Southbound US 85 access to westbound I-76 closed Monday night for major traffic shift

ADAMS COUNTY–On Monday night, motorists should expect lane and ramp closures on westbound Interstate 76 near US Highway (US) 85 while crews shift travel lanes onto new permanent pavement placed during Phase 1 of the I-76 at US 85 reconstruction project. 

The southbound US 85 direct access to westbound I-76 will be closed at 104^th Avenue from 9 p.m. on Monday, April 17 until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18. A temporary full closure is necessary to move traffic onto the new alignment. Crews will also install an overhead sign structure over southbound US 85 during the full closure. 

Crews will also close the westbound I-76 off-ramp to 96^th Avenue (exit 11) starting at 9 p.m. on Monday, April 17 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, April 18 so crews can move temporary barrier walls and restripe the highway. During the closure, all off-ramp traffic will be directed one mile west to the 88^th Avenue off-ramp (exit 10) to follow the signed detour back to 96^th Avenue. 

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

This work is part of the I-76 at US 85 reconstruction project. Shifting traffic onto new pavement allows permanent construction to begin on the inside lanes of westbound I-76 and southbound US 85. Over the next month, crews will also construct the elevated section of westbound I-76 between the northbound and southbound US 85 ramps.  

Detour Routes 

To access westbound I-76 from southbound US 85, motorists will be detoured to westbound 104^th Avenue to southbound (left) Brighton Road to enter westbound I-76 at 96^th Avenue. 

To access 96^th Avenue from westbound I-76 during the 96^th off-ramp closure, the signed detour will direct motorists to continue past 96^th Avenue, exit the highway at 88^th Avenue (exit 10), turn east (left) on 88^thAvenue, turn north (left) to enter eastbound I-76 for approximately one mile and take the 96^th Avenue (exit 11) off-ramp. 

Background 

The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor partner, Villalobos Concrete Inc., will continue to construct this safety improvement project through 2017. 

During construction, the speed limit is reduced to 55 mph and fines are doubled. Lane widths are reduced to 11 feet through the work zone. An oversized vehicle width restriction of 15 feet is strictly enforced. Westbound I-76 oversized vehicles must exit I-76 by Highway 2 (Sable Boulevard), exit 16. The width restriction also applies to eastbound I-76. Eastbound over-width vehicles must exit by 96^th Avenue, exit 11. 

This project will improve the geometry of the westbound I-76 curve where the interstate joins southbound US 85. This transition area will be upgraded to current design standards to improve safety and traffic flow. An additional travel lane from southbound US 85 to 96^th Avenue will be built with the project. Portions of I-76 will also be replaced with new concrete pavement. Additional project features include improved roadway drainage, lighting and water quality measures.