Additional lane closures needed along I-70 in Idaho Springs for bridge work

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY – After successfully setting eight girders last night for the new bridge under construction at Exit 241, it has been determined that lane closures will be needed along I-70 through Idaho Springs overnight Tuesday, Sept. 1, through Thursday, Sept. 3, as well as overnight Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Wednesday, Sept. 9.

These additional closures will facilitate the installation of the bridge deck overhang mounting brackets and the metal deck panels. To maintain the safety of the traveling public, drivers will not be permitted to drive beneath the work zone where these activities are taking place. Instead, both directions of I-70 traffic will be directed off the highway at Exit 241 before re-entering the highway on the other side of the interchange. Similar detours will be required in a few weeks when crews pour the concrete bridge deck.

Each of these five nights, westbound I-70 will be reduced to one lane on the east side of the Veterans Memorial Tunnels starting at 5 p.m. and one lane of eastbound I-70 will close near mile marker 240 at 6 p.m. All highway lanes are scheduled to reopen by 7 a.m. the next day. Because crews will pick up the westbound closure first each morning, the eastbound lane closure might be in a place a little longer.

During these overnight lane closures, westbound I-70 drivers will shift into the eastbound lanes and travel up the Exit 241 on-ramp to cross over the highway on Colorado Boulevard and re-enter westbound I-70. Eastbound I-70 drivers will exit onto the new off-ramp at the Colorado Boulevard interchange and proceed down the ramp to re-enter eastbound I-70 (see map). Once eastbound I-70 drivers reach the top of this off-ramp, left turns will not be permitted toward Idaho Springs, so anyone traveling east on I-70 wanting to access the town will need to use Exits 239 or 240.

This bridge is being built just east of the existing structure as part of the Peak Period Shoulder Lane Project. The current bridge at Exit 241 will remain open until traffic is moved onto the new bridge later this year.