I-70 over Ward Road Bridge Replacement

Weekly Traffic Impacts - June 2 to June 11*

Travel Alert

• Starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 7 and lasting until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, both directions of Ward Road under I-70 will be continuously closed to all traffic, with detour routes in place
• The CO 58 on ramp to eastbound I-70 will also be fully closed during this period, with detour routes posted
• The full extended closures of Ward Road and the CO 58 on ramp are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 7 and last until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11
• The closures are necessary to maintain safety for the traveling public, the construction crews, and the surrounding community while crews remove portions of the eastbound I-70 bridge over Ward Road and lower them to the ground
• No impacts to either direction of I-70 at Ward Road (Exit 266) are expected during the removal process
• Traffic on eastbound I-70 at Ward Road is scheduled to be shifted onto median detour pavement during overnight hours on Friday, May 31 to accommodate the removal and replacement of the bridge
• The westbound I-70 on and off ramps at Ward Road will remain open during the removal process, but no access to the on ramp via W. 44th Ave will be permitted
• The suggested detour route to access westbound I-70 is: W. 44th Ave.to Youngfield St., and west to W. 40th Ave. to Clear Creek Drive to enter westbound I-70 at Exit 264 (Clear Creek Dr/32nd Ave) - as noted in the first map below
• The suggested detour route to access eastbound I-70 from CO 58 is: take westbound I-70 to Exit 264; follow detour signs on Youngfield to W. 44th Ave. to enter eastbound I-70 at Ward Road - see second map below
• Other detour routes do exist
• Detours will add approximately 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Uniformed traffic control personnel, flaggers and construction barrier and devices will be present to maintain safety at the site
• Signs and variable message boards will be posted along I-70, CO 58, W. 44th Ave. and Ward Road to alert motorists to the closures
• No pedestrian or cyclist traffic is permitted in the work zone
• The schedule is weather dependent and subject to change

Other Traffic Impacts

• Periodic overnight lane closures may exist in both directions of I-70 within the project limits
• The closures will be taken from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., as needed
• Crews will also be working behind barrier during daytime hours with minor impacts expected
• Regular daytime hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday
• The project limits on I-70 extend from Mile Point 265 to MP 266.5
• Signs, message boards and construction devices are present to alert the public to the work zone
• Caution is advised
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

• Various lane closures will exist in both directions of Ward Road under I-70 during this period
• The closures will be taken from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, only as needed
• The closure limits are confined to MP 0 (44th Ave) to MP .25 
• Flaggers will be present to manage traffic flows
• Motorists can expect short delays
• Signs, message boards and construction devices are in place alerting motorists and pedestrians to the work zone and closures
• Sidewalk access is limited and caution is advised
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

General Travel Impacts, Schedule & Scope of Work

• The project began in February 2023 with anticipated full completion by late 2024
• Periodic overnight lane and ramp closures will be taken in both directions of I-70 at Ward Road (Exit 266) Sunday to Thursday, during certain work activities
• Occasional full overnight closures of each direction of I-70 will be taken within the project limits for certain safety critical work activities
• Daytime single lane closures switching to double lane closures will exist in both directions of Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 Monday to Friday for access to the work zone
• These weekday closures will be in place from 7 a.m. to approx. 6 p.m.
• Some weekend work is expected, with lane closures taken in both directions of Ward Road, as needed
• Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 will be fully closed during safety critical bridge work, with detours in place
• During full closures of Ward Road or the westbound I-70 on-ramp, motorists will be detoured to Youngfield Ave to access Exit 264 (Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave) or the Frontage Road to access I-70 via Kipling St 
• This state funded project is part of CDOT’s 10-Year Plan to replace two aging bridges on I-70 over Ward Road with a single structure
• This new structure is being built to meet today's standards to support increased traffic on the I-70 corridor

Nearby Project Impacts

• Impacts include full periodic closures of the Harlan St. interchange, the Exit 270 on and off ramps to westbound I-70, and other lane and road closures within the project's limits
• Motorists will be detoured to Wadsworth Blvd to bypass ramp closures
• This project has an estimated completion date of February 2025