Weld County Road 49 Corridor Project
Frequently Asked Questions
Design
Why is Weld County using a Design-Build process?
This process accelerates the project. Some preliminary work can begin before final design is
complete. For example, the project will be broken down into three segments. Once the design is
completed on the first segment, construction work will begin on the first segment and design
work will proceed to the second segment.
The alternative, completing final design before beginning any construction, would require
multiple phases for the project with construction going on for many years.
How was the traffic data gathered and how was it factored into the roadway design?
The design engineer and Weld County placed traffic counters on the roadway to determine an
average daily traffic count. The traffic count also provided data on the number of trucks and
speed of the vehicles traveling on the roadway. Using a 7% annual increase in traffic volume,
the traffic count was projected out to 2045. The roadway was then designed to handle the traffic
volume projected in 2045.
What material will the WCR 49 roadway consist of and what texture will be used?
The road will be paved with concrete for the full 20-mile length. Weld County performed a life
cycle analysis to determine which roadway material would be best suited for this corridor. Over
the lifetime of the roadway, concrete was cheaper to build and maintain.
The roadway will have either a burlap or astro-turf drag applied which will create a surface
texture. Tining will not be used to create the surface texture.
The road will have 24 inches of R-40 material (compacted earth) on the bottom, then a six-inch
layer of road base, then 11 inches of concrete on top. Joints are installed in the concrete to
control the natural cracking process. A seal coating is applied to protect the concrete surface
from the elements.
Will there be designated turn lanes associated with the new roadway?
There will be a continuous 16-foot median along the corridor. At major intersections the median
will be striped to create a left turn lane. Four major intersections have been identified up to this
point in the design process (WCR 50, WCR 44, WCR 30, and WCR22). At other accesses, such
as private property driveways or oil fields, users will be able to use the median as a safe zone to
make a safe left turn into the property.
The same concept can be used for making right turns in to private property using the continuous
8-foot shoulders. Similar to the median striping at the four major intersections, the shoulders will
be converted into designated turn lanes for vehicles to make a right turn. These modifications
are all part of making the WCR 49 corridor a safer roadway for motorists.
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Weld County Public Works
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Project information: (970) 573-6800
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How will the new WCR 49 tie in to I-76?
The new roadway will narrow at the south end to tie in to the existing interchange configuration.
The interchange itself is CDOT’s jurisdiction and is not part of the project. CDOT is evaluating
the interchange using its criteria to determine if and when intersection upgrades need to be
installed.
How will the road be safer when expanding the width will theoretically put more vehicles
on the road?
 Adding lanes means motorists will not have to cross over into the oncoming lane to pass
slower vehicles.
 The multiple lanes will allow for an extra travel lane so motorists will not have to stop
every time a driver in front of them turns off the road.
 The center median will allow vehicles the ability to move out of traffic when making a left
hand turn.
 Drainage will be improved by using a 2% cross slope on the roadway, which will mean
less water and ice on the road.
 The overall number of access points will be reduced, which means fewer points of
potential conflict and better predictability for motorists.
Is Weld County going to build any sound barriers along the road?
Weld County is not going to build any sound barriers along the roadway. However, one benefit
of reducing the grade of the road in some areas by lowering hills and raising valleys is that
truckers may not need to downshift as much.
Operations
Will traffic signals be installed along the corridor as part of the project?
No. Based on traffic studies performed as part of this project, no signals are currently warranted
and are not planned to be installed on the corridor.
Traffic counts are one factor for determining whether a signal is warranted. Accident rates and
types of accidents are other factors. If signals are warranted in the future, Weld County will
consider installing signals or other possible improvements. Currently, Weld County owns only
one signal in unincorporated Weld County, which is the new signal at the north end of the
Parkway at WCR 60.5. All others are the responsibility of CDOT or municipalities.
Will the Union Pacific Railroad crossing be removed as part of the project? If not, won’t
trucks still need to stop?
The Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) crossing located approximately one mile south of U.S. 34
will be widened to match the dimensions of the new roadway. Weld County contacted UPRR
about removing the crossing, which includes the flashing signal lights and track, because no
trains currently use the track; however UPRR and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) prefer to work with Weld County on posting the crossing as “exempt.” With an exempt
status, the flashing signal lights can be removed and hazardous waste vehicles and school
buses will no longer be required to stop at the railroad tracks, allowing shorter travel times and
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Weld County Public Works
(970) 304-6496 x 3750
Project information: (970) 573-6800
[email protected]
safer conditions for all traffic. If trucks or buses do stop at the tracks, having additional lanes
means other motorists can get around them more safely.
Can the county install portable scales to catch trucks that exceed the legal weight? Will
there be areas in the design that account for future weigh stations?
No, weigh stations are a state function and are operated by the State Patrol and CDOT.
Currently, there are no areas being provided to accommodate a future weigh station.
Is there any plan to include street lights along the corridor to better illuminate what is
now a dark roadway?
No street lighting is currently included in the project. Weld County does not have any lighted
intersections on any of its roads. Adding lights to intersections is a policy decision that has to be
made by the Board of County Commissioners.
