Temporary Highway Maintenance Specialist - Durango

Highway Maintenance Specialist

If you have a Colorado Class A or B Commercial Driver's License and are passionate about safety, travel, and hands-on repair and improvements, then consider turning your passions into a career as a Highway Maintenance Specialist. CDOT has a vacancy for a Temporary Highway Maintenance Specialist in Durango, CO for the winter season.

CDOT offers $26.00/hour for the winter season. The majority of CDOT's temporary Highway Maintenance positions work 40 hours per week with the opportunity for overtime.

About CDOT

Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans' lives? Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe? At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you'll have the opportunity to do just that. The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. Please visit our careers page to learn about CDOT and how we are making Colorado a great place to live, work and play, now and for the future! Also, check out our excellent benefits package for permanent positions!

CDOT for All

CDOT's strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience and ultimately create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to

Description of Job

What You Will Do

No two days are exactly the same in CDOT highway maintenance. Your daily work activities change based on project needs and also vary based on weather, environment, and road conditions. You will be on-call on a rotating basis as well as subject to call to respond to weather and other emergencies. You will typically work in a team environment, as each maintenance patrol location has at least one lead highway maintenance specialist and multiple highway maintenance specialists. Your main job activities include:

• Plowing snow
• Operating heavy equipment, such as tandem dump truck, loader, tractor mower, etc.
• Mowing grass and weeds
• Removing debris from roadways, including rock, mud, and deceased animals
• Removing debris from culverts, tunnels, etc.
• Shoveling gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt
• Digging ditches
• Installing and repairing guardrail, highway markers and signs, warning signs, and lighting
• Filling potholes and roadway cracks
• Setting out signs and cones for traffic control
• Removing and covering graffiti
• Installing pavement markings/striping
• Stopping or slowing traffic in emergency situations
• Maintaining equipment and performing minor repairs
• Following safety guidance and wearing proper safety equipment

What Impact You Will Have

Your work is critical to keeping Colorado's roadways open and safe. Your work also positively impacts quality of life for all Coloradans and visitors and helps our economy to thrive.

What CDOT Provides

• Personal protective equipment, such as uniforms, boots, hard hats, gloves, safety vest, respirator, and tools
• Full payment for your CDL physical, after your first year with CDOT
• Partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for your CDL renewal, after your first year with CDOT
• CPR and first-aid training
• Variety of career training opportunities
• 40-hour work weeks, with opportunity for overtime during weather emergencies
• 4-day work schedule (10-hour days Monday-Thursday) during the summer months, typically May through September
• Opportunities to learn new equipment
• Opportunities for advancement

Your Work Environment

• Exposure to loud noise
• Exposure to fumes, odors, gasses, dusts, etc. that may affect breathing, eyes, and skin
• Required to use appropriate personal protective equipment
• Required to work with chemicals and cleaning products
• Some equipment requires the use of respirators
• Work near traffic, sometimes high-speed traffic
• Use ladders and scissor lifts for heights of approximately 10'20'
• Required to drive CDOT vehicles
• Frequently respond to emergencies outside regular work hours and may work overtime including weekends and holidays
• Must be willing and be physically able to work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold), variable weather conditions, and at varying elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods of time