ANTONITO — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) started slope work operations earlier this week along Colorado Highway (CO) 17, 10 miles west of Antonito in Conejos County. The work will take place for the next few weeks, along a 13 mile stretch of CO 17, on the eastside of La Manga/Cumbres Pass, between mile points 17 – 30.

Slope work will include the removal of excess material that has come down from the hillside, which occurs with erosion.

“This work will allow crews to address debris deposited along the roadside from past rock falls and mud slides,” said Joe Romero, CDOT maintenance supervisor. “Our crews will remove concrete barriers in order to take care of clean up behind the barricade area. Once the debris is cleared, the concrete barriers will then be set back into place along the road shoulder and slope.”

HIGHWAY TRAVEL IMPACTS: This week through the mid-November motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures and brief traffic stops of 15-20 minutes. The maintenance operations are expected to be completed by Friday, November 17.

The traveling public is urged to obey signage and speed reductions of 40 MPH through the work zone. Motorists should also be aware of flaggers, maintenance workers and heavy equipment on and along the roadway.