Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels Infrastructure Repairs

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About the Project:

The Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT), about 60 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70, traverses through the Continental Divide at an average elevation of 11,112 feet. The tunnels are just over 1.5 miles long and at peak travel times carry as many as 3,500 vehicles per hour (VPH) in one direction of travel alone. I-70 is a critical corridor for moving goods and services such as medical supplies, food, and other essential items. The EJMT is a crucial part of the infrastructure that ensures safe and efficient traffic flow on I-70.

Opened in 1973 (Eisenhower Tunnel Bore) and 1979 (Johnson Tunnel Bore), EJMT is faced with outdated and aging infrastructure which CDOT began repairing through a variety of construction projects starting in the summer of 2022 and into the next several years. These projects are part of CDOT’s 10-Year Plan.

These projects will reduce the vulnerabilities EJMT faces and increase the resiliency and operating condition of one of the state of Colorado’s greatest assets. The improvements will enhance safety for the traveling public, upgrade connectivity to the rest of the freight network in the United States, and boost economic vitality along the only contiguous east/west interstate in Colorado.

Learn more about the projects by visiting each of the project pages on the left. 

Work this Week & Lane Closures EJMT Infrastructure project

Project Facts

  • Construction Cost: $71 Million
  • Contractor: Various
  • Timeline:  June 2023 to November 2024
  • Location: I-70 eastbound and westbound
    • Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel
    • Mile Point(s): MP 213-216
    • Counties: Clear Creek and Summit

Work Schedule:

  • Daytime work
    • Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Overnight Work
    • Sunday work hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    • Monday through Thursday work hours are 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Traffic Impacts:

  • Daytime work: Motorists can anticipate single-lane closures
  • Nighttime work: Motorist can expect an overnight full bore closure
  • When a bore is closed, traffic along both directions of I-70 will be stopped at the tunnel entrance while one direction of travel is escorted through the open bore. Traffic stops will last 20 minutes, and delays are expected to be minimal due to the overnight working hours
  • Please be aware that traffic incidents, such as vehicle breakdowns within the open tunnel, could result in extended delays