CDOT Announces 2011 Summer Construction Plans for the Denver Metro Area

CDOT will have at least 30 active construction projects in the Denver metro area not including maintenance projects and 12 of those projects are being funded by Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) or the Colorado Bridge Enterprise. The 30 construction projects total nearly $386 million.

“A significant number of our projects will repair or replace our aging infrastructure,” said CDOT Executive Director Don Hunt.  “In fact, 15 of Colorado’s worst bridges in the Denver metro area will be replaced this summer, which will greatly improve the safety and functionality of our highway system.”

Motorists should be aware of three major projects along five miles of I-25 as well as two on Federal Boulevard:

• I-25 over the South Platte River: This $16.3 million project will replace the I-25 bridge over the South Platte River, also known as the “Broncos Arch” bridge due to its proximity to Invesco Field. The existing bridge was originally constructed in 1951 and is one of Colorado’s poor bridges. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2011 and continue through August 2013.

• I-25 over Santa Fe Drive (US 85): This $60 million Bridge Enterprise project replaces the I-25 bridges over Santa Fe Drive that are two of the worst bridges in Colorado and constructs a flyover ramp from northbound Santa Fe Drive to northbound I-25 to replace the current left side on-ramp and improve operations and safety for this major traffic movement. I-25 from the north end of the Broadway Viaduct to just south of Alameda Avenue will be reconstructed and realigned to provide lane continuity. This will help reduce the bottleneck in this area. Once complete, there will be four lanes in each direction of I-25 through Denver from C-470 to US 36.

• I-25 at Alameda Avenue (State Highway 26): This project replaces the Alameda Avenue bridge over I-25 and reconstructs I-25 under Alameda Avenue in concrete.  When complete, the Alameda Avenue bridge will be wider to accommodate full shoulders and sidewalks.  This $36.9 million ARRA project will be complete by the end of June 2012.

• Federal Boulevard (State Highway 88) over Colfax Avenue (US 40): The $8.6 million Bridge Enterprise project replaces the Federal Boulevard bridge over Colfax Avenue with one that is wider to accommodate eight-foot sidewalks on each side of the bridge as well as curb and gutter in the median. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2011 and continue through August 2013.

• Federal Boulevard (State Highway 88) between Alameda Avenue and 6^th Avenue: The $7.8 million project will reconstruct and widen approximately one mile of Federal Boulevard in concrete to accommodate an additional lane on northbound Federal Boulevard. In addition, the traffic signals at the Federal Boulevard/1^st Avenue and Federal Boulevard/2^nd Avenue intersections will be replaced and the sidewalks will be widened to eight feet to improve safety for pedestrians. This project will be complete by the end of January 2013.

Some of the other key projects that recently began construction or will soon begin include:

• 84^th Avenue over I-25: This project replaces the 84^th Avenue bridge over I-25, which was originally constructed in 1959 and is in poor condition. The new bridge will be wider to accommodate an additional left turn lane from eastbound 84^th Avenue to northbound I-25 as well as 10-foot sidewalks on each side of the bridge. The $8 million FASTER bridge project will be complete in October 2012.

• Wadsworth Boulevard (State Highway 121) between 88^th Avenue and 104^th Avenue: This $7.1 million surface treatment project will place six inches of concrete over the existing asphalt along approximately two miles of Wadsworth Boulevard in order to extend the life of the roadway. The project is scheduled to begin in May 2011 and continue through December 2011.

• I-76 over the South Platte River: This project replaces the eastbound and westbound I-76 bridges over the South Platte River, which is between York Street and State Highway 224, with one structure. The existing bridges were originally constructed in 1967 and are in poor condition. The new structure will be slightly wider to accommodate wider shoulders. The on-ramp from State Highway 224 to westbound I-76 will be extended across the bridge to allow for more time to merge onto the Interstate. The $11 million Bridge Enterprise project is scheduled to begin in July 2011 and continue through July 2012.

• I-70 over Sand Creek: This $8.3 million Bridge Enterprise project will replace the eastbound and westbound I-70 bridges over Sand Creek, which is between Quebec Street and I-270, with one bridge. The existing eastbound structure was originally constructed in 1960 and the westbound structure was constructed in 1964 and both bridges are in poor condition. The replacement of the bridges will accommodate longer acceleration and deceleration lanes from Quebec Street to I-70, which will improve safety for motorists entering and exiting the highway. The project is scheduled to begin in June 2011 and will continue through October 2012.

• US 6 (6^th Avenue) over Sheridan Boulevard (State Highway 95): Replaces the 6^th Avenue bridge over Sheridan Boulevard, which was originally constructed in 1961 and is in poor condition. Drainage and lighting improvements will also be made including upgrading some traffic signals. The medians north and south of the bridge will be modified to increase left turn storage capacity which will help with the flow of mainline traffic on Sheridan Boulevard.  The $11.1 million Bridge Enterprise project is scheduled to begin in September 2011 and continue through May 2013.

