Denver Area Summer Highway Construction Plans Announced/Rockfall Season Projects Under Way

CDOT Announces Metro Area Summer Construction Projects

The Colorado Department of Transportation recently announced its plans for summer-season construction, which includes 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.

“Nearly half of the projects are either repairing structurally deficient bridges or resurfacing worn highways, all of which will make our highways safer and more efficient,” said CDOT Executive Director Russell George.

CDOT will have $18.7 million in resurfacing projects under way in the Denver metro area this summer, including:

• Interstate 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 from Colorado Boulevard to Quebec Street;
• Colfax Avenue from Airport Boulevard to Tower Road;
• Indiana Avenue from 64th Avenue to 86th Parkway;
• Kipling Street from 6th Avenue to Colfax Avenue;
• Brighton Boulevard from 47th Avenue to 54th Avenue;
• Havana Street/6th Avenue from 1st Avenue to Potomac Street.

In addition to the nine resurfacing projects, 12 new projects have just started or will be getting under way shortly, including:

• I-70 from Brighton Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard;
• C-470 at Santa Fe Drive;
• Parker Road near Arapahoe Road;
• 104th Avenue to westbound U.S. 36; 120th Avenue to southbound I-25; Quebec Street; to westbound I-270; Lucent Boulevard to eastbound C-470; and southbound U.S 285; between Federal Boulevard and Lowell Boulevard/Knox Court;
• I-70 from I-225 to Tower Road;
• Ward Road at 62nd Avenue.

Numerous projects that were under way 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;
• Wadsworth Boulevard at Grandview Avenue;
• I-25 at 128th Avenue;
• Federal Boulevard at 80th Avenue;
• State Highway 58 over 44th Avenue;
• Denver Metro Area Bridge Deck Rehabilitations 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;
• I-70 at State Highway 58;
• Washington Avenue over S.H. 58.

Resurfacing Project Under Way on I-25 near Downtown Denver

The Colorado Department of Transportation has begun one of several resurfacing projects that will take place this summer.

The project will rotomill and pave nearly three mi of mainline Interstate 25 in asphalt between 23rd and 48th avenues. The project does not include the I-25 HOV/toll Express Lanes.

Brannan Sand and Gravel Inc. is the contractor for the $3.6-million project, which should be complete by August.

CDOT Prepares for Rockfall Season with New Projects

Warmer spring temperatures during the day and cold temperatures at night create the freeze-thaw effect and increase the potential for rockslides in Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Transportation has an active rockfall program designed to help prevent rockslides onto roadways. The program, which started in 1996, tracks rockfall information, implements a rating system and mitigates potentially hazardous areas. Two projects are under way as part of fiscal year 2008 funding: I-70 at Georgetown Hill and U.S. 550 over Coal Bank Pass.

The state's new fiscal year begins in July, providing funding for four more projects:

• U.S. 6 at S.H. 119 in Clear Creek Canyon. Scaling and installation of draped rockfall netting. $700,000, starts this fall.
• U.S. 50, Big Horn Sheep Canyon. Scaling and installation of rock reinforcement and rockfall netting near Cotopaxi. 700,000, starts this fall.
• U.S. 6, Clear Creek Canyon Corridor. Scaling in various locations in the canyon. $650,000, starts this fall.

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