Gov. Hickenlooper, CDOT, CSP and Local Officials to Celebrate I-25 South Gap Groundbreaking Thursday

EL PASO & DOUGLAS COUNTIES—At 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, CDOT, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), local officials and the I-25 South Gap construction team will celebrate the start of construction on the project with a groundbreaking at the I-25 and County Line Road interchange.

In addition to Gov. Hickenlooper, speakers include CDOT Executive Director Mike Lewis, CSP Col. Matthew Packard, and federal, state, county and municipal officials.

Project Info

The I-25 South Gap project encompasses an 18-mile stretch of I-25 between Monument and Castle Rock. With just two lanes in each direction, congestion, crashes and delays are a growing concern. That is why CDOT accelerated its efforts to widen the roadway and construct other improvements in the corridor. It was nine months from the start of the Environmental Assessment to construction, making this the fastest approach ever by CDOT for delivery of a project this size.

Starting in early September 2018, CDOT will begin:

• adding one lane in each direction between Monument and Castle Rock.
  The new lane will operate as an Express Lane so motorists will always have the choice of taking the two general-purpose lanes for free or taking the Express Lane for a reliable trip in exchange for a toll.
  
  
• widening shoulders to allow room for enforcement zones, maintenance and detours around incidents.
  
  
• rehabilitating structures and pavement, including the replacement of four bridges.
  
  
• building four wildlife underpasses and expanding the existing one at Plum Creek.
  
  
• improving lighting, signage, fencing and other features.

The project will cost an estimated $350 million. El Paso County, Douglas County, Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority and a federal grant are helping fund the project.

Safety is the No. 1 priority on active construction sites, including the I-25 South Gap project, so please remember access on the site is restricted unless accompanied by a CDOT or the contractor's (Kraemer) representative.

Please coordinate access requests in advance with Tamara Rollison, 720-663-9552. We appreciate your cooperation.