I-70B South of Rood Avenue Improvements

About the Project:

The project will reconstruct the following locations: I-70B (Pitkin Avenue) and I-70Z (Ute Avenue), Main Street, Colorado Avenue, 2nd Street and 3rd Street. The project includes installing concrete pavement, hot mix asphalt pavement, storm sewer drainage infrastructure and improved ADA accessibility with new curb, gutters, sidewalks and curb ramps.

The safety and mobility improvements were identified during the 2008 Environmental Assessment to address the following: congestion, bring multimodal improvements for a safer and more comfortable travel experience for cars, pedestrians and cyclists, and provide effective business access along the corridor. These and other improvements are part of CDOT’s 10-year plan for improvements statewide.

The project is the next in a series of phased improvements on I-70B. It follows the I-70B 1st Street and Grand Avenue Improvement Project. Construction took place from 2021 to 2022 and was completed in June 2022.

Project Facts

  • Construction Cost: $19.2 Million
  • Contractor: United Companies
  • Timeline: September 2024 to October 2025
  • Location:  I-70B (Pitkin Avenue) and I-70Z (Ute Avenue), Main Street, Colorado Avenue, 2nd Street, and 3rd Street
    • Nearest Town/City: Grand Junction
    • Mile Point(s): MP 1 to MP 5
    • County: Mesa

Project Benefits

  • Improved utility reliability and safety
  • Improved safety for all users (motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users)

Work Schedule:

  • Work will be scheduled from Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. until daylight hours begin to change and then the work window will adjust for daylight to dark
  • Work will last into the fall of 2025

Traffic Impacts:

Motorists can expect the following impacts during the period of construction:

  • Pitkin Avenue (eastbound I-70B) and Ute Avenue (westbound I-70B) will be reduced to one lane from 4th Street to 1st Street during storm drain excavation and installation
  • Narrowed lanes and reduced shoulders
  • Width restrictions 
  • Signs will be posted to alert motorists to the closures and available detour routes
  • The work zone will begin on 3rd Street for storm drain excavation and installation with alternating one lane traffic. Business accesses will be open and maintained but could be adjusted to support customers needs
  • Posted speeds through the work zone will be 25 mph. Please take it slow through the cone zone
  • Refer to COtrip.org for real-time travel conditions and road closures