Transportation Improvement Program Amendment Increases I-25/Cimarron Interchange Construction Budget

“These additional RPP funds were necessary to bridge the budget shortfall based on the current construction industry bidding environment affecting transportation projects across the state,” said Colorado Department of Transportation Regional Transportation Director Karen Rowe.  “As a result of rising costs within the construction industry, as well as supply and demand factors, contractor bids have been coming in 15 to 20 percent higher than the previous estimates which established our project budget.”

The PPACG Citizens Advisory and Technical Advisory Committees reviewed CDOT’s plan for the additional RPP dollars last week and recommended the Board approve the amendment to fully fund the project, enabling this project as well as other regional priority projects to move forward.

Kathleen Krager, City of Colorado Springs Transportation Manager, thanked CDOT for identifying and adding funds to this project saying, “Everyone is fully aware of the difficult industry situation of higher construction costs.  The City of Colorado Springs is working together with CDOT on these important regional projects,” she said.  “We are looking at using local funds to participate more in the I-25/Cimarron Interchange project, and replacing some of the Regional Priority Project (RPP) funds being used on Cimarron.”

With the time required to identify/secure the additional funding and approve the TIP amendment, the I-25/Cimarron Interchange Project schedule is revised as follows:

Contractor Team proposals due:  Mid-December 2014

Selection of Design/Build Contractor Team:  Late January 2015

Notice to Proceed:  March 2015

Revised project completion date:  October 1, 2017