What will the posted speed limit on the new roadway?
Speed limits after construction is complete will be the same as they are now.
Will there be more patrols to control the speeding?
Additional work zone enforcement is anticipated. Motorists can report aggressive driving,
speeding, or other dangerous driving to the Sheriff’s Dept. at 970-356-4015.
Project Alternatives
Were upgrades to other corridors (e.g. WCR 53) considered as part of the alternatives
analysis process to better disperse traffic?
Weld County does not have any existing right-of-way (ROW) in areas where WCR 53 does not
exist. The ROW acquisition process would have been much more expensive to acquire new
ROW in areas where none currently exists.
The traffic is currently on WCR 49 as are many industrial related facilities. The WCR 49
alignment was the best corridor to upgrade in terms of environmental permitting, ROW
acquisition, and current/projected traffic patterns.
Property Accesses and Property Impacts
Will the project result in displacing residents and what will happen to the homes that will
be closer to the new roadway?
Weld County has done its very best to shift the road alignment to avoid as many homes as
possible. So far, only two homes have had to be acquired. There are no additional homes
anticipated to be acquired.
The roadway design criteria being followed for this project will try to provide a 30-foot clear zone
area from the edge of the travel lanes. The ROW being acquired for this roadway is at least 140
feet wide and takes into account the clear zone in most areas. In areas where the clear zone
cannot be obtained, the use of guardrail is likely.
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Weld County Public Works
(970) 304-6496 x 3750
Project information: (970) 573-6800
[email protected]
For new structures, the Weld County Planning Department requires a 20-foot setback from the
edge of the future ROW (25 feet for Commercial and Industrial zoned property). Since the entire
width of the future ROW is being acquired, new structures will have to be setback a minimum of
20 feet from the ROW line. Existing structures are not subject to the 20-foot setback.
Will utilities be moved to private land, leading to more private property being taken?
For the most part, all the necessary ROW and utility easements have been acquired. Certain
utilities such as telecommunications and water may be relocated to the public ROW. Other
utilities may choose to move out of the public ROW into a private easement. There is some
possibility that in certain areas the contractor may need to contact property owners about
additional land acquisition since the project is not 100% designed at this time.
What is going to happen to private driveways with access to WCR 49 during and after
construction?
There are currently over 200 separate accesses along the existing WCR 49 between U.S. 34
and I-76. Weld County is looking for opportunities to reduce this number. We would like to have
discussions with property owners about consolidating the number of driveways or moving them
to the side roads, where feasible. This will help improve safety in the future. It also helps to have
accesses that are across the road from each other aligned rather than offset and to keep as
much distance between accesses as possible. Weld County is not forcing property owners to
combine or close residential or agricultural driveways. However, for property owners interested
in relocating, combining, or removing accesses, Weld County may assist in covering the cost of
relocating, combining, or removing those accesses.
Weld County will pave the rebuilt accesses with asphalt from the edge of the concrete to the
ROW line. Culverts will be installed under the accesses to help facilitate drainage in the barrow
ditches. Weld County will maintain the portions of the driveways and culverts located in the
ROW.
Where will our mailboxes be located?
Weld County and the contractor will work with the Postal Service to ensure all mail is delivered
on time to the correct location during construction. If anyone is affected and needs assistance
with mail delivery from the contractor during construction, please don’t hesitate to contact the
contractor or Weld County. Weld County understands that construction is already burden
enough to the residents in the area. Weld County and the contractor are here to help you and
want to minimize the impact to your everyday lives.
Will the project impact irrigation ditches along the corridor?
Yes, the project is going to impact irrigation ditches along the corridor. Weld County and the
contractor are currently working with FRICO and the Latham Ditch to coordinate the installation
of new structures at their crossings. There are also many private irrigation crossings that we are
aware of. If you have a private irrigation crossing and have not been contacted, please contact
Weld County or the contractor as soon as possible so the impacts to the crossings can be
minimized.
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Weld County Public Works
(970) 304-6496 x 3750
Project information: (970) 573-6800
[email protected]
Construction
How will the construction be phased and what end of the corridor will the project begin?
WCR 49 will remain open during construction, maintaining active two-way traffic throughout. At
times, WCR 49 may have one lane closed for construction purposes. Those lane closures are
limited to 15 minutes. If lanes are closed for more than 15 minutes, the contractor is subject to
fines.
Farmers with extra-wide equipment should contact the contractor, if there is a need to move the
equipment on the road during construction. Additionally, oversized loads should be coordinated
with the contractor and Weld County.
Construction phasing will be completed in a checkerboard pattern starting on the south end.
There are fewer utilities that need to be relocated on the south side, and starting on that end will
accelerate the schedule. While construction starts in the south, utility relocations can be
completed on the north end.
Crews will alternate sides so there is always an active roadway for vehicles to use during
construction. Weld County plans to have up to 14 miles of road under construction during 2016.
Construction will be completed by December 31, 2017.
Will the side roads remain open during construction and will those side roads be used to
divert traffic onto?
