February 20, 2024 – El Paso County Department of Public Works has selected contractor Elite Surface Infrastructure, Englewood, CO, for the Rex Road and Meridian Road Improvements Project. Construction begins within the next week. The improvements consist of installing a traffic signal, improving sight distance, widening Meridian to four lanes, adding turn lanes on Rex Road with full-depth reconstruction of both Rex and Meridian roads, roadside ditch and stormwater improvements, and utility relocations. The project is expected to be complete by early 2025 (weather dependent).
Traffic impacts will begin immediately after project starts. Drivers are reminded to reduce speeds and to watch for workers, equipment, signs and barricades. El Paso County wishes to thank drivers in advance for their cooperation. Lane closures will accelerate the safe and efficient completion of this project.
Traffic Impacts:
- Later this week there will be ongoing shoulder closures on both Meridian and Rex Roads for erosion control and other construction activities.
- Northbound Meridian Road will be realigned and shifted to the southbound lanes for approximately 1.5 miles.
Benefits of the project include:
- Enhanced overall safety – improving existing intersection and stopping sight distance issues by flattening out some hills adjacent to the intersection as well as improving the shoulders and roadside ditches in this vicinity.
- Increased capacity not only at intersections but also along the entire roadway, allowing for smoother traffic flow.
- Adding through lanes on Meridian and turn lanes on Rex west of Meridian to help improve traffic operations.
- Improved traffic flow and reduced delay experienced by drivers on Rex Road.
The project carries an estimated cost of $9.9 million, covering construction and utility relocation expenses. An estimated $8.8 million of the project cost is sourced from El Paso County’s Road Impact Fee funds. These funds originate from fees assessed to property owners in unincorporated El Paso County upon receiving approval for new construction projects contributing to increased traffic. The fee initiative commenced on January 1, 2020, with the specific amount determined by the nature of the project, whether residential or commercial.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, send an email to:
Project email: RexMeridianImprovements@gmail.com
Project Website: https://publicworks.elpasoco.com/road-bridge/construction-maintenance-projects/#1600793556228-8faa25db-06a2