Commuters traveling between Ouray and Montrose should bring an extra supply of patience with them over the next year and a half, as a series of construction projects on U.S. Highway 550 could add up to 40 minutes of drive time at times during the work week.

The Colorado Department of Transportation on Monday picked back up where it left off last fall with a resurfacing of a 22-mile stretch of the highway between Ouray and Colona. Crews will finish shoulder work, paving and striping between Ridgwa...