Long-term closure of Steele Street on-ramp to westbound I-70 starts Nov. 9

DENVER — As part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Central 70 Project, the Steele Street on-ramp to westbound Interstate 70 will close at 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 9 through summer 2021. Crews will use this closure to safely demolish and rebuild the ramp into its final alignment. When the ramp reopens next year, it will carry motorists into the new lowered section of I-70.

I-70 at Steele looking north, once Central 70 is complete. The red arrows indicate the new Steele Street on-ramp to westbound I-70.

I-70 at Steele looking east on Oct. 18, 2020.

Motorists should be prepared for initial traffic delays as the public adjusts to the new detours. The Central 70 Project team thanks the public for their patience and asks all motorists to please drive safely. This work is weather-dependent and subject to change.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

• Full closure of the Steele Street on-ramp to westbound I-70  – begins Monday, Nov. 9, to summer 2021

• Motorists traveling southbound on Steele Street/Vasquez Boulevard will go eastbound on 48th Avenue to southbound Colorado Boulevard to westbound I-70. 

• Motorists traveling northbound on Steele Street/Vasquez Boulevard will get on eastbound I-70, exit at Colorado Boulevard and turn left to northbound Colorado Boulevard to westbound I-70. 

This work is weather-dependent and subject to change. 

Detour map: 

COVID-19 

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for all of us, particularly for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, CDOT maintenance and construction crews follow 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 by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks. As traffic returns to normal levels, motorists must drive cautiously and heed the speed limit so all of us can return home safely. 

Whole System.Whole Safety 

Earlier this year, 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 the Central 70 Project

The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70, add one new Express Lane in each direction, remove the aging 56-year-old viaduct and lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards. More information on the Project, including a list of the Project’s community commitments, are available at central70.codot.gov.

Stay Informed

• Text Alerts - Text Central70 to 77948

• Email Updates - Sign up for Project updates at c70.codot.gov 

• Website - c70.codot.gov - Traffic Impacts page 

• Watch progress on the webcam