Rock blasting, other projects could impact I-70 driving

Rock blasting, other projects could impact I-70 driving Projects between Floyd Hill and Den- ver

Rock-blasting work restarted along I-70 Floyd Hill yesterday (Wednesday), with the next blasting scheduled for Valentine’s Day, Wednesday, Feb. 14. In addition, another new project announced along the interstate near Golden also may impact travel between Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties and the metro Den- ver area.

CDOT said some lane re- strictions will occur at various times at both project locations. The new escape ramp project is expected to be com- pleted in late May or early June.

Meanwhile, two other CDOT projects between C-470 and Floyd Hill continue to impact traffic between Floyd Hill and C-470 in Golden.

This week and next, parts of I-70 and U.S. 40 near Genesee will be subject to closing so CDOT can continue construc- tion of a wildlife underpass along the interstate.

Photo courtesy CDOT.

CDOT’s blasting next week along Floyd Hill will stop traffic on I-70 for 20 minutes. When blasting occurs, motorists should e xpect a traffic hold and up to 45 minutes of delay. A series of airhorn signals will precede each detonation to warn people in the area. No al- ternative routes are advised during the traffic stoppages.

The early-February closures are scheduled between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays through Feb. 17. Drivers access- ing U.S. 40 eastbound can detour around the closure by using east- bound I-70 to the Lookout Moun- tain exit. Westbound drivers can- not take the exits at Genesee and Mount Vernon Road.

Project overview The $700 million I-70 Floyd Hill project will build a third westbound I-70 travel lane, which will function as an Express Lane, to improve the current two-lane bottleneck heading down Floyd Hill westbound. The new toll lane will begin near the top of Floyd Hill west- bound and will be a fly-over lane that will end near the Veterans Memorial Tunnels.

I-70 travelers should know that narrow- er lanes and shoulders continue to be in the $700 million project work zone near Floyd Hill. The transportation department recommends that motorists follow posted speed limits and don’t drive distracted. Slowing down and allowing extra space between the vehicle ahead of you is ad- vised.

• Constructing a missing two-mile section of the frontage road between Evergreen and Idaho Springs.

The wildlife underpass area has been ongoing for months near the top of Genesse Hill and is expected to be completed this spring. On unannounced days, the left lane, heading westbound, is closed to accommodate the work. Motorists should read the orange construc- tion signs heading up I-70 from Morrison to learn if the work may impact the traffic flow.

• Building an eastbound I-70 extended on-ramp for slow-moving vehicles. Improving traffic flow and access at interchanges and intersections within the project limits.

Nearby, construction crews continue working along Highway 40 near the Floyd Hill/Beaver Brook interchange and at the highway’s junction with County Road 65. New roundabouts are being built in both areas on the north side of I-70. Motorists are advised to watch for traffic signs and potential temporary detours.

• Improving sight distance on roadway curves. Improving the Clear Creek Greenway trail. Imple- menting environmental mitigation to create safer wildlife movements and improve air and water quality and stream conditions an d recreation.

The larger project includes re- building the eastbound emergency truck escape ramp between Mt. Vernon Road (Exit 256) and the Morrison exit (Exit 259). There will be overnight double-lane closures on eastbound I-70 in the vicin- ity. The emergency ramp has been closed for weeks.

Driver cautions CDOT said motorists should expect narrower lanes and shoulders, reduced speed limits as low as 45 mph and increased truck traffic entering and exiting the work zones. All construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change. During construction, the exist- ing I-70 travel lanes will remain open in each direction during peak daytime travel hours. Lane closure hours for the duration of construction will vary based on the season, day of the week, number of lanes being closed and travel direction.

Highway 6 restrictions Along Clear Creek Canyon (Highway 6), single-land closures are planned from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. between mile points 267 and 271.5.

The planned restrictions are part of the ongoing Peak to Plains Huntsman Gulch trail project that began last year in Jef- ferson County, between Highway 119 and Golden.

The escape ramp work will in- clude:

Project sections The Floyd Hill project is divided into three sections. The East Section is from the west of Evergreen to mid- way down Floyd Hill near the Black Hawk interchange (Exit 244). The West Section is from near Exit 243 (Central City Parkway) to the Veterans Memorial Tun- nels near Idaho Springs. The Central Section is from the middle of Floyd Hill through Exit 243 (Central City/Hidden Valley exit). The east section began this spring and continues through June 2026. The West section is expected to start this fall and will conclude in the fall of 2027. The Central section has begun and will continue into 2028. The East part of the project includes installing two new traffic roundabouts along Highway 40, at County Road 65 and Homestead Road. Flagmen control traffic during some of the daytime work.

• New signage.

New I-70 Golden closure Westbound I-70 near Golden will experi- ence random lane closures until later this month during weekday hours between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Drivers accessing west- bound I-70 can avoid the closure by trav- eling east on U.S. 40 or I-70 to Lookout Mountain and taking the on-ramp to the interstate.

• Larger barriers between the ramp and the steep embankment.

• Additional cameras.

• New ramp lighting.

• A new design intended to allow late entry for truckers who miss the escape ramp entrance.

For information on the Highway 6/Clear Creek Canyon project being conducted by Jeffco, visit www. jeffco.us/P2P . Phone information is available at 720- 893-0403. The email address is peak2plains@gmail. com. For real-time travel information, visit www. COtrip.org.

Drilling soil nails into hillside along Floyd Hill with traffic moving on Interstate 70.

Rock blasting, other projects could impact I-70 driving

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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Rock blasting, other projects could impact I-70 driving

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