparedness-and-response