At times, the contractor will likely have to divert traffic onto the side roads, but that’s not ideal. If
the contractor has to divert traffic onto the side roads, the contractor will be responsible for
providing maintenance to the same level that Weld County does. More information will be
available as the project progresses.
It will be helpful if Weld County has phone numbers and email addresses of property owners so
construction updates can be shared easily. Click here to sign up for digital updates about the
WCR 49 Corridor. Also, a 24/7 phone number will be set up that can be used to contact staff if
any issues arise while construction is taking place. Until then, you can call (970) 304-6496 x
3750 or email [email protected] with any questions.
Will the roadway remain open during construction and will I be able to access my
property?
Yes, WCR 49 will remain open during construction. The side roads may be closed during
construction of the intersection..
During construction, the contractor will work with the property owner and provide solutions, as
necessary. It will be helpful if Weld County has phone numbers and email addresses of property
owners so construction updates can be shared easily. Click here to sign up for digital updates
about the WCR 49 Corridor. Also, a 24/7 phone number will be set up that can be used to
contact staff if any issues arise while construction is taking place. Until then, you can call (970)
304-6496 x 3750 or email [email protected] with any questions.
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Weld County Public Works
(970) 304-6496 x 3750
Project information: (970) 573-6800
[email protected]
Is Weld County installing fencing?
The contractor will install temporary fencing where construction easements have been acquired.
The temporary fence is a typical CDOT woven mesh wire fence (field fence 12.5 gauge) with
two strands of either 12.5 gauge barbed or barbless wire (property owner’s choice) above the
wire mesh. The field fence will be a minimum of 47 inches tall.
At the completion of the project, temporary fencing will be removed and permanent fencing
installed at the property line if there was fencing on the property before any ROW was acquired.
No fencing will be installed where in areas where no ROW or construction easements are being
acquired.
What is the cost of this project?
Approximately $109,500,000.
What will the construction crew’s hours of operation be?
The heavy construction work hours are anticipated to be dawn to dusk from Monday to
Saturday. Workers will generally start arriving to the construction site around 6 am and begin
construction work by 7 am. The workers will generally start shutting down for the night around 6
pm and will be leaving around 7 pm. There may be times when work is extended outside of the
anticipated hours of operation for the contractor to perform critical construction operations,
equipment maintenance, repairs, etc.
The contractor also anticipates joint cutting and sealing operations to take place overnight.
Where will the laydown yard be located?
The concrete batch plant will be located at the Journey Ventures Gravel Pit on WCR 58 and
WCR 49.5.
When is project anticipated to be completed?
The entire project has to be completed by December 31, 2017. The contractor hopes to have
the majority of construction activities completed by September or October of 2017. For every
day construction runs past the December 31, 2017 date, a daily $50,000 fine will be imposed on
the contractor. It is important for Weld County to complete the project as quickly as possible to
minimize the inconvenience to property owners and motorists, rather than phase the project
over many years.
Maintenance
What maintenance practices does the County have planned once construction is
complete?
All of Weld County’s existing paved roads are paved with asphalt. The WCR 49 Corridor,
including Weld County Parkway, are the first Weld County roads paved with concrete, which will
lead to new maintenance practices. Weld County is in the process of implementing a new
maintenance program designed for concrete roads that will be used on the new WCR 49
Corridor to address short- and long-term needs.
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Weld County Public Works
(970) 304-6496 x 3750
Project information: (970) 573-6800
[email protected]
The road surface is expected to last 30 or more years before it will need to be replaced. It is
anticipated the new roadway will require minimal maintenance. For example, in order for an
asphalt paved road to last for 30 years, maintenance repairs such as overlays have to be done.
On a concrete roadway, a pavement overlay is not required. The concrete roadway
maintenance will generally include crack filling and periodic surface grinding.
It will be easier to fill potholes without stopping traffic on a five-lane road than a two-lane road.
Weld County is not currently responsible for maintaining the roadway portion in Hudson (WCR
18 south to I-76) or sections that may be annexed in the future; however, Weld County may opt
to assist with maintenance of these sections.
What about snow removal? Will Weld County have additional plows for the corridor?
Weld County will be dedicating additional resources for snow removal to account for the
additional lane miles added to the road system, but it should be noted that Weld County does
not have a Bare Pavement Policy. A Bare Pavement Policy is what you expect to see on
interstates where roads are plowed and salted/sanded to bare pavement within 24 hours of a
snow or ice event. Such a policy would be very expensive to implement and maintain. Weld
County has over 6,000 lane miles of paved and gravel roads that are plowed (one mile of a twolane road is two lane miles). WCR 49 is one of several priority roads that are plowed before
lower priority roads.
One thing that should help with snow removal on the corridor is concrete being easier to plow
than asphalt due to a more uniform surface. The roadway will also have a 2% cross slope to
assist in diverting melt water off of the road.
As with road maintenance, Weld County may help with snow removal on annexed sections of
the road at the discretion of the Board of County Commissioners.
PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY!
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Weld County Public Works
(970) 304-6496 x 3750
Project information: (970) 573-6800
[email protected]