Over 20 Miles of Eastbound I-70 to be Repaired Before Ski Season
EAGLE/SUMMIT/CLEAR CREEK COUNTIES — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and APC Southern will begin work next week on a paving project along I-70 in Eagle, Summit and Clear Creek counties. Work will begin with repaving the I-70 right hand climbing lanes on Vail Pass in three locations between mile marker 178.7 and 215.5.
The project will originate eastbound I-70 near Vail and progress towards the summit of Vail Pass. Crews will remove and replace the top 2 inches of asphalt in over 10 miles in the right lane; they will also replace barrier, restripe the lanes and reinforce some of the drainage culverts under the interstate. The new asphalt will level the highway creating a smoother driving surface for travelers. This safety improvement project, weather permitting, is expected to be completed by late October 2014.
“This section of I-70 is one of the most challenging and heavily traveled highways in the State, bearing a tremendous amount of wear and tear. We are excited to provide the needed safety improvements by resurfacing the deeply rutted lanes in the eastbound direction, as well as all lanes in the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels,” said CDOT Resident Engineer, Grant Anderson. “These improvements should provide significant safety benefits for the coming winter season. Please drive safely in the work zones and be patient as we work to minimize delays to the traveling public,” Anderson stated.
In mid-September the paving activities plan to shift to paving the eastbound climbing lanes of I-70 from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel. Crews will work to remove and replace 2 inches of the existing roadway for an additional 10 miles. The paving in the tunnels will use an innovative Warm Mix Asphalt paving ideal for the unique conditions of the tunnel. The warm mix is ideal for the cooler temperatures, the altitude and the enormous fans that ventilate the tunnel. It also has a reduced amount of fumes in comparison to the traditional Hot Mix Asphalt making it more suitable for construction in confined spaces.
TRAVEL IMPACTS: Normal working hours will be Monday- Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and potential paving operations at the tunnel parking lots on Friday. The speed limit through the construction zone will be reduced to 45 mph. Upon the completion of the climbing lanes - night work is scheduled to occur in the Eisenhower Tunnel for approximately one week in September. All lanes in both directions of the tunnel bores will be repaved.
For additional questions or comments about the project, please call 970-401-8001 or email [email protected].
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