GOLDEN, Colo. -- Drivers traveling up Coal Creek Canyon Road will have to deal with some significant traffic delays for the next two months. Monday, the Colorado Department of Transportation will start a road project on State Highway 72. The work includes widening and improving the sides of the highway, installing new guardrails and painting new lane lines. The work area will be between Highway 93 and the railroad bridge.

"This stretch of highway is in very bad condition, and it needs some serious work. Now, we're able to widen the shoulders so bicyclists can have a safe place to ride along the highway too," said CDOT's Stacey Stegman.

Approximately 2 ½ miles of Highway 72 will be paved, between State Highway 93 and the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge. Safety enhancements involve widening shoulders between Highway 93 and Plainview Road, and installing new guardrails at a crossing of Coal Creek, about a mile west of the bridge.

Flaggers will be alternating eastbound and westbound traffic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays.

"Delays up to 20 minutes are expected, so while this work is going on, drivers really need to be aware and plan ahead or find another route so you don’t get caught in that delay," said Stegman.

A reduced 40 mph speed limit also will be in effect through the project area.

“Our crews are very mindful of doing what they can to minimize driver inconvenience but everyone traveling the Coal Creek Canyon Road should plan on a little extra travel time,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Russel Cox. “We’re also doing what we can to improve safety through that area with this project. By increasing the paved shoulder width from one foot to six feet, it’ll significantly improve the riding area for bicyclists.”

All work on the $716,000 project is scheduled for completion in October 2010.