Montrose, COLO.—Montrose County will be changing stop signs at several intersections to make the intersections safer and more efficient for the traveling public. As part of the Begonia Road resurfacing project, the curves at 5600 Road and 5675 Road are being removed. Begonia Road and 5600 Road will become a two-way stop with north/south traffic stopping. Traffic on Begonia Road will not stop at this intersection. Additionally, the intersection of Begonia Road and 5675 Road will become a four-way stop. Lastly, Hickory Rd and 5600 Road will change from three-way stop to a one-way stop, while north/south traffic on 5600 Road will not stop.

Another new safety measure included in the asphalt resurfacing projects is a safety edge. Occasionally, the gravel shoulder material washes away or settles, leaving an exposed vertical edge of pavement. A safety edge helps drivers who drift off the paved roadway to return to the roadway safely. The safety edge shapes the edge of the new pavement at a slope instead of a vertical drop-off. This enables an easier recovery for a vehicle that has left the paved roadway. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that construction of a safety edge requires about 1 percent additional asphalt material. The safety edge also provides a more durable pavement edge by decreasing edge raveling. 

“The end result is a longer pavement life.” commented County Public Works Director Keith Laube. “The safety edge provides a key safety component and increases the life of the pavement, providing both a benefit to county residents and an efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”