The Montezuma County Commission Monday afternoon unanimously approved two permits needed to construct a temporary asphalt plant near Mancos. The plant that will be used to provide materials for a 12-mile stretch of asphalt overlay on state Highway 160.
The decision came after a public hearing.
The asphalt plant will be located at 9885 Road 43 on property owned by the Robbins Family Ranches and will be west of Road 43, approximately 900 feet from the intersection of Highway 160 and Road 43.
The asphalt plant will consist of close to 14 acres, and A&S Construction Co. out of Cañon City was awarded the $5.62 million contract to do the overlay work by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Montezuma Planning Director Susan Carver said the planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the high impact and special use permits.
According to Chuck Reavis of A&S Construction, the project will begin in approximately two weeks, but the asphalt plant wont be in operation for at least a month.
Speaking at the meeting, Mancos resident and unaffiliated District 3 county commission candidate Greg Kemp said he had no objections to the project but wanted any tests conducted to be posted on the countys website.
Mancos resident Betsey Krill said she had concerns about the smoke and pollution that this plant could bring into the community.
Commissioner Larrie Rule said this would be a concern if the plant was being pushed to a maximum capacity, which he added would not occur.
Commissioner Gerald Koppenhafer said residents need maintained roads to drive on, so these permits are a necessity.
We have to keep doing it. Thats all there is to it, Koppenhafer said while talking about the asphalt overlay.
The construction work hours of operation are scheduled to be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday with Saturday being a possible day of work at CDOTs discretion. The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 23.
Carver outlined the penalties to Reavis if air quality standards were exceeded.
The first violation of air quality standards would result in the plant being shut down for one day. If a second offense occurred, the plant would be shut down for a week. A third offense would result in a 30-day suspension and a fourth offense would be cause for the permits to be revoked.
Carver also said the warmups in the morning to start the plant cannot exceed one hour, which she said will help keep the air quality standards in check.
Carver also informed Reavis that the speed limit on this stretch of roadway would have to be reduced to 20 mph, and additional signage must be provided to help prevent traffic problems.
Reavis agreed to all the stipulations.
Reach Michael Maresh at michaelm@cortezjournal.com