Project Phases

The project has been designed and will be constructed in three main geographic sections:

1. East Section (I-70 from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill): Construction will begin in June 2023 and last until the summer of 2026.
2. West Section (I-70 from Hidden Valley to Idaho Springs): Construction will begin in fall 2023 and last until fall 2027.
3. Central Section (I-70 from the middle of Floyd Hill to Hidden Valley): Construction will begin in spring 2024 and last until the end of 2028.

Project Benefits

The I-70 Floyd Hill project is expected to:

• Address the bottleneck on I-70 at Floyd Hill and improve travel time reliability.
• Rebuild bridges to meet today’s safety standards.
• Improve traffic flow and access at interchanges and intersections.
• Improve design speeds and stopping sight distance on horizontal curves.
• Implement environmental mitigation measures to enhance wildlife connectivity, air and water quality, stream conditions, and recreation.

Traffic Impacts

During construction, motorists can expect:

• Occasional daytime traffic holds during rock blasting and rock scaling operations.
• Overnight lane closures.
• Temporary lane shifts.
• Periodic, temporary on- and off-ramp closures.
• Periodic, overnight detours in the I-70/US 6 interchange and short-term closures of I-70 for safety-critical work.
• Occasional daytime 20-minute traffic holds for rock scaling and rock blasting (delays of 45 minutes are anticipated).
• Temporary closures of the Clear Creek Greenway trail.

However, efforts will be made to keep all lanes and ramps open during peak traffic hours, and innovative construction methods will be used to minimize traffic disruptions.

Contact Information

For more information,# I-70 Floyd Hill Project Overview

The I-70 Floyd Hill project is a significant construction initiative that spans an eight-mile section of the I-70 Mountain Corridor, from west of Evergreen to eastern Idaho Springs. This corridor serves as a critical economic gateway for Colorado and the nation, accommodating long-term residents, various businesses, and tourist traffic. The aging infrastructure of this section of I-70 is in dire need of upgrades, and after several years of study and consultation with residents, stakeholders, and community leaders, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has initiated the construction phase of the project.

Key Project Facts

• Estimated Construction Cost: $700 million
• Contractor: Kraemer North America
• Timeline: June 2023 to 2028
• Location: Westbound I-70 from east of the Floyd Hill/Beaver Brook exit to Colorado Blvd.
• Nearest Town: Idaho Springs
• County: Clear Creek County

Project Objectives

The I-70 Floyd Hill project aims to:

• Add a third westbound I-70 travel lane to alleviate the existing two-lane bottleneck. This new lane will be a full-time, tolled Express Lane.
• Rebuild bridges due to use, wear and tear, and heavy usage.
• Construct a missing two-mile section of the frontage road between US 6 and the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchanges, which will improve emergency response.
• Build an extended on-ramp from US 6 onto eastbound I-70 for slow-moving vehicles to have more room to merge.
• Improve traffic flow and access at interchanges and intersections.
• Improve sight distance and safety by straightening roadway curves.
• Enhance the Clear Creek Greenway trail.
• Implement environmental mitigation measures to enhance wildlife connectivity, air and water quality, stream conditions, and recreation.
• Install two permanent air quality monitors.

Project Phases

The project has been designed and will be constructed in three main geographic sections:

1. East Section (I-70 from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill): Construction will begin in June 2023 and last until the summer of 2026.
2. West Section (I-70 from Hidden Valley to Idaho Springs): Construction will begin in fall 2023 and last until fall 2027.
3. Central Section (I-70 from the middle of Floyd Hill to Hidden Valley): Construction will begin in spring 2024 and last until the end of 2028.

Project Benefits

The I-70 Floyd Hill project is expected to:

• Address the bottleneck on I-70 at Floyd Hill and improve travel time reliability.
• Rebuild bridges to meet today’s safety standards.
• Improve traffic flow and access at interchanges and intersections.
• Improve design speeds and stopping sight distance on horizontal curves.
• Implement environmental mitigation measures to enhance wildlife connectivity, air and water quality, stream conditions, and recreation.