Starting at 4 a.m. April 28 and continuing until 5 a.m. April 30, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will have two lanes of eastbound and westbound I-70 closed between Ward Road and 32 nd Avenue for pipe replacement. There will be only one lane of I-70 open in each direction. All work is weather permitting.
"Unfortunately, there is a large pipe underneath both eastbound and westbound I-70 that has deteriorated to the point that it must be replaced soon," said CDOT Project Engineer
Rene' Valdez. "By being proactive and replacing the pipe now, we will be able to prevent a larger problem down the road that could have impacted traffic for a greater period of time rather than just one weekend."
In order to replace the pipe, crews must tear up the existing pavement, remove the current pipe and install a new one and then repave and restripe I-70. This process will take the entire weekend as the pipe is underneath all lanes of I-70 and the new pavement must have time to cure before traffic can be placed on it.
Throughout the weekend, major delays are anticipated and alternate routes are strongly advised. Motorists can take either US 6 (6 th Avenue) or C-470 as an alternate route. In addition, oversize trucks will not be permitted through the work zone. The Colorado State Patrol will be on site to help with traffic control.
"We do anticipate major delays on I-70 this weekend, but there are some very viable alternate routes that motorists should take instead," added Valdez. "If motorists can plan ahead and seek alternate routes, the delays on I-70 can be reduced."
The pipe installation is part of an interchange improvement project at I-70 and State Highway (SH) 58. In all, the project will construct, reconstruct or realign five ramps:
· A new ramp from eastbound I-70 to westbound SH 58 will be built
· A new ramp from eastbound SH 58 to westbound I-70 will be built
· The existing ramp from eastbound SH 58 to eastbound I-70 will be realigned and reconstructed without replacing the existing bridge
· The existing ramp from westbound I-70 to SH 58 will be realigned and reconstructed
· The existing ramp from Youngfield Street to eastbound I-70 will be relocated approximately ¼ mile to the south to accommodate a longer acceleration lane
For more information on this project visit
http://www.dot.state.co.us/I70SH58/.
Ames Construction, Inc. is the contractor of this $30.8 million project, which will be complete by the end of December 2008. The project is being funded by federal and state funds as well as Jefferson County funding.
Mindy Crane is a Colorado Department of Transportation spokesperson.