EAGLE COUNTY — People who use U.S. Highway 6 between Edwards and Avon got a pleasant surprise Tuesday — the road will be closed beginning July 16 instead of the originally scheduled July 5.

The closure, part of a gas line replacement project by Xcel Energy, will shut down the highway between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for about 10 working days so crews can run the pipeline under the highway. While the closure was set to begin this week, Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz said, “Construction schedules can be very fluid.”

While the highway will be closed completely during daylight hours, flaggers will alternate eastbound and westbound traffic through the work zone between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

On the Web: For updates on the project, visit xceledwards-minturnhpgaspipeline.com