Community leaders celebrate start of I-25 North Berthoud-Johnstown improvements
WELD COUNTY — The next phase of I-25 improvements along the Northern Front Range kicked off today with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-25 North Express Lanes project between Berthoud and Johnstown. Construction begins this month on reconstructing the southbound I-25 bridge over Little Thompson River, as well as elongating the southbound on-ramp from Colorado Highway 56 to allow for a safer merge.
In conjunction with improvements already underway between Johnstown and Fort Collins, this project will provide better connections between the Denver area and the Northern Front Range and link drivers to safer, time-saving mobility choices.
“Traffic congestion erodes travel time reliability, increases traffic on local roads, decreases motorist safety and compromises the ability of emergency responders to respond quickly,” said CDOT’s Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “CDOT is determined to make all roads safer in Colorado, and this project is one of the ways we are improving traffic safety now.”
Along with local and state officials, students from Ivy Stockwell Elementary were on-hand to help break ground. “Each of these students is enrolled in the STEM program and are dedicated to learning more about engineering and sciences -- something we all know we need more of!” said Heather Paddock, Regional Transportation Director for Northeast Colorado. “We are so excited to involve these students in today’s ceremony as a symbol of the future. Connecting the present construction to future generations will position the I-25 North corridor to be a viable roadway to use for years to come.”
When the project is complete in 2023, it will add an Express Lane in each direction of I-25, replace aging bridges, make interchanges safer and more efficient, and improve infrastructure for bus transit along the I-25 corridor. The $250 million project will also add carpool and transit facilities, create new pedestrian and bicycle access, improve drainage systems and improve the alignment of I-25 for safer travel as part of CDOT’s Whole System – Whole Safety initiative. The section of I-25 from Mead to Berthoud will start in the future, once funding is identified and becomes available.
This project illustrates the power of communities working together to secure necessary funding as the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, with support from CDOT, secured a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, combined with state funds and money from local jurisdictions, provided the resources needed to proceed with design and construction of this 5 ½-mile stretch of highway.
The BUILD grant criteria includes improving public safety and quality life, improving the economy through the movement of goods, keeping transportation facilities in a state of good repair, and use of innovation and partnerships.
During construction, two lanes of traffic on I-25 will be maintained in each direction during peak travel times, but drivers can expect overnight lane closures in the area. In addition, lane and shoulder widths will be minimized and speed limits will be reduced. Please pay attention and follow posted signage.
PROJECT INFORMATION: For additional information about this project, call the project information line at 720-593-1996, email the team at northi25expresslanes@gmail.
REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE
The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.
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Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
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Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
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Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
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Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
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Avoid using mobile devices such as phones.
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Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
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Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
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Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
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Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
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Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
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Be patient!
WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.
To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.
ABOUT CDOT
CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.
