Westbound I-70 Traffic Shift at Havana Street Precedes Final Phase of Bridge Demolition

DENVER—Overnight Sunday, June 26, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will shift westbound I-70 traffic onto the newly built section of the bridge over Havana Street. The third and final phase of bridge demolition work is scheduled to begin Monday night and is expected to continue until mid-July.

The overnight traffic shift will require westbound I-70 lane closures from I-225 to Central Park Boulevard. Single lane closures are scheduled to go into effect at 7 p.m., followed by double lane closures at 9 p.m. and triple lane closures at 11 p.m. All westbound I-70 lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. in the new lane configuration.

To safely facilitate bridge demolition and ramp reconstruction, the westbound I-70 on-ramp from Havana Street will be completely closed to motorists and pedestrians starting at 7 p.m. on June 27. The ramp is expected to reopen December 2016.

The third phase of demolition work scheduled to begin June 27 will require overnight double right lane closures on westbound I-70 and full closures of Havana Street beneath the bridge. These closures will be in place from 7 p.m. - 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, for several weeks.

"We understand the impacts these closures have on motorists who travel through this area, so we've implemented innovative phasing construction techniques to accelerate delivery of the new bridge," said Paul Jesaitis, Region 1 transportation director. "Ultimately, replacing this structurally deficient bridge will increase safety along this busy corridor."

All work is weather dependent and the schedule is subject to change.

Detour Route

To detour around the nightly Havana St. closures, northbound Havana Street drivers will be directed west on East 40th Avenue to Central Park Boulevard, north on Central Park Boulevard to Northfield/East 47th Avenue, and east on East 47th Avenue back to Havana Street. Southbound drivers will be directed to use the same detour route in reverse.

Background

In May 2015, CDOT and Lawrence Construction began the replacement of the structurally deficient I-70 bridge over Havana Street. The existing bridge will be removed in phases as the new bridge is constructed in tandem.

The $25 million project includes interchange ramp improvements, lighting upgrades, new asphalt paving, retaining walls, concrete shoulder improvements and construction of a railroad tunnel structure under I-70. This project will complete in spring 2017.