Colorado Highway Emergency Paving Project

Colorado Department of Transportation and APC Southern Construction turn to AWP Safety for traffic control during crucial infrastructure repairs.

AWP Safety is North America’s #1 traffic safety partner, regularly teaming up with state Departments of Transportation and roadway construction companies to ensure crews and communities are protected during major highway projects.

Challenge

The 2022-23 winter season was tough on Colorado roadways, with a severe freeze-thaw cycle and heavy snowfall causing significant damage to the US-40 Berthoud Pass. Located in the Rocky Mountains at 11,307 feet above sea level, the Berthoud Pass is the fastest route from Denver to Winter Park and Steamboat Springs.

To make emergency roadway repairs statewide, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) requested and received $25 million of additional funding from the Colorado Transportation Commission. The largest project to benefit was a 10-mile section of Berthoud Pass. Construction work was completed on a tight timeline from August to October of 2023 in preparation for the upcoming winter season. The project required complex setups to alert motorists to changing traffic patterns and support safe worksite entrance and exit points for vehicles carrying crew, equipment and supplies.

Solution

To secure work areas and keep motorists safe, CDOT requested that the project contractor, APC Southern Construction, engage AWP Safety for all traffic control planning and execution.

Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, APC is a full-service construction company, aggregate mining and processing company and road materials supplier. APC specializes in preparing and laying asphalt to repair and build major roads.

AWP Safety worked closely with CDOT and APC to understand project logistics and develop a series of 13 comprehensive traffic control plans (TCPs). Twenty team members across AWP Safety’s Colorado locations in Greeley, Denver, and Englewood, worked six days a week and 15+ hour days to ensure local citizens and construction workers remained safe during this essential project. Additionally, the Colorado team provided three message boards, 700 cones, 200 drums, 187 signs, one truck mounted attenuator (TMA) and five barricade trucks to ensure the traffic control plans were executed smoothly and safely.

Results

• Increased safety. AWP Safety’s comprehensive safety solutions ensured all workers, local residents and travelers remained safe.
• Improved efficiency. APC was able to stay on-task and completed the project 15 days ahead of the deadline.
• Reduced risk and liability for CDOT and APC. Detailed traffic control plans helped mitigate liability and safety risks.

“The AWP Safety crew does a fantastic job,” said Aaron Maldonado, APC superintendent and project manager. “I’m very pleased with their communication, attitude, and overall willingness to be here. It was a tough project and from my standpoint they did an excellent job.”

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