News Release

Rim Rock Drive to Re-Open May 12, 2018

Date: May 10, 2018
Contact: Arlene Jackson, 970-858-3617 x363
Contact: Dan Hallett, 970-858-3617 x346

Fruita, CO – The east side of Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument is scheduled to re-open Saturday, May 12, 2018. The new asphalt road is in, however, the area will remain a construction zone as United Companies completes the final tasks of the contract. The remaining work involves replacing the guard rails, installing signs/delineators and adding permanent lane markings.

Beginning Saturday May 12, visitors and Glade Park residents can expect:

• A new asphalt road surface with temporary lane markings. 
• A lower temporary speed limit of 20 mph. When the contract is finished the speed limits will return to the previous limits.
• On Monday through Friday and possibly some Saturdays, the construction staff may work 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To allow for the safe operation of guard rail installation equipment, the construction company will close one lane and use flaggers or pilot vehicles to escort cars through the work zones. Motorists should expect delays of up to 30 minutes. 
• The National Park Service highly recommending bicyclists traveling the entire 23 miles of Rim Rock Drive to start at the Fruita entrance during this time. Due to their slower speed while traveling up the east hill, cyclists may extend the wait time for downhill vehicles and bicycles within the flagging/pilot car operations. 
• The Little Park Road route will be signed as an alternate route for those wishing to avoid the construction.
• Tunnel dimensions may have changed slightly due to the overlay of asphalt. Until accurate measurements can be conducted, the posted tunnel heights are 16 feet above the center double yellow line and 10.6 feet above the white fog line.

Based on the current timeline, the work will be completed before the July 4 weekend, almost a month earlier than the contract deadline.

Spring hours are now in effect at Colorado National Monument. The visitor center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. For additional information please visit www.nps.gov/colm or call 970-858-3617, ext. 360.

-www.nps.gov-
 

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