April 9, 2008
CDOT ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR DENVER METRO AREA DURING NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK
DENVER METRO— Today, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced its plans for construction this summer in the middle of National Work Zone Awareness Week. CDOT will have at least 32 active construction projects in the Denver metro area alone and another 14 in areas just outside the metro area. In all, the 46 projects total approximately $339 million and of that total, $135 million is being used to improve highways in the metro area.
“It will be a very active construction season, which means motorists will encounter numerous cones zones in the Denver metro area and even across the state,” said CDOT Executive Director Russell George. “Nearly half of the projects in the Denver metro area are either repairing structurally deficient bridges or resurfacing worn highways, all of which will make our highways safer and more efficient.”
Like most years, CDOT will have a large number of resurfacing projects underway. In fact, $18.7 million in resurfacing projects will be underway in the Denver metro area this summer, including:
- I-25 from Santa Fe Drive to 6th Avenue - I-25 from 23rd Avenue to 48th Avenue
- Colorado Boulevard (State Highway 2) from Mexico Avenue to Alameda Avenue
- Colfax Avenue (US 40) from Colorado Boulevard to Quebec Street
- Colfax Avenue from Airport Boulevard to Tower Road
- Indiana Avenue (State Highway 72) from 64th Avenue to 86th Parkway
- Kipling Street (State Highway 391) from 6th Avenue to Colfax Avenue
- Brighton Boulevard (State Highway 265) from 47th Avenue to 54th Avenue
- Havana Street/6th Avenue (State Highway 30) from 1st Avenue to Potomac Street
In addition to the nine resurfacing projects, 12 new projects have just started or will be getting underway shortly including:
I-70 from Brighton Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard: This is the second of several projects that will repair and replace expansion joints on this 44 year-old viaduct. 60 expansion joints will be repaired or replaced as part of this $20 million project that is tentatively scheduled to begin in June 2008. The project will take two years to complete and has an estimated completion date of December 2010.
C-470 at Santa Fe Drive (US 85): This $300,000 project installs a temporary drainage pipe to correct drainage issues in the northwest quadrant of the interchange. Permanent repairs will be made when the interchange is reconstructed at a later date. The project will begin in June 2008 and run through September 2008.
Parker Road (State Highway 83) near Arapahoe Road (State Highway 88): This $2.5 million project will construct a sound wall on the northwest corner of the interchange and widen southbound Parker Road between Fair Street and the ramp to westbound Arapahoe Road to accommodate one additional lane. This work is part of a larger project that will eventually construct a grade-separated interchange, which will carry Parker Road over Arapahoe Road. The project will begin in June 2008 and continue through July 2008.
104th Avenue to westbound US 36; 120th Avenue to southbound I-25; Quebec Street to westbound I-270; Lucent Boulevard to eastbound C-470; and southbound US 285 between Federal Boulevard and Lowell Boulevard/Knox Court: This project installs ramp meters at five locations in the Denver metro area in order to improve traffic flow. The $900,000 project will start in June 2008 and continue through September 2008.
I-70 from I-225 to Tower Road: This preventative maintenance project repairs and replaces 1,850 square yards of concrete slabs in various locations along I-70 in order to extend the life of the concrete pavement. The $2.2 million project will begin in May 2008 and continue through September 2008.
Ward Road (State Highway 72) at 62nd Avenue: This safety improvement project will install two raised traffic islands between eastbound and westbound 62nd Avenue at each approach to Ward Road. These islands will prohibit traffic on 62nd Avenue from making left turns onto Ward Road and also from crossing over Ward Road. Only right turns from 62nd Avenue onto Ward Road will be allowed. Left turns from both northbound and southbound Ward Road onto eastbound and westbound 62nd Avenue will be allowed. This project will start in June 2008 and take approximately one month to complete.
Numerous projects that were underway last summer or fall will continue into this year’s construction season with six of them wrapping up this year:
I-25/US 36/I-76/I-270: The tenth and final phase of this strategic projects constructs a 2,200-foot long flyover ramp from eastbound I-270 to eastbound I-76 and adds new signing on US 36, I-25 and I-270. The new ramp will open to traffic by mid-summer 2008 with minor work taking place through November 2008. The entire strategic project cost $146.5 million with the last phase at $18.7 million.
