Construction of New Pueblo Freeway Begins
PUEBLO – The first project to reconstruct Interstate 25 through Pueblo officially is underway after a groundbreaking ceremony near Runyon Field today.
Dignitaries with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Federal Highway Administration, the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County and the contractor team of Flatiron Constructors and the engineering firm HDR broke ground on the reconstruction of I-25 between City Center Drive (1st Street) and Ilex Street. The project also includes upgrading a number of bridges south of downtown.
“I-25 through the heart of Pueblo is one of the oldest segments of freeway we have in the state so this reconstruction is long overdue,” said CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt. “It has not seen any upgrades to modernize it since it was originally built in the 1950s. I’m glad that we’re finally able to build a project that’ll greatly enhance safety and mobility for both for the citizens of Pueblo and the people who travel through this area.”
The $69 million project consists of:
- Constructing new bridges on I-25 over D Street, the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railroad, and Gruma Street and replacing two structurally-deficient bridges, built in 1959, which cross over Ilex and Bennett streets and railroad tracks.
- Rehabilitating six bridges on I-25 northbound over U.S. 50 Business, northbound and southbound over Indiana Avenue, U.S. 50 Business over the Arkansas River, and over I-25 on Northern and Mesa avenues.
- Building the new D Street (replacing Ilex Street).
- Installing new utilities, lighting and permanent water quality ponds.
- Rebuilding 1st Street (City Center Drive) on and off ramps.
- Constructing new retaining and sound walls, sidewalks, curbs and gutters.
- Enhancing area aesthetics and landscaping.
“Getting to this point was textbook of how a number of agencies can partner together to improve our infrastructure,” added Bhatt. “Today is a celebration of what we can accomplish by working together.”
The project is funded through Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER* – 60%) and Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnership (RAMP** – 40%).
"This I-25 project represents safety for our community, jobs for pueblo, and the opportunity to beautify the entrance to our downtown, said Pueblo County Commissioner Liane "Buffie" McFadyen. “We celebrate the beginning of this project, it’s been a long time coming!”
Project completion is scheduled for summer 2017.
For updated project information, please visit: codot.gov/projects/ilexbridges, email: [email protected] or phone: 719-470-2270. You can also receive project travel information via email or text by visiting www.codot.gov, click on “Travel” and page down to “Subscribe.” Page down to “Projects,” and checkmark: I-25 New Pueblo Freeway.
Information regarding CDOT projects statewide is available by logging onto www.cotrip.org, downloading the CDOT Mobile app or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Information about weekly lane closures also is available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html.
###
*FASTER generates funding comprised of car rental fees and weight-based vehicle registration fees. Monies collected under the FASTER Safety Fund are to be used for construction, reconstruction or maintenance projects the State Transportation Commission, a county or municipality determine are needed to enhance the safety of a state highway, county road or city street.
FASTER also dedicates money to bridges through the Colorado Bridge Enterprise (CBE), a government-owned business entity with CDOT. The Colorado Legislature created the CBE to complete designated bridge projects that involve the financing, repair, reconstruction and replacement of bridges designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and rated “poor.” More information is available at www.coloradodot.info/programs/bridgeenterprise
**RAMP is better coordinating project expenditures and available funding. Under the program, CDOT will fund multi-year projects based on year of expenditure, rather than saving for the full amount of a project before construction begins. For more information, including a list of RAMP project requests, please see our website: http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/RAMP
