CDOT begins No Name Tunnel lighting replacement project

News Release

April 7, 2020 - Northwestern Colorado - Speed limits to be strictly enforced

GARFIELD COUNTY - Starting Monday, April 6, 2020, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contract partner Casper Electric will begin a lighting replacement project in the No Name Tunnel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, from mile point (MP) 116.5 to MP 118.5. The location is east of Glenwood Springs in Garfield County. The $3.5 million multi-year project has an anticipated completion date of Feb. 2022. A winter shutdown will be necessary each year to allow for safer conditions for the traveling public and workers, due to winter conditions. The shutdowns are expected to begin Nov. 2020 and continue until mid March 2021, then Nov. 2021 until mid Jan. 2022.

As part of CDOT’s Whole System - Whole Safety initiative, this project will focus on replacing antiquated lighting controls and fixtures with 676 new LED fixtures with a remote controllable lighting control system. The new lighting system will be tied into the Hanging Lake Tunnel Operations Center to allow the lighting to be monitored and controlled by personnel in Hanging Lake Tunnel. The updated lighting will use less power while allowing better visibility for the traveling public during day and nighttime hours.    

Additional work will consist of: 

  • Slotted drain installation for storm water management
  • Removal of old lighting system and installation of new lighting system.
  • Programming and integration of the lighting control center.

No Name Tunnel Lighting Replacement project location map

Work in 2020 will focus on the westbound tunnel. Work in 2021 will focus on the eastbound tunnel and finalize any testing and programming for the full lighting system. 

CDOT is aligning lane closures and other impacts from the No Name Tunnel lighting replacement with Glenwood Canyon Phase 7, a larger project already in place. This allows crews to minimize the impact on the traveling public while maximizing how much work can be completed. CDOT is also finalizing new variable speed limit (VSL) signs in Glenwood Canyon. The digital signs will show the posted speed, which will usually be 60 mph for passenger vehicles. Speeds will be lower while the Glenwood Canyon Phase 7 project is in place. Travelers should obey the speed limit shown on these signs.

COVID-19

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. Gov. Polis issued an emergency, temporary stay-at-home order for all of Colorado, which went into effect Thursday, March 26. With this order, the public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO and avoid all nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely.

Travel Impacts 

Motorists can expect a west or eastbound single lane closure during work hours.  The project will be in operation Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 7 pm. Lighting replacements are being performed in coordination with the I-70 Glenwood Canyon surface improvement project and communications will be maintained for the duration of the project.      

Project Information

Those seeking more information about this project, or with questions or comments, can reach the project team at: 

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.