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Trinidad, Colorado: News -Permit status at bridge remains perplexing <br />"Just be patient, the project is going to happen," he said. <br />"Money will only go so far." <br />Turning lanes at the bridge, and even the existence of a <br />bridge at milepost 53, were, however, a surprise to Doug <br />Lollar, the Colorado Department of Transportation's <br />resident engineer based in Pueblo. Lollar is the man who is <br />responsible for the plans toupgrade atwo-milt portion of <br />Highway 12 this spring. <br />"Turn lanes!" he asked. "None are planned," he said. "We <br />have plans to straighten and widen from 51.7 to 53.7 and <br />that will have to include some necessary rock cuts and <br />shoulders maybe six to eight feet wide, however we can <br />make them f'n, but... are you sure that there's a bridge right <br />in there'?" he asked. <br />"It must be a private bridge ar something, because we don't <br />show it on the plans," said Lollar. "Has there been any <br />recent, big increase in traffic'? Is thtn concern what this is <br />about'? Because. if there has been, then they would need a <br />permit forthaL" <br />Lollar isn't the only one in the dark about the bridge. <br />The river crossing was being made because the bridge <br />could not bear the current traffic. A sign had even been <br />posted on the bridge in mid-December saying that. Reason <br />would suggest Ihal the owner of the bridge had posted that <br />sign. But the owner didn't seem to be a government. <br />Stephanie Basey, site manager for Evergreen Resources, <br />the major gas production company in that area, said the <br />sign on the bridge said the weight limit was IS tons and <br />that it had been evaluated by EI Paso, a contractor for <br />Vermejo Minerals, one of the other major companies, but <br />that she couldn't say who owned the bridge. She suggested <br />that "Mack" Duckworth might know more. <br />James "Mack" Duckworth was just as concerned, both <br />about the weight limit on the bridge and about what to do <br />about crossing the river when the spring Floods come, just <br />a few months from now. <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />http://www.trinidadco.com/stories2002/news/O1/08/bridging.html 01/16/2002 <br />