Resurfacing Project Begins in Floyd Hill Area Next Week

August 5, 2011 - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - Work scheduled at night to minimize traffic impacts.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) begins rotomilling and paving Interstate 70 between the top of Floyd Hill and the Twin Tunnels on Sunday, August 7.

Project hours are:

  • Sunday – 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Monday through Thursday – 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Work hours will be adjusted, as needed, to maintain adequate traffic flow through the area.

Traffic impacts will vary, depending on the work zone location:

  • Between the Twin Tunnels and U.S. 6 – Only one lane open on eastbound or westbound I-70.
  • Between U.S. 6 and the top of Floyd Hill – Eastbound or westbound I-70 will be closed between the bottom of Floyd Hill and the Beaver Brook Interchange (Exit 248), with traffic detoured to U.S. 6 and U.S. 40.  To maintain safety due to additional traffic, law enforcement officers and flaggers will be directing vehicles along the 4 ½ mile detour route.  Temporary stops signs also will be placed at key locations where side road traffic normally does not stop.

The project begins on eastbound I-70, at the east portal of the Twin Tunnels, and proceeds east to the top of Floyd Hill.  It then switches to westbound I-70, moving west from the top of Floyd Hill.

“Closing the two-mile segment on Floyd Hill will enhance safety for both the traveling public and the work crews by keeping traffic completely out of the work zone,” says CDOT Project Engineer Jim VanDyne.  “Since the overnight traffic counts are minimal on I-70, we can use the detour to keep traffic safely moving with the least impact impact.”

Work also includes reconstructing the bridge at the bottom of Floyd Hill on westbound I-70.   CDOT continues to restrict trucks over 26,000 pounds to the right or left lane when they cross the bridge since new concrete is being placed on the columns underneath the structure and vibrations need to be kept to a minimum in the area under repair.

The paving and bridge work is expected to be completed by mid-September.  Remaining items, such as striping and finishing work, will be done by September 30, 2011.

“This project is extending the lifespan of the road surface and the bridge by 10 years,” added VanDyne, “and the new striping will help improve safety since the surface visibility will be much better, especially at night.”

The $3.6 million project is contracted to Asphalt Specialties Co., Inc. of Henderson, CO.

Traffic information about this or other CDOT projects is on the cotrip.org website or by calling 511.  To receive project updates via e-mail, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner.  The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including I-70 West, Denver to Glenwood Springs.