🚧 US 40 Safety Project Begins Between Granby & Tabernash — Here's What Truckers Need to Know

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction: Trouble Brewing in the Rockies

Colorado just kicked off a major safety project on US Highway 40, and if you’re hauling through the mountain passes near Granby and Tabernash, your ride’s about to get real... slow.

This isn’t just pothole patching — we’re talking full resurfacing and widening, right in the heart of one of Colorado’s busiest truck corridors. Starting today, expect cones, flaggers, and enough heavy machinery to make a grown man rethink his route.

So before your reefer unit gets stuck behind a paver, let’s break down the facts — and how to dodge the worst of it.

Key Points: What’s Going Down on US 40

📍 Location: A stretch of US Highway 40 between Granby and Tabernash, just outside Rocky Mountain National Park — about 85 miles northwest of Denver.
🕒 Start Date: Today — the project is officially underway and expected to continue throughout the summer.
🔧 What’s Being Done?

Resurfacing — smoothin’ out those teeth-rattling bumps

Widening lanes — improving flow and safety in tight turns

Drainage upgrades — for all that spring runoff and sudden storms

Shoulder work — adding space for breakdowns and safety

🚦Traffic Impact:

Alternating one-lane traffic during work hours

Flagger-controlled zones and reduced speeds

Potential night closures or full-day delays during peak work

Why It Matters: This Route Is a Trucking Lifeline

US 40 might look like just another two-lane mountain road — but for truckers moving between I-70 and Western Slope destinations, it’s critical. It’s also a go-to for oversize loads, construction materials, and regional food deliveries that keep ski towns stocked.

But here’s the thing: one-lane flagging zones in the mountains? That’s a recipe for:

Long idle times

Logbook crunches

And zero turnouts when nature (or lunch) calls

Add tourist season to the mix, and you’re looking at slow-moving traffic, impatient drivers, and limited space to maneuver.

Multiple Perspectives: Who’s Feeling the Pain?

🚛 Truckers:
“This stretch was rough before. Now? It’s a parking lot with a view.”
Drivers are already planning reroutes and asking dispatch to shift loads off that stretch for the next few weeks — maybe months.

🧳 Tourists:
They’re not much better. Between rental RVs and vacationers who brake for squirrels, this project is going to test everyone’s patience.

🏗️ CDOT’s View:
They’re calling it a “critical safety upgrade” — and they’re not wrong. That stretch has seen an uptick in crashes, narrow shoulders, and rough winter wear. They’re promising better surfaces, safer shoulders, and a more “reliable corridor.” But first, pain.

Industry Response: Don’t Just Complain — Adapt

Here’s how some carriers are already responding smart:

Rerouting trucks via I-70 and Highway 131 — a bit longer, but faster overall for now

Shifting delivery times to avoid peak work hours

Using trucker navigation apps to get real-time delay info

Prepping receivers ahead of time for adjusted ETAs

Fleet managers are also alerting drivers to watch for speed traps in work zones — because when traffic slows, citations spike.

Bottom Line: Beautiful Drive, Brutal Backup

US 40 through Granby and Tabernash is scenic, no doubt — but from now through summer, it’s also a construction zone war zone. If you’ve got freight, reefer loads, or any kind of ETA to hit, you better plan now.

And hey — if you’re burned out on construction delays, maybe it’s time to start building your exit plan from the road.

Call to Action: Get Smart, Stay Paid

👉 Plan your routes around US 40 delays starting now.
👉 Use live updates from CDOT, Trucker Path, and dispatch groups.
👉 And if you’re tired of fighting construction, DOT, and slow-paying brokers — maybe it’s time to build your freedom plan.

Start here:
📍 RetireFromTrucking.com – Learn how to earn online while you’re still driving
📍 LifeAsATrucker.com – Get the knowledge, tools, and mindset to own your future