Westbound Twin Tunnels Weekly Traffic Advisory

March 28, 2014 - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - IDAHO SPRINGS – Work on the Westbound Twin Tunnels project is underway.

This Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) project will widen the westbound tunnel bore to accommodate future expansion in the I-70 mountain corridor. Off-peak closures will be implemented while crews prepare the roadways for a traffic switch in April that will put westbound I-70 traffic through the newly completed eastbound tunnel and eastbound I-70 traffic onto the detour route around the tunnel that was in place for the Eastbound Twin Tunnels project.

Crossover work in the median, instrumentation, drilling and sawing in the westbound tunnel, rock wall surveying and blasting for concrete box culvert are all part of the planned activities for next week, east and west of the Twin Tunnels.

Lane closures are scheduled as follows, all work is weather permitting:

  • Saturday,  March 29
    • No closures scheduled
  • Sunday,  March 30
    • 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. - westbound traffic detoured, all traffic head to head in eastbound tunnel
  • Monday,  March 31
    • 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. - eastbound double lane closure from Exit 241 to westbound tunnel
    • 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – eastbound single lane closure at Stanley Road
    • 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. - westbound traffic detoured, all traffic head to head in eastbound tunnel (For Traffic Switch)
  • Tuesday,  April 1
    • 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. - eastbound double lane closure from Exit 241 to westbound tunnel (For Traffic Switch
    • 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. westbound traffic will be detoured onto new alignment for final phase of traffic switch
  • Wednesday, April 2
    • No scheduled lane closures at this time
  • Thursday, April 3
    • No scheduled lane closures at this time
  • Friday, April 4
    • 11 a.m. full closure both directions for blasting work (approximately a 30 minute closure but motorists should expect longer delays while traffic clears)
  • Saturday, April 5
    • No scheduled lane closures at this time
  • Sunday, April 6
    • No scheduled lane closures at this time

Although there are no scheduled lane closures on several days, blasting operations are likely to take place resulting in full closures in both directions. In order to receive updated reports on the blasting and scaling schedules for this project sign up for text or email alerts by visiting www.coloradodot.info and clicking on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the homepage.

Once the traffic switch is complete, eastbound traffic will travel on the frontage road detour that was in place for the Eastbound Twin Tunnels project around the tunnel. Westbound traffic will travel through the newly completed eastbound tunnel. Traffic will be in this alignment throughout construction which is scheduled for completion in December 2014.

Blasting will begin once traffic is switched onto the detours. Blasting will occur several times a week throughout the spring and summer. These closures will consist of full stopping of traffic in both directions for blasting and subsequent closures also in both directions for scaling operations. Delays will exceed the time that traffic is stopped and Drivers should be prepared for longer than normal travel times for the duration of this project. While scaling operations are taking place, multiple closures will be implemented each day. CDOT recommends that drivers plan visit www.cotrip.org, call 511 or download the mobile app for updated information on travel times in this area.

CDOT estimates widening the westbound tunnel now will save $5 million to $7 million because the equipment, resources and detour needed to do the work are already in place. Tunnel widening work is scheduled to be complete by the end of this year and at that time all I-70 traffic will be back in its regular alignment. Project completion is scheduled for summer 2015 when County Road 314 is restored to its original configuration with completed facia walls and an improved recreational trailhead.

To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. Live road conditions are available at www.cotrip.org, downloading the CDOT Mobile app or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.