Work Underway on State Highway 7 Reconstruction Project

January 3, 2012 - UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - Project will reconstruct highway, add pedestrian and bicyclist features.

BOULDER COUNTY — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has begun preliminary work for a reconstruction project on State Highway (SH) 7, also known as Arapahoe Road. In addition to reconstructing the highway, the project will improve the safety and operation of SH 7, add new features for pedestrians and bicyclists, and replace a railroad bridge near 75^th Street.

“This project is the culmination of a tireless effort by CDOT, the city and county of Boulder, and other entities to improve this stretch of highway for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Dan Marcucci. “The end product will be a stretch of roadway that better meets the needs of the traveling public.”

During the next several weeks, motorists will see crews working and setting up equipment on the highway shoulders as part of preliminary bridge work for the railroad bridge on 75^th Street. Irrigation work will also be one of the first orders at hand so new fixtures can be in place by spring before the snow melts.

The SH 7 project will feature two distinct sections: Cherryvale Road to Westview Drive, and Westview Drive to 75^th Street. For the Cherryvale Road to Westview Drive section, SH 7 will be widened from two to four lanes with either a raised median or a center left-turn lane. From Westview Drive to 75^th Street, the project will widen the road to add a center left turn lane and 10-foot shoulders. The railroad bridge near 75^th Street will be replaced with wider structures to accommodate the roadway beneath.

New pedestrian facilities to be added will include a multi-use path for the entire project length and a sidewalk from Cherryvale Road to Westview Drive. On-street bike lanes and improved bus stops will also be incorporated.

Concrete Express has been awarded the contract for this $18 million dollar project that is anticipated to finish in mid-2014. Additionally, Xcel, CenturyLink, and the City of Boulder will work in coordination with CDOT for this project.

To receive e-mail updates throughout the project, including information on lane closures, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the cell phone icon in the upper right corner of the page. You can then sign up for the “SH 7 Cherryvale” list under projects. For more information about the project, visit www.coloradodot.info/projects/sh7cherryvale. Questions about the project can be directed to the public information line at 303-459-7728, or directed to [email protected].