Milestone progress for I-70 Glenwood Canyon improvements

News Release

June 24, 2020 - Northwestern Colorado - CDOT asks motorists to continue to plan for additional travel time and go slow for the cone zone .

GARFIELD COUNTY & EAGLE COUNTY – Crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation have completed an important project milestone on the I-70 Glenwood Canyon Surface Improvements project. CDOT and contractor American Civil Constructors West Coast
reopened the Westbound on-ramp from the Grizzly Creek Rest Area to I-70 on Friday, June 19. The head-to-head detour remains in effect Mondays through Thursdays, and Fridays until 1 p.m. Please see further below for an updated project map and photos.

“The project team is excited to be at this point in construction where we can further reduce traffic impacts, particularly for our recreational community visiting Shoshone and Grizzly Creek,” said CDOT project engineer, Josh Cullen. “The timing and phasing of this project was designed to accomplish work as efficiently and as early as possible. We are very grateful for everyone’s patience so far and look forward to completing the next steps to deliver these important infrastructure improvements.” 

The milestone progress marks the completion of deck repairs and paving of the Westbound deck at Hanging Lake and between Grizzly Creek and No Name. Crews have also completed improvements of ADA ramps at the canyon rest areas. 

TRAFFIC CHANGES & IMPACTS

CDOT asks motorists to plan for additional travel time through Glenwood Canyon and possible delays. In a continued effort to minimize traffic impacts to the traveling public, during the weekends there will no longer be a head-to-head detour. Starting at 1 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, westbound traffic will be routed in a single lane on the Westbound deck and Eastbound traffic will be routed in a single lane on the Eastbound deck. This will allow for direct Westbound access to and from Grizzly Creek and No Name, and from Shoshone and Hanging Lake (by permit only).

With the Westbound on-ramp from Grizzly Creek reopened, visitors to the Grizzly Creek Rest Area and to Shoshone no longer have to use the Bair Ranch detour for Westbound access.

CDOT asks motorists to pay close attention to the roadway while in the detour, as workers and construction vehicles may be present in closed lanes. The lanes closures will also allow for ongoing construction access and keep traffic control as simple as possible with such a large construction project.

SHOSHONE ON-RAMP NIGHT CLOSURE ON JUNE 25

The evening of Thursday, June 25, the on-ramp from Shoshone to I-70 at Mile Point 123 will be closed for paving between approximately 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday, June 26. During this time, I-70 traffic will not be able to use the Shoshone exit and there will be no Colorado River access at Shoshone. 

TRAVEL REMINDERS

“CDOT has three simple pieces of advice: know before you go, slow down and remember to zipper merge,” said Elise Thatcher, CDOT’s communications manager for Northwest Colorado. “By doing these three things, we can all help to reduce traffic delays and improve safety.”

Travelers are urged to gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions by visiting COtrip.org before hitting the road. Current travel times are available with the project hotline: 970-618-5379. Motorists are asked to go slow for the cone zone and to always give full attention to the road. Motorists should use both lanes to the merge point, also called a zipper merge. CDOT asks that motorists be aware of posted speed limits throughout work zones, to keep both fellow motorists and crews safe.


I-70 Glenwood Canyon June - Sept 2020 Map


I-70 Glenwood Canyon June Paving


Crews working on paving operations in Glenwood Canyon on June 23

I-70 GLENWOOD CANYON SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

This eight-month improvement project includes resurfacing I-70 with a placement of thin bonded polyester concrete overlay, replacement of bridge joints and bearings, new pavement markings and ADA ramp improvements at rest areas. Construction will occur within approximately 6.2-miles on I-70 in the Glenwood Canyon, between Mile Point 117.6 to MP 125. The project is scheduled to be complete in October 2020.

Polyester concrete overlay is the primary construction activity for this project. Upgrading this section of roadway will minimize the need for annual repairs as this road surface application is more durable and has a significantly longer lifespan than asphalt. This project will provide an improved driving surface and help ensure the longevity and safety of our infrastructure.

Routes and schedules are subject to change. Motorists and bike trail users are encouraged to sign up for traffic and trail impact email updates by contacting our public information team via email, phone, or text.

STAY INFORMED

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” CDOT resources include:

REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.

  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.

  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so

  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.

  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.

  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.

  • Be patient!

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 health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO and practice social distancing, wear face masks, stay at home when possible, and avoid nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely.

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY. 

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative 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 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 inter-regional express service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s multimodal mobility options.