CDOT Opens Final Southbound Phase of I-225 Widening Project
After removing the last northbound I-225 bottleneck on Aug. 15, southbound traffic is now also fully opened within the project limits. Started in 2012, this project with a total cost of $63 million widens I-225 between Mississippi Avenue and Parker Road to accommodate three through-lanes plus an auxiliary lane in each direction. With the completion of this latest phase, over 90 percent of the I-225 corridor now has lane continuity from I-25 to I-70. In partnership with RTD, the CDOT-led project has also constructed elements of the light rail line between the Nine Mile and proposed Iliff Stations. Another achievement of this latest phase is the accommodation of the remaining I-225 Rail Line currently under RTD contract that will eventually connect with the East Rail Line near I-70 & Peoria in 2016.
“We want to thank the traveling public for being so patient with the construction along I-225, whether in this area or further north,” said Tony DeVito, Region Transportation Director. “We couldn’t be more pleased to now have both southbound & northbound opened on this project, with only work during off-peak hours still occurring. Our customers will see improvement in mobility and time savings in their daily travels, which were the ultimate goals of this project.”
Funded by CDOT and RTD, the $63 million I-225 highway widening and light rail transit extension project between Mississippi Avenue and Parker Road kicked off in 2012. Along with highway widening, the project realigned most of I-225 to accommodate RTD’s light rail extension segment which extends north from Nine Mile Station near Parker Road to Mississippi Avenue. The project also included the replacement of the Yale Avenue Bridge over I-225. One project objective was to provide the public full use of the expanded facility during peak hours as quickly as practical. As a result, lane closures during off-peak hours will still be required to finish miscellaneous work over the next one to two months. Construction work will also continue on Colfax near I-225. CDOT is evaluating the last remaining bottleneck on southbound I-225 between Yosemite and I-25. Construction money has not yet been identified. However, an environmental study of this area is complete and preliminary design of the remaining recommended concepts is proceeding.
To receive e-mail updates about the project, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the icon in the upper right-hand corner. The link will take you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including the I-225 widening project listed under “Projects.” You can also learn more about the I-225 projects by visiting the website at www.coloradodot.info/projects/i-225-widening and http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/I-225pel.
