Three finalists have been selected for an original three-dimensional sculpture to be installed in the traffic island as part of the new Continuous Flow Intersection at U.S. highways 550 and 160.

The community will have an opportunity to view and comment on each of the proposals during a public open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the South Lobby of Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. The public will have a chance to talk with each of the artists about their proposals. The comments will be considered by the artwork selection committee. The piece will be installed in July.

For more information, email Sherri Dugdale at [email protected] or call 375-5002.

Road construction continues near Pagosa

Work is underway to improve the intersection of U.S. Highway 160 at Hurt Drive and Badger Road, in the Aspen Springs subdivision area west of Pagosa Springs.

The intersection improvements include minor highway widening to accommodate: left-turn lanes off U.S. Highway 160 onto both Hurt Drive and Badger Road; right-turn deceleration lanes from U.S. Highway 160 to both drives; and right-turn acceleration lanes from both drives onto U.S. Highway 160. The work also includes resurfacing on U.S. Highway 160 between mile posts 131 and 134.5; highway shoulder improvements; slope flattening to improve sight distance for motorists and cyclists; and a section of new guardrail.

Motorists will encounter single-lane, alternating traffic and some travel delays on both U.S. Highway 160 and the drives, Monday through Friday, during daylight hours. By the end of April, traffic should be shifted, so eastbound will use the detour road, and westbound will use the existing eastbound lane. When the detour is in use, motorists will encounter periodic stops. The project completion date is set for late September.

For more information, call 731-2918.

Construction to begin on Colo. Highway 145

The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin a project on Monday to improve Colorado Highway 145 from Cortez through the Dolores River Bridge.

The work will be completed in mid-August. The work zone extends from the junction with U.S. Highway 160 in Cortez over the Dolores River Bridge. The project will accomplish the following: resurface the road, providing a leveling course to smooth the surface and correct rough road; patch and improve drainage in damaged areas; rehabilitate the bridge deck, including weather-proofing and new bridge rail; correct the curve at County Road P; and install ADA ramps at sidewalks on Colorado Highway 145 in Cortez.

Crews will begin work at the Dolores River Bridge, and traffic will be in a single-lane, alternating configuration 24/7 controlled with temporary signal. This is likely to last through May. Concurrently, work will begin near County Road P, where there will be single-lane, alternating traffic, between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Drivers can view lane closure reports at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html.

For more information, call 882-8842.

Class for homebuyers to be offered in April

The Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County offers a free monthly Homebuyer Education Class.

The class is an eight-hour program designed to help participants purchase and own a home. Topics include: buyer readiness, budget/financial management, credit reports and scoring, mortgage lending, working with a real estate agent, homeowners insurance, home inspections, the closing process, home maintenance and foreclosure prevention.

The class is facilitated by the alliance with contributions from local professionals. Two separate classes will be held – the first from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 8, 15 and 22; and the second a full-day class on April 12. Registration is required.

To register, call 259-1418 or visit www.rhalpc.org.

Training available for Nature Center docents

Durango Nature Studies will host Nature Center Docent Training from 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 19.

Trained docents will spend one or two Saturdays of their choice between May and October greeting people at the Welcome Building at the Nature Center in Bondad. Duties will include: handing out maps, taking entry fees, signing up new members, selling merchandise, telling people about the flora and fauna of the center, handing out interpretive information and helping kids achieve their Junior Naturalist badge. A short training and a natural history manual will be provided for all docents.

To register, call 769-1800 or email [email protected].

Herald Staff