CDOT Announces 2013 Summer Construction Plans for the Denver Metro Area and I-70 West Corridor

In all, there will be nearly 50 active construction projects in the Denver metro area and surrounding areas, totaling over $940 million.

“We are fortunate to have an extremely active construction season this summer thanks in part to some great partnerships and funding from U.S DOT TIGER grants, the Colorado Bridge Enterprise and our state, local and federal partners,” said CDOT Executive Director Don Hunt. “While each project brings great value to our transportation infrastructure, many of them repair or replace aging infrastructure, which is an ongoing challenge in Colorado.”

While a large number of projects are continuing from last year, there are several projects that will begin this spring or later this summer including:

• US 6 between Federal Boulevard and I-25: This $106 million design-build project replaces five bridges along US 6, three of which are in poor condition: US 6 over Bryant Street, US 6 over the South Platte River, US 6 over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, US 6 over I-25 and Federal Boulevard over US 6. The Federal Boulevard/US 6 interchange will be reconstructed and will accommodate three lanes in each direction and a new ramp will be constructed from Federal Boulevard to US 6. A bicycle/pedestrian bridge will be constructed over US 6 connecting Denver’s Barnum and Barnum North Parks. The project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2013 and continue through the fall of 2016. Benefits: Improves safety and mobility along the corridor, providing an efficient transportation system that supports economic and job growth.
• Arapahoe Road over Cherry Creek: The $22 million Bridge Enterprise project replaces the Arapahoe Road bridge over Cherry Creek near Jordan Road. The bridge was originally constructed in 1959 and is in poor condition. The new bridge will be wider and longer to more safely accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists and will safely pass the 100-year flow of Cherry Creek. The project is scheduled to begin in July 2013 and continue through December 2014. Benefits: Replaces aging infrastructure, ultimately improving safety for motorists and provides more travel options for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• I-70 between Tower Road and Colfax Avenue (US 40): The $25.5 million project will replace the eastbound and westbound I-70 bridges over Smith Road and the Union Pacific Railroad, which were originally constructed in 1965. The new bridges will be wider to accommodate the future widening of I-70. In addition, two miles of I-70 will be reconstructed in concrete or resurfaced in asphalt. The project is scheduled to begin in September 2013 and continue through April 2015. Benefits: Improves the driving surface, reducing wear and tear on vehicles and vehicle maintenance costs and supports future improvements to the highway, which will help with economic and job growth.
• I-25 between US 36 and 120^th Avenue: This $60 million U.S. TIGER Grant project utilizes the existing infrastructure to expand the capacity of I-25 by adding one HOV/tolled Express Lane in each direction. The new lanes will connect to the existing I-25 Express Lanes from downtown Denver to US 36. In addition, the existing lanes will be resurfaced in asphalt. When complete, buses and carpoolers can use the lane free of charge and solo drivers can pay a toll; thus, providing a more reliable transportation option. The project is scheduled to begin in October 2013 and continue through September 2015. Benefits: The improved transportation infrastructure will support economic and job growth while reducing congestion.
• I-76 over the Union Pacific Railroad: The $10 million Bridge Enterprise project will replace the eastbound and westbound I-76 bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad near US 85. The bridges were originally constructed in 1957 and are in poor condition. The project is scheduled to begin in September 2013 and continue through December 2014. Benefits: Replaces aging infrastructure, ultimately improving safety for motorists.

In addition, the following projects are currently underway and will continue through the summer:

• US 36 between Federal Boulevard and 88th Street: The $310 million design-build project widens US 36 to accommodate an HOV/tolled Express Lane in each direction, reconstructs the existing pavement, replaces five bridges on US 36, adds Bus Rapid Transit components along the corridor and constructs a commuter bikeway along much of the corridor amongst other improvements. When complete, motorists in the express lane can carpool, ride the bus or pay a toll for a more efficient and reliable option or travel in the general purpose lanes for free. Construction began in July 2012 and will continue through December 2014. Benefits:Motorists will have more travel choices, which will help reduce congestion and improve gas mileage and air quality. It will also provide for an efficient transportation system that support economic and job growth.
• I-70 between Idaho Springs and US 6: The $106 million project widens eastbound I-70 to three lanes from Idaho Springs to US 6, including the eastbound bore of the Twin Tunnels. In addition, the project flattens curves to improve sight distance and reduce accidents. Eastbound I-70 is currently in a detour that parallels I-70 for the next eight months so crews can widen the tunnel. The project began in March 2013 and all three lanes of eastbound I-70 will reopen by late 2013. Benefits: This is the first improvement project on I-70 west corridor to reduce congestion and improve gas mileage and air quality.
• I-225 between Mississippi Avenue and Parker Road: This $43 million project widens I-225 from two to three lanes in each direction, completing the widening of I-225 between I-70 and I-25. In addition, the Yale Avenue bridge over I-225 will be replaced to accommodate the Regional Transportation Districts (RTD’s) extension of the light rail from Parker Road to Iliff Avenue. Both CDOT and RTD are funding the project. Construction began in April 2012 and will continue through April 2014. Benefits: Improves safety and mobility, which will help improve gas mileage and air quality.
• Pecos Street over I-70: The $21 million Bridge Enterprise project replaces the Pecos Street bridge over I-70, which was originally constructed in 1965 and is in poor condition. In addition, two roundabouts will be constructed on Pecos Street, replacing the existing signalized intersections at I-70. Construction began in October 2012 and will continue through November 2013. Benefits: Replaces aging infrastructure and provides for a more efficient transportation system that supports for economic and job growth.
• I-25 between 20th Street and Speer Boulevard: The $15.7 million FASTER safety project adds auxiliary lanes on southbound I-25 from just south of 20th Street to just south of Speer Boulevard to allow more time for motorists to enter and exit I-25. The 15th Street bridge over I-25 will also be replaced. The City of Denver has contributed funds to make improvements to Central Street that will enhance both pedestrian and bicycle safety. The project began in January 2012 and will continue through August 2013. Benefits: Upgrades the infrastructure by replacing a deteriorating bridge and improves gas mileage and air quality by reducing congestion on I-25.

• I-25 over the South Platte River: This $16.4 million project replaces 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 has been underway since May 2011 and will continue through August 2013. Benefits: Upgrades the infrastructure by replacing a deteriorating bridge.

• 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 both in poor condition 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. Construction began in July 2011 and will continue through October 2013. Benefits: Upgrades the infrastructure by replacing two deteriorating bridges and improves gas mileage and air quality by reducing congestion on I-25.

“There will be a large number of construction work zones through the Denver metro area and the rest of the state this summer,” added Hunt. “Before we enter the heart of our construction season, we should all be reminded that the men and women behind the cones are our family and friends and we all need to do our part to help keep the workers and other motorists safe. Please drive safe and responsibly and Slow for the Cone Zone.”

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