• Havana Street (State Highway 30) over Cherry Creek: This project replaces the Havana Street bridge over Cherry Creek, which is near Dartmouth Avenue. The existing bridge was originally constructed in 1956 and is in poor condition. The new bridge will be wider to accommodate a longer deceleration lane on northbound Havana Street to Dartmouth Avenue. The $3.2 million FASTER bridge project will continue through March 2012.

Numerous projects that were underway last summer or fall will continue into this year’s construction season with six of them wrapping up this year:

• 80^th Avenue over US 36: This project replaces the existing 80^th Avenue bridge over US 36, which was originally constructed in 1951 and is one of Colorado’s poor bridges. The $7.5 million project will be complete by the end of August 2011 with the new 80^th Avenue bridge opening to traffic in May 2011.

• I-70 at Ward Road: This project reconstructs the eastbound I-70 exit ramps at 44^th Avenue/Ward Road by moving the ramps east a quarter of a mile from their current location in order to increase merge distance. The north side of 44^th Avenue will also be widened to accommodate two left turn lanes from eastbound 44^th Avenue to I-70 as well as one continuous merge lane on 44^th Avenue between the I-70 off-ramp and Ward Road. The $8.5 million just started in January 2010 and will be complete by July 2011.

• Parker Road (State Highway 83) at Arapahoe Road (State Highway 88): This final phase of the interchange improvement project constructs a grade-separated interchange and the corresponding ramps.  When complete, Parker Road will run over Arapahoe Road and the traffic signal on Parker Road will be removed for free-flowing traffic. The $32 million project is scheduled to be complete in December 2011.

• I-225 between 2^nd Avenue and Mississippi Avenue: This long-awaited $20.3 million project widens I-225 between 2^nd Avenue and Mississippi Avenue to accommodate three lanes in each direction with an additional auxiliary lane. I-225 from north of Colfax Avenue to 2^nd Avenue will be restriped to also accommodate three lanes in each direction.  The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of August 2011.  After this project is complete, only the section of I-225 between Mississippi Avenue and Parker Road will still be two lanes in each direction.  CDOT and RTD are working towards advertising a joint project that will widen I-225 between Parker Road and Iliff Avenue and extend light rail from Parker Road to Iliff Avenue.  The final phase between Iliff Avenue and Mississippi Avenue is not yet funded.

• Santa Fe Drive (US 85) at C-470: This $32 million ARRA project constructs a flyover ramp from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470 to improve safety and mobility. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of January 2012.

• Hampden Avenue (US 285) between Kipling Street and Federal Boulevard: This design-build project replaces the Wadsworth Boulevard, Pierce Street and Federal Boulevard bridges and reconstructs Hampden Avenue between Wadsworth Boulevard and Federal Boulevard.  This $40.1 million project is scheduled to be complete by July 2011.

• Parker Road (State Highway 83) between E-470 and Peoria Street: This $2.3 million surface treatment project repairs or replaces approximately 760 concrete slabs along eight miles of Parker Road and replaces the expansion joints over the Cherry Creek Spillway, Vaughn Way and Piney Creek. The project will continue through July 2011.

“The projects in the Denver metro area represent a small fraction of projects that CDOT will construct this summer across the state,” added Hunt.  “In fact, we will have over 150 construction projects this summer, not including our maintenance work zones. It will be extremely important for motorists to plan ahead, reduce distractions when driving and most of all ‘Slow for the Cone Zone.’”

In an effort to help keep work zones safe, the Denver Police Department will be conducting photo radar speed enforcement in many work zones throughout the city.  Photo enforcement fines for speeding in work zones are doubled from $40.00 to $80.00.  When photo enforcement vans are deployed in a work zone, signs will be posted advising motorists that it is a photo enforcement area.  There will also be signs advising what the posted speed limit is and that fines are doubled within the construction zone. The deployment locations and times will vary and may involve work zones on state highways or city streets.

To help motorists plan ahead, CDOT is offering a new e-mail and text message service that is free of charge.  Motorists can receive updates on road conditions, construction projects and other CDOT news.  Signing up to receive updates is easy and free (standard text messaging rates apply) and can be completed in three simple steps.

1. Visit our Web site at www.coloradodot.info and click on the icon in upper right corner entitled "Sign up for Email and Wireless Alerts."

2. Enter your e-mail address and decide if you want your account password protected and if you want to receive e-mail, text alerts or both (not all items are available as a text alert).

3. First time subscribers are then presented with a list of all subscription items available. All you have to do is select the updates you want to receive and hit "Submit."