I-70 Palisade Curves Study

Study complete

Project Facts

  • Consultant: Tsiouvaras Simmons Holderness (TSH)
  • Timeline: April - October 2019
  • Location:
    The Palisade Curves project area includes the following:
    1. I-70 between mile points (MP) 40.5 and 46;
    2. US 6 between MP 43 and 46;
    3. interchanges at exit 42 (full interchange), exit 44 (half interchange) and exit 46 (full interchange);
    4. the intersection at Rapid Creek Road/US 6 and county roads; and
    5. the I-70 bridge over the Colorado River (structure H-03-AY).

About

A project team is reviewing the operations, safety and sustainability of the I-70/US 6 highway system through the east end of Palisade. Accident history data have been collected, and traffic studies and structural inspections within this area have been done.

CDOT seeks to fully understand concerns and issues for the transportation system and local community so that an informed decision can be made regarding future improvements for this area.

Project Goals

  • Improve overall traffic operations along I-70 within project area.
  • Improve safety, trip reliability and travel time through the corridor.
  • Improve riding surface through the corridor.
  • Adhere to all environmental compliance requirements.

Transportation Alternatives

  • The team will develop and evaluate improvement alternatives, including a no-action alternative—aka, make no changes—for I-70 within the project area.
  • The team will produce an alternative analysis evaluation and report to identify existing conditions and anticipated problem areas, as well as develop a range of I-70 alignment alternatives to improve operations and safety of the corridor for all modes of transportation.
  • The results of these efforts may ultimately be used to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document and final design.

Project Elements

  • bridge structure evaluation
  • traffic operational and safety assessments
  • potential geotechnical impacts
  • potential hydraulic impacts to the Colorado River, Government Highline Canal, Orchard Mesa Canal
  • appropriate NEPA documentation as directed by the chosen preferred alternative
  • preliminary design of selected preferred alternative