The Future Floyd Hill

The design concept developed during the National Environmental Policy Act phase and documented in the Environmental Assessment (EA) has been refined through a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) process. The refined design changes have to do with re-aligning parts of I-70 and the frontage roads due to geographic constraints in the canyon and construction safety/accessibility.

To access the most recent flyover rendering, please email the project team at [email protected].

Geographic Section of I-70 Floyd Hill Project

I-70 Floyd Hill Project will be constructed in three sections - East, Central and West.
The I-70 Floyd Hill Project will be built in three phases – East, Central and West. Overviews of each phase are below: 

East Section (blue on the map) from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill (near Johnson's Gulch)

Construction Start Date: July 2023.

Main Features of the East Section:

  • Construct a third travel lane on westbound I-70 from the top of Floyd Hill to connect with the existing Westbound Mountain Express Lane (which currently starts at the Veterans Memorial Tunnels). The new lane will be a tolled Express Lane; the two existing General Purpose Lanes will continue to be available for those that do not choose to use the Express Lane.
  • Install wildlife fencing between Exit 247 and Soda Creek Road (east of Exit 248).
  • Construct an eastbound I-70 climbing lane for heavy commercial or slow-moving vehicles from a new US 6 ramp to eastbound I-70 from the bottom of Floyd Hill to the Hyland Hills/Floyd Hill interchange at Homestead Road at the top of Floyd Hill.
Rendering of i-70 midway down Floyd Hill looking southeast
Rendering of I-70 midway down Floyd Hill looking southeast

Rendering of i-70 midway down Floyd Hill looking northwest
Rendering of I-70 midway down Floyd Hill looking northwest

Central Section (orange on the map) from the Middle of Floyd Hill to Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway

Expected Construction Start Date: Fall 2024 

Main Features of the Central Section:

  • Continue the third travel lane (Express Lane) on westbound I-70
  • Replace the bridges at the bottom of Floyd Hill with new structures and alignment to improve safety and sight distance
  • Flatten curves on I-70 to improve safety and achieve a 55 MPH design speed
  • Construct a new frontage road connection between the US 6 and Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchanges
  • Relocate the US 6/I-70 on- and off-ramps to the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchange (via the new frontage road connection)
  • Construct a new on-ramp to eastbound I-70 from the bottom of Floyd Hill/US 6, which will connect to the new eastbound I-70 climbing lane for heavy commercial or slow-moving vehicles
  • Reconstruct the Clear Creek Greenway trail from the bottom of Floyd Hill to County Road 314
  • Realign and restore portions of Clear Creek
Rendering of I-70 at the bottom of Floyd Hill from above
Rendering of I-70 at the bottom of Floyd Hill from above

Rendering of I-70 east of Sawmill Gulch looking west
Rendering of I-70 east of Sawmill Gulch looking west

West Section (purple on the map) from Hidden Valley Interchange to Idaho Springs Exit 241

Construction Start Date: March 2024 

Main features of the West Section:

  • Continue the third travel lane on westbound I-70 through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels to Exit 241
  • Flatten I-70 curves to improve safety and achieve a 55 MPH design speed
  • Rebuild the bridges over Clear Creek, just west of Hidden Valley
  • Resurface/reconstruct the Clear Creek Greenway trail from the Hidden Valley interchange to the Veterans Memorial Tunnels

Rendering of I-70 from the Veterans Memorial Tunnels looking east.

Rendering of I-70 from the Veterans Memorial Tunnels looking east.