Wadsworth Boulevard (State Highway 121) at Grandview Avenue: This $22.8 million safety improvement project constructs a grade-separation between Wadsworth Boulevard, Grandview Avenue and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, which includes two new structures and retaining walls. When complete, Wadsworth Boulevard will be under Grandview Avenue and the railroad. The project began in October 2006 and will be complete by the end of November 2008.
I-25 at 128th Avenue: This project replaces the I-25 bridge over 128th Avenue, which was originally constructed in 1962. The new bridge will accommodate four lanes rather than two. The $6.3 million project will be complete in August 2008.
Federal Boulevard (US 287) at 80th Avenue: This safety improvement project will widen Federal Boulevard and 80th Avenue to accommodate new double left turn movements from northbound Federal Boulevard to westbound 80th Avenue and a new right turn lane from southbound Federal Boulevard to westbound 80th Avenue. The $4.5 million project will be complete in June 2008.
State Highway 58 over 44th Avenue: This is another bridge improvement project as the State Highway 58 project over 44th Avenue is being replaced. The originally bridge was constructed in 1971. The $5.4 million project will be complete in December 2008.
Denver Metro Area Bridge Deck Rehabilitation Project: This $1.3 million project repairs the bridge decks at five locations: Peoria Street over I-76; Perry Street over US 6; Tabor Street over I-70; McIntyre Street over State Highway 58 and I-70 over 20th Avenue. The project will be complete in May 2008.
I-70 at State Highway 58: This $23 million project constructs the missing ramp from eastbound I-70 to westbound State Highway 58 and from eastbound State Highway 58 to westbound I-70. In addition, several other ramps will be realigned or reconstructed. The improvements at this interchange will accommodate future development in the area. This project began in February 2007 and will continue through March 2009.
Washington Avenue over State Highway 58: This $5 million project replaces the structurally deficient Washington Avenue bridge over State Highway 58 with two steel-arched bridges and pedestrian plazas at each end of the structure. The project began in March 2008 and will be complete in September 2009.
Travelers in the high country will also experience cone zones along I-70 West:
I-70 from Empire Junction (US 40) to Fall River Road: The $5.8 million project will rotomill and pave I-70 in asphalt and conduct some bridge repairs. The project will begin in May 2008 and continue through September 2008.
I-70 from Bakerville to Silver Plume: This $1.4 million project installs approximately five miles of median guardrail on I-70 to help prevent crossover accidents. The project will begin in June 2008 and will continue through August 2008.
I-70 from the Eisenhower Tunnel to Silverthorne: This project rotomills and resurfaces I-70 in asphalt. The $6 million project will begin in May 2008 and continue through October 2008.
I-70 at the Eisenhower Tunnel: This project replaces tile wall panels in the eastbound bore of the Eisenhower Tunnel. The $7.4 million project will begin in May 2008 and continue through November 2008.
Travelers heading to Colorado Springs or Fort Collins should be aware of several projects along I-25 just outside the Denver metro area:
I-25 from Douglas Lane to Tomah Road: This $3.8 million project will repave I-25 in asphalt. The project will begin in June 2008 and continue through September 2008.
I-25 from 5th Street to Douglas Lane in Castle Rock: This $35 million project widens I-25 from two to three lanes in each direction and reconstructs the Plum Creek interchange. The project will begin in June 2008 and continue through December 2009.
I-25 from Meadows Parkway to Schweiger: This project widens I-25 to four lanes in each direction. A two-lane frontage road will also be constructed to the east of I-25 between Schweiger and Castle Pines. The $18.5 million project gets underway in August 2008 and will be complete in March 2010.
I-25 from State Highway 52 to State Highway 66: Two projects will continue this summer to widen and reconstruct I-25 from four to six lanes. Numerous structures will also be replaced and the State Highway 66 interchange will be reconstructed. Portions of the East and West Frontage Roads will also be reconstructed. The two projects combined cost $96 million. Both projects will be complete in the 2009.
“A significant amount of work will be underway on our Interstates and other state highways this summer,” added George. “CDOT minimizes delays as much as possible by working at night and during off-peak hours, but motorists still need to plan ahead and prepare for travel through work zones.”