Kechter Road bridge over I-25 to reopen May 18

Travel Advisory

May 13, 2022 - Northeastern Colorado

Northeastern Colorado — Wednesday’s reopening of the Kechter Road bridge over Interstate 25 should draw a sigh of relief from drivers who use Harmony Road and Colorado Highway 392 to cross over I-25. The bridge, closed for the past seven months for reconstruction, will not only alleviate congestion on these other two interstate crossings, but it is more resilient to flooding, provides multimodal options and offers an alternate northbound and southbound route parallel to I-25 and another route to get to CO 392 rather than I-25.

This bridge reconstruction project is part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s North I-25 Express Lanes project from Berthoud to Fort Collins.

The new bridge is a little higher than the old structure, enabling crews to raise the elevation of I-25 and add two new bridges south of Kechter Road spanning the floodplain to allow the next 100-year flood event to pass without affecting I-25. The bridge also features sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and bike lanes in both directions, and a roundabout constructed connects the West Frontage Road to Kechter Road just west of I-25, providing a safer intersection for all users than what existed previously.

Additional work done in the last seven months included building large retaining walls on both sides of I-25 to contain the new widened footprint of I-25. The new structure was also lengthened to 226 feet to accommodate the additional toll lane in each direction of I-25. Making all these improvements took a fair amount of effort and materials including:

  • 16,475 cubic yards of material was used for the roadway embankment, enough to fill five Olympic sized swimming pools
  • 18 box girders – each 112 feet long – were set for the bridge
  • 2,500 tons of asphalt was put down
  • 27,697 square feet of retaining walls were built
  • 736 cubic yards of concrete was used for the bridge construction
  • 158,069 pounds of reinforced steel was used, or the weight of approximately forty Ford F-150s
  • 756 linear feet of pile was driven for the bridge foundations

Aerial view of unfinished Kechter Road BridgeAerial view of unfinished Kechter Bridge

Please visit codot.gov/projects/north-i-25, for the most current travel updates. The I-25 North Express Lanes Project: Berthoud to Johnstown section will increase highway capacity by adding an Express Lane in each direction, rebuild interchanges, replace aging bridges, straighten highway curves to improve safety, make major utility and drainage improvements, and add carpool and transit facilities. During construction on the I-25 North Express Lanes Project, motorists should expect speed reductions to 65 mph, minor lane shifts, temporary concrete barriers and median bridge work. Motorists should also expect delays during the scheduled work hours. Construction on the Berthoud to Johnstown segment is expected to be complete in early 2024.

Project Contact Information

  • Project phone line - (720) 593-1996
  • Project email – [email protected]
  • Project web site - www.codot.gov/projects/north-i-25
  • Sign up for weekly project updates by logging onto the project web site and filling out the right-side form to “Subscribe to Project Updates.”

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts, and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. 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.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • 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.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

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