I-70 Twin Tunnels Weekly Traffic Advisory

January 31, 2013 - TRAFFIC ADVISORY - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - Blasting Operations Next Week; Ramp Closure Following Monday.

IDAHO SPRINGS – Daytime lane closures continue next week at the Twin Tunnels on Interstate 70 at the east end of Idaho Springs for electrical and concrete wall construction.

Preparatory blasting also is scheduled to begin next week and continue about every three days.  Blast days and times will not be available until the day prior to, or the day of, the blasting operation and will be provided by calling the project hotline at (303) 327-4034 or by checking one of the sources listed below.

A 35 mph is in effect while the following lane closures are in place:

  • Monday, February 4
    • 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Right lane closed eastbound
    • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Left lane closed westbound
    • 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. – left lane closed eastbound & westbound (PLEASE NOTE: This closure is at the west end of Idaho Springs
  • Tuesday, February 5
    • 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Right lane closed eastbound
    • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Left lane closed westbound
    • 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. – left lane closed eastbound & westbound (PLEASE NOTE: This closure is at the west end of Idaho Springs
  • Wednesday, February 6
    • 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Right lane closed eastbound
  • Thursday, February 7
    • 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Right lane closed eastbound
  • Friday, February 8
    • 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Right lane closed eastbound

In addition, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is closing the exit ramp from eastbound Interstate 70 to Hidden Valley (Central City Parkway – Exit 243) on Monday morning, February 11, for frontage road bridge construction.  The ramp is scheduled to remain closed for about one month.

A temporary structure is needed across Clear Creek to connect the frontage road (CR 314) to eastbound I-70.  The road, which is scheduled to open to traffic on Monday, April 1, will be used as the eastbound I-70 detour route while the eastbound Twin Tunnel is widened to three lanes.

The detour route while the ramp is closed is eastbound I-70 to the top of Floyd Hill – Beaver Brook, Exit 247 – turning around and then back west on I-70 to Hidden Valley.

Adding a third lane to eastbound I-70 from east Idaho Springs to the bottom of Floyd Hill is part of CDOT’s strategy at reducing congestion along one of the state’s busiest corridors which, in turn, will improve gas mileage and air quality.

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. Updates also are available via Twitter @coloradodot and on CDOT’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.

CDOT also has launched a new smartphone application to provide drivers with easier access to I-70 traveler information. It includes travel speeds and times, road conditions, incidents, road work; and feeds from CDOT's closed-circuit television cameras and alerts.  Text CDOT to 25827 or download CDOT Mobile from your App store.