Interchange opens at I-25 and 144th Avenue

A new interchange at I-25 and 144th Avenue will open Sept. 1, giving drivers in the north metro region greater access to the booming area.

The $21.7 million project was jointly funded by the cities of Westminster and Thornton. The cities also partnered to build the interchange at 136th Avenue and I-25, which opened in 2004.

"This is an important connection to the rapidly developing north I-25 corridor and a boon to motorists seeking access to the area, especially with the opening of phase one of The Orchard Town Center in October," said Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally. "Our partnership with Thornton on the 136th Avenue interchange has already spurred a number of projects there, and we expect this new interchange to do the same."

"The 144th Avenue interchange provides important access to the Front Range's foremost business and shopping areas which includes the North Washington Corridor as well as Larkridge," said Thornton Mayor Noel Busck. "We're happy to once again have the City of Westminster as our partner in delivering access, retail and services to residents along the north I-25 corridor."

The new interchange not only improves transportation mobility for Thornton and Westminster residents, it provides greater access to the rapid development along the north I-25 corridor. In recognition of the area's potential, the two cities collaborated on a development plan for the area from 126th Avenue to 150th Avenue and from Huron to Washington. The North I-25 Plan provides for retail, office and transit-oriented development along the corridor. Additionally, Thornton and Westminster have an intergovernmental agreement providing for revenue sharing within the corridor.

Although the interchange is fully open, construction on architectural details and extensive landscaping will continue through the spring of 2007. The 144th Avenue project is being built to the same design and standards as the 136th Avenue interchange, featuring specialty street lights, ornamental pedestrian railings, city monument signs and illuminated globes settled in a cradle at each corner of the bridge and at the center pier.

Felsburg, Holt & Ullevig acted as the design and construction management firm on the project which was constructed by Jalisco International. Landscaping is being done by Coloco.