CDOT begins $20 million US 6 project, traffic shifts near Sterling

Drivers on US 6 between Sterling and Atwood are now moving through a construction corridor that will shape commutes, farm hauling and freight runs for the rest of the year. Colorado Department of Transportation and Harper Brothers Construction began the $20 million project March 2, and traffic has shifted to a 24/7 head-to-head pattern through the work zone between mile point 398 and mile point 405 in Logan County.

The biggest pinch point is the eastbound US 6 bridge over Sterling #1 Lateral, north of County Road 24 and south of Sterling, which will be removed and replaced. The westbound bridge over the same waterway will be resurfaced. CDOT also plans deck repairs and new guardrails on the Pawnee Creek Bridge, work intended to improve safety and extend the bridge’s life without requiring a full replacement.

For oversized loads, the restriction is immediate and important: vehicles wider than 12 feet are not allowed through the work zone. CDOT has also reduced speeds between Chambers Drive and Park Street and is urging motorists to build in extra travel time as the project advances toward its December 2026 finish.

Daytime work runs sunup to sundown Monday through Friday, with weekend work possible and weather delays always a factor. Final improvements will add new roadway signage, pavement markings, a road-closure gate and an LED luminaire, all aimed at improving visibility and safety through the corridor.

Later in the project, South Division Avenue will be fully closed between Park Street and Delmar Street while crews complete concrete paving, storm sewer upgrades and improvements to curbs, gutters, sidewalks, medians, and slope and ditch paving. The signed detour will direct traffic to US 6 and Colorado Highway 14, keeping the reroute tied to the same highway network many local drivers already use to move between Sterling and surrounding communities.

CDOT says the upgraded bridges and roadway will create a safer, smoother and more dependable route for daily commuters and freight traffic. The corridor has seen major investment before, including drainage and bridge work on US 6 in Sterling in 2017, when crews also paved a section from mile point 404.97 to 406.11.