The city of Durango will not be enforcing metered parking Monday because of the Labor Day holiday.

Parking downtown – and in all metered spaces throughout the city – is free.

CDOT projects aim to improve road safety

The Colorado Department of Transportation has begun two projects to improve intersections at Colorado Highway 151 at the Buck Highway (County Road 521) east of Ignacio and at Colorado Highway 172 and County Road 307 west of Oxford.

Both projects will widen the state highways to add left-turn lanes to improve safety. These projects have received federal funds from the Hazard Elimination System Program.

The project at Highway 172 and County Road 307 will add a left-turn deceleration lane on Highway 172. Impacts to travel will occur between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Drivers can expect lane shifts and periodic single-lane traffic and delays, as the speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph during work hours. The project will take place through late November.

The project at Colorado Highway 151 and Buck Highway includes adding a continuous left-turn lane on Highway 151, just east of Ignacio, to serve the Buck Highway to the north and County Road 321 to the south. Impacts to travel will occur between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Drivers can expect some single-lane traffic and some delays, as the speed will be reduced to 40 mph. The project will begin Tuesday and end in late November.

For more information, call (970) 343-9946.

Animation labs to host open house

Rocky Mountain Animation Labs will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Smiley Building, 1309 East Third Ave., Suite 3B.

Rocky Mountain Animation Labs is a school devoted to the art of animation, with courses in 2-D and 3-D animation, including stop-motion, cut-out, cel and pixelation.

The labs’ founder, David Tart, is an award- winning animator and director, whose film credits include “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Finding Nemo.” Tart has taught animation and animation techniques internationally for more than 20 years.

For more information, call 903-9695 or visit www.rockymountainanimationlabs.com.

Animas City School reunion to be held

The Animas Museum will host its annual Animas City School reunion at 1 p.m. Saturday at 3065 West Second Ave.

Former students of the school are invited to an open house to reminisce and tour their former school, which is now the home of the Animas Museum. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 259-2402.

Low-vision expo to be held Sept. 17

The Southwest Center for Independence, a local nonprofit that helps people with disabilities to live well in the community, will host a Low-vision Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

This is open to seniors or anyone with vision loss.

Topics will include TBI Vision Training, glaucoma and information about eye diseases. Lunch will be provided.

For more information, call Angela Kyle at (970) 570-8001 or email [email protected].

Bridge work to close Lewis Creek Road

La Plata County has contracted KW Enterprises LLC to replace the west bridge abutment on the La Plata River Bridge on Lewis Creek Road (County Road 124A) about 9.2 miles north of the U.S. Highway 160 intersection.

The work will begin Tuesday and is scheduled for completion by Oct. 31. The existing stacked timber bridge abutment on the west side will be replaced with a concrete abutment.

The road will be closed for three weeks during construction. Regular working hours will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

For more information, call Jacob Nester at 382-6373 or email [email protected].

Herald Staff