Both westbound US 6 lanes again open over I-25
DENVER – For more than a year, drivers traveling west on US 6 out of downtown Denver contended with a single-lane configuration on the bridge over I-25 that often had traffic backed up to Kalamath Street during evening peak travel times. Relief is now here.
In conjunction with putting westbound US 6 in its final alignment on Monday, Oct. 19, the US 6 Bridges Project opened the second lane of westbound traffic on this heavily traveled bridge.
“Ten years ago, the average daily traffic count for the US 6 bridge over I-25 was nearly 141,000 vehicles, and we have only seen traffic volume increase since then,” said Kevin Sullivan, CDOT Project Director. “Having a lane closed on this bridge was inconvenient, but it was definitely necessary to complete a variety of construction activities while still maintaining access out of downtown,” he added.
Since last summer, drivers have squeezed through the one open lane while crews rebuilt both halves of the US 6 bridge over I-25. During a portion of this time, eastbound US 6 traffic was shifted to the north, using a portion of the inside (left) westbound lane. Once both halves of the bridge were rebuilt and eastbound US 6 traffic moved into its regular alignment, crews were able to finish work in the median area before opening both lanes of westbound US 6.
This bridge reconstruction is part of the $98 million US 6 Bridges Design-Build Project to replace six obsolete bridges on US 6 between Knox Court and I-25 and enhance driver safety by eliminating several traffic weave movements along US 6 between Federal Boulevard and I-25. Construction is substantially complete and the contractor, Kraemer North America, is on schedule to finish the project on Dec. 1.
Work to be done between now and then includes final asphalt paving work, the installation of additional signs, addressing miscellaneous punch list items and final landscaping and restoration.
For updated project information, visit http://www.codot.gov/projects/
