Vail Pass Bike Path Improvements Underway Next Week

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) begins upgrading the Vail Pass Bike Path between Copper Mountain and the top of Vail Pass on Monday, July 1.

Construction on the five mile recreational path involves removing and replacing the asphalt pavement, reconstructing five timber bridges, new signing and striping.

Bicyclists and other path users can expect stops of five to 10 minutes Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.*  Riders also may need to occasionally dismount from their bikes and walk around the work zone.

Travel on the path will be unimpeded on weekends and holidays.

Drivers on eastbound and westbound Interstate 70 also should expect occasional lane closures on the east side of Vail Pass, which will allow construction equipment access to and from the bike path.

“In addition to giving cyclists a much smoother ride, upgrading this heavily-used trail with new signing and striping should also enhance safety as well since it’ll improve the visibility and provide advance warning information,” said CDOT Resident Engineer Grant Anderson.  “Also, I want to remind cyclists and pedestrians to please obey all warning and directional signs for their safety, whether there’s work going on or not.”

Columbine Hills Concrete Inc. of Silverthorne, CO is the contractor for the $998,000 project.

As a multi-modal agency, CDOT owns and maintains other recreational paths, including through Glenwood Canyon and C-470 around the south/southwest Denver area.

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.

CDOT’s smartphone application also provides 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.

* Due to the Fourth of July next week, work will only take place on Monday and Tuesday.