Construction beginning June 19 on Weld County Road 77
Published on June 14, 2023
Weld County Road (WCR) 77 between Highway 14 and WCR 100 will undergo several enhancements beginning next week. Maintenance on the road, located north of Briggsdale, will begin June 19, 2023, and is anticipated to be complete by Nov. 3, 2023.
“Understandably, people think of road projects only occurring in high-traffic areas but providing a safe and efficient transportation system means looking for ways to improve travel in rural areas as well,” said Mike Freeman, Weld County Commissioner Chair. “Similar to our improvements on county road 105 in 2019, these focus on delivering several enhancements, which will make the road stronger now and in the future.”
Over the course of five months, the Weld County Department of Public Works will completely rebuild the five-mile stretch of road. The road will be repaired using full depth reclamation (FDR), a process that uses a portion of the existing asphalt pavement to strengthen the road’s structure. Once the FDR is complete, crews will pave the repaired section of road with new asphalt. Beyond the physical benefits drivers can expect from a new road surface, Public Works Director Curtis Hall said the fact crews are using existing asphalt to strengthen the road’s structure means the improvement can be delivered in a more cost-effective manner compared to relying entirely on new material.
“FDR isn’t always possible due to the condition of existing asphalt, the amount needed and the condition of the base underneath the road. But when we can use it, there are great cost savings to the taxpayer,” Hall said, mentioning one mile of new asphalt can cost between $300,000 to $550,000 per mile depending on many factors in the construction process. “And because we’re using existing asphalt, it reduces time spent hauling material, which means we can deliver improvements more quickly.”
In addition to a new driving surface, crews will construct six-foot shoulders on each side of WCR 77 and a pull off area, enhancements that will provide additional safety for drivers needing to pull over as well emergency personnel responding to emergencies. Additionally, a total of nine culverts will be replaced during the project.
While work is completed, the road will be closed. Drivers are asked to be aware of, and follow, project detours. Detours are paved and include WCR 390/105 between WCR 136 and Highway 14 and Highway 14 between WCR 105 and WCR 77.
Residents are encouraged to follow the county’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the project.