August 18, 2008
ROUNDABOUTS OFFICIALLY OPEN AT SH 340 AND I-70 IN FRUITA AS CDOT, LOCAL OFFICIALS CUT RIBBON
FRUITA – The project to reconstruct and improve safety and capacity at the SH 340 and I-70 interchange was officially completed today as representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the City of Fruita cut the ceremonial ribbon today. Traffic had been using the new roundabouts since August 12, though final striping, signing and curb and gutter work are now complete.
Commuters through the area will notice further work on the overhead signing in the roundabout, to be installed later this month. This project to construct the two roundabouts and widen the ramps to I-70 was contracted to Elam Construction of Grand Junction for $3.8 million.
Work began on November 26, 2007, to construct two roundabouts south of the I-70 overpass in Fruita. They are located at the intersections of SH 340 and the eastbound I-70 on/off ramps and at SH 340 and Raptor Road. The roundabouts are 200 feet in diameter—the largest ever constructed by CDOT (those at I-70 and 24 Road are 180 feet in diameter).
“These roundabouts are larger due to the design criteria, which was based on accommodating increased truck traffic through this area,” CDOT Resident Engineer Craig Snyder said.
The City of Fruita contributed approximately $1 million towards the entire cost of the interchange construction project, which totaled nearly $4.5 million, with design and engineering costs outside the construction contract amount.
“This project is a great example of a partnership between city and state combining resources to complete a much-needed project,” Fruita City Manager Clint Kinney said.
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