{"id":26639,"date":"2024-07-17T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/u-s-highway-550-connection-finally-opens-in-durango\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T23:43:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T05:43:03","slug":"u-s-highway-550-connection-finally-opens-in-durango","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/u-s-highway-550-connection-finally-opens-in-durango\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Highway 550 connection finally opens in Durango"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Traffic
Traffic moves through the Grandview Interchange on Tuesday. A realigned U.S. Highway 550 began flowing into the interchange for the first time Sunday. The interchange includes two roundabouts and four bridges and on-, offramps. Drivers using the new connection said they were mostly pleased with it, although some were dismissive of the roundabouts. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Durango has a new point of entry.<\/p>\n

Motorists on Sunday began using a realigned portion of U.S. Highway 550 that connects with the Grandview Interchange \u2013 long dubbed the \u201cBridge to Nowhere\u201d as a result of yearslong delays linking Highway 550 with the interchange.<\/p>\n

In unison with the realignment opening, Farmington Hill was closed and crews have already begun dismantling the steep, curvy, two-lane road that was cut into the hillside decades ago.<\/p>\n

Commuters in the Durango area on Tuesday seemed mostly pleased with the new connection, which includes a nearly $100 million realignment of Highway 550 and a $47 million (in early 2010 dollars) for the interchange.<\/p>\n

The connection includes a new roundabout, a feature some commuters are thrilled with and others are frustrated by. At least one driver was seen traveling the wrong direction in the roundabout on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Lisa Schwantes, spokeswoman with the Colorado Department of Transportation, said the traffic switch was implemented in stages throughout Sunday, beginning with fresh paint striping at several sites and followed by northbound traffic switching onto the new Highway 550 alignment just after 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Farmington Hill route was barricaded shortly after the traffic switch, and the Grandview Interchange opened entirely to traffic at 3:15 p.m., she said.<\/p>\n

Bypassing Farmington Hill<\/div>\n

Lisa Wayne drives about 72 miles round-trip from her home in Aztec to her work at Mercy Hospital every weekday. The new Highway 550 connection bypassing Farmington Hill shaved about 10 minutes off her commute, she said.<\/p>\n

She often waited at the stoplight at the base of Farmington Hill before turning onto Highway 160. The new route doesn\u2019t have a stop light and is much smoother and an easier experience, she said.<\/p>\n

She said the new connection is \u201cwonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no stop, no traffic jam,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 And so it was just really smooth, smooth sailing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new roundabout does a good job at keeping traffic flowing, she said.<\/p>\n

She said roundabouts are confusing to some people, but inexperienced commuters will eventually get the hang of them.<\/p>\n

Yet, not all motorists expressed confidence in others\u2019 driving skills.<\/p>\n

\"Traffic
Traffic flows through the Grandview Interchange on Tuesday. La Plata County resident Michael Cupid said he hates roundabouts because he doesn\u2019t trust other drivers. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Convenient connection or growing pains?<\/div>\n

La Plata County resident Michael Cupid, who lives along Colorado Highway 172, moved to La Plata County about eight years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in California. I (expletive) hate roundabouts,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can tell the (expletive) liberals got here and did that,\u201d referring to the roundabout in the Grandview interchange.<\/p>\n

He said most people just don\u2019t understand how to navigate roundabouts, so he drives twice as defensively when entering one.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat person next to you may go, \u2018Oh (expletive), I need that lane.\u2019 That\u2019s happened over there three or four times,\u201d he said about the new roundabout in the interchange. \u201cOr a semi truck just decides he\u2019s going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"All
All four lanes of the new U.S. Highway 550 realignment opened on Sunday. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Cupid said more police and law enforcement patrolling roads and highways would be more effective at making traffic safer than roundabouts that people don\u2019t know how to use.<\/p>\n

But the Grandview Interchange and Highway 550 connection represent something much bigger and more concerning than the roundabout, Cupid said.<\/p>\n

He said the Durango area is growing rapidly and losing its feel of community. That reminds him of what is happening in the little town of Clovis, California, near Fresno where his parents live.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re 2 miles away from being out in the country,\u201d he said. \u201cNow there are homes all the way out there. And they\u2019re getting ready to build the world\u2019s biggest Costco there. \u2026 And it\u2019s an (expletive) nightmare. Dude, it\u2019s not fun. You don\u2019t know who your neighbors are anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said when he moved to Durango, he fell in love with everything about the city. But he\u2019s worried the rapid growth will engulf the sense of community he found.<\/p>\n

\"Some
Some were still a little confused Tuesday using the roundabouts in the Grandview interchange. This black four-door sedan was seen going the wrong direction. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
What\u2019s next for Farmington Hill?<\/div>\n

Demolition of the old Farmington Hill route has already begun.<\/p>\n

In addition to the removal of the old highway, more wildlife fencing will be installed on both sides of the County Road 302 corridor leading to the Grandview Interchange.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as the Farmington Hill junction was barricaded and closed to travel, crews immediately began staging equipment to rubble the asphalt surface and restore the hillside back to a natural state,\u201d Schwantes said.<\/p>\n

Crews will also continue attaching big game wire fencing to wood posts along County Road 302.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Farmington Hill route of U.S. Highway 550 will be removed on Tuesday after the new U.S. Highway 550 realignment opened Sunday. The new connection is expected to improve the flow of traffic. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThe completion of the Grandview Interchange has certainly been a long time coming,\u201d Schwantes said. \u201cOver the years, CDOT staff along with other federal, state and local agency and government partners have stayed true to the goal and long range plan of improving highway infrastructure for Southwest Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the project makes for a safer commute for motorists and will meet future transportation needs as the community grows.<\/p>\n

David Peyton, CDOT traffic and safety engineer, said in February removing the signal at the Farmington Hill will improve traffic safety by reducing stop-and-go traffic that make rear-end collisions more likely.<\/p>\n

The new connection also features improved visibility compared to that of Farmington Hill, he said.<\/p>\n

cburney@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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