I-70 Eastbound Glenwood Canyon Concrete Resurfacing Project Update
GARFIELD COUNTY – Traffic that has been in a head to head configuration at a reduced 40 mph speed limit will be switched back to its normal configuration on Tuesday morning, June 11th, at about 5:30 a.m. This switch will involve removal of barrier east of Hanging Lake Tunnel and is not expected to cause any added traffic delays.
After eastbound traffic is back on the eastbound lanes, westbound traffic will remain reduced to a single lane while the temporary striping is removed and replaced, and the bridge joint work at Bair Ranch is complete. (The restriping will be done during the week and as soon as it’s complete, CDOT will be able to shorten the westbound lane closure to just the bridge section at Bair Ranch.)
The westbound lane closure at Bair Ranch will remain in place until the project’s completion—on or before June 26.
Work began in late March on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s concrete reconstruction project in Glenwood Canyon. The project was contracted to Interstate Highway Construction for $7.9 million and is fourth in a series of phased projects to reconstruct I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in concrete. (The first three phases have reconstructed the interstate west of Hanging Lake Tunnel—between No Name Tunnel at MP 118 and Hanging Lake Tunnel at MP 125.) Work is on target to wrap up in late June, if not earlier.
Project Details – including added bridge-deck preservation: The project involves concrete reconstruction of the eastbound lanes of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon from Hanging Lake Tunnel to east of the Bair Ranch Exit (MPs 125.9 -131). Concrete reconstruction will extend the life of the highway for up to 30 years, depending on traffic volumes and weather.
In addition to concrete reconstruction, the project involves bridge expansion joint work at two I-70 bridges (east- and westbound) and two I-70 ramp bridges (at MP 128, Bair Ranch); as well as a an asphalt milling and resurfacing at the Bair Ranch rest area parking lot. Also, the project includes a long-lasting weather-proofing surface on the eastbound bridge at Bair Ranch – it’s a polyester concrete overlay that should provide 30 years of bridge deck preservation, weather-proofing and skid resistance.
Travel Impacts: Westbound I-70 will be reduced to a single lane just east of the tunnel through June 13 or 14; and also at Bair Ranch (MP 131) through the project’s completion on or before June 26. While the single-lane closure is in place, there is a 12-foot width restriction for westbound traffic.
Project Information: The public may call (970) 773-4537. Updated information regarding traffic impacts on this or other CDOT projects is also available at www.dot.state.co.us/TravelInfo/currentcond/ or by calling 511. To receive project updates via wireless device or e-mail, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including Northwest Colorado.
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