South bridge to open at Fillmore/I-25; old bridge to be sawed lengthwise starting Sept. 10
A graphic (using an older aerial photo of the
Fillmore interchange area) shows the design for the planned diverging diamond
where Fillmore Street crosses above I-25. The new bridges are shown in orange
(north above and south below). Following arrows drawn in the lanes, it can be
seen how westbound and eastbound traffic cross each other at the ends of the
bridges (aided by stoplights, not shown). The graphic also helps illustrate why the
old bridge needs to be sawed lengthwise - because the old structure is just north of
the new south span and it partially overlaps with the space where the new north
bridge will go.
Courtesy of Colorado Department of
Transportation
|
In a new plan worked out by the contractor, SEMA Construction, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), overnight work will require the closures of both Fillmore Street and the interstate at the interchange from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 10, 11 and 13 and possibly also the 14th.
During those times, I-25 traffic will be able to continue through using off/on ramps; Fillmore traffic will be detoured.
Other overnight activities - these causing intermittent I-25 lane closures only - are scheduled Sept. 15 and 16, according to a press release and clarifying information from Ted Tjerandsen of CDOT project consultant Wilson & Company.
The new south bridge is now set to open to eastbound traffic overnight Sept. 9. Also, the south side of the old bridge will begin carrying westbound vehicles only, he said. This driving scenario will be in place for the next few months, until the new north bridge is built, Tjerandsen said.
Drivers on these bridges may get glimpses of the start of the lengthwise sawing/demolition of the north side of the old bridge, which is scheduled to begin around noon Sept. 10. Concrete barricades will separate the south side from the north side, Tjerandsen said, and there will be no danger to motorists, as the sawing at that time will only be part way through the bridge deck. (See initial story below for more details about the sawing plan.)
Update, Sept. 3: The schedule for the opening of the new Fillmore/I-25 south bridge and the lengthwise sawing of the old bridge (as detailed in the initial story below) has been pushed back.
The contractor's new plan is to have the south bridge ready for eastbound traffic Wednesday morning, Sept. 9, with the old bridge blocked off. This will allow the sawing operation on the old bridge to start that afternoon - cutting only about halfway through the old deck.
The rest of the cut, followed by the demolition of the portion that's cut away, will occur that night, the night after (Sept. 10) and Sunday, Sept. 13, if needed. In each of those cases of overnight work, the interstate will be closed.
Initial story, Aug. 31: In a unique milestone for the Fillmore/I-25 interchange replacement project, the old bridge will be sawed in half lengthwise the night of Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The work, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., will require the closure of I-25 during that time. Fillmore Street traffic in both directions will be carried - one lane each way - on the new south bridge, which is slated for opening this week (Sept. 1 or 2).
On Wednesday, Sept 9, the contractor, SEMA construction, will continue the demolition of the sawed-off half - which will again require the interstate closure. And Sept. 10 may be needed for that purpose as well, according to Ted Tjerandsen of project consultant Wilson & Company.
Surprisingly, the operation will not disable the remaining bridge structure, but will leave it available to handle two lanes of westbound traffic for the next few months, he explained. This is because the segment being sawed off - on its north side - was added in the 1970s when the original bridge (built around 1960) needed widening.
The work will involve a motor-driven saw with a four-foot blade and a crew walking behind to operate it. “It will cut right alongside a support beam,” Tjerandsen said.
After the sawing operation, the south bridge, which has been under construction in recent months, will handle two lanes of eastbound traffic while the old span will carry two lanes westbound, he said.
This will be a temporary layout, until the new north bridge is built. That will be the next major effort in the interchange project, with completion weather-dependent because much of the work will occur during colder months. For that reason, it's possible the north bridge will not be ready for use until the spring, he said.
The reason the north half of the old bridge is being sawed off is to make room for the north bridge, which needs to be built in that space, Tjerandsen said.
The remainder of the old bridge is due for demolition once the north bridge is in.
The final major step in the project will be establishing the diverging diamond layout, in which traffic going over the interchange will be directed to the left (via stoplights at either end of the bridges). At that time, in keeping with that design, the south bridge will carry westbound traffic instead of eastbound.
Westside Pioneer article
(Posted 8/31/15, updated 9/3/15;
Transportation:
Fillmore/I-25)
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