I-70/Vail Underpass Project Open House Scheduled Sept. 17

September 14, 2015 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - Public invited to meet project team and learn about upcoming construction activities.

EAGLE COUNTY/VAIL – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Town of Vail will host a public open house Thursday, Sept. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Vail at the Grand View, 395 E. Lionshead Cir., on the third level of the Lionshead Welcome Center.  Representatives from CDOT and the Town of Vail will present the final design of the I-70 Vail Underpass project and the upcoming construction schedule. Anyone interested in the project are invited to stop by at any time to discuss the work with representatives from the Town of Vail, CDOT and general contractor Kraemer North America.

The underpass will be built beneath I-70 between the West Vail and Town Center exits. The connection is situated between the Savoy Villas and Simba Run condominiums on the north side and a few hundred yards east of the Cascade Village entrance on the south side. Landscaping will provide a buffer for adjacent properties and a public art component will be used to enhance the project and provide headlight glare screens. Noise walls have been eliminated from the project after a survey of impacted properties showed a lack of support for the sound barriers.

Major underpass construction is scheduled to begin in April 2016; however in preparation, CDOT will complete preliminary detour paving adjacent to I-70 this October. Construction will take up to 20 months from the April start, with completion in December 2017.

The Vail underpass has been identified in regional transportation plans for more than 20 years to help relieve congestion at the two interchanges and improve transit circulation and emergency response within the town. It also will provide a safe and efficient alternative for pedestrians and bicyclists. The $30.1 million project is being funded through a partnership between the Town of Vail and CDOT.

For more information, visit vailgov.com/underpass or call Tom Kassmel, town engineer, at 970-479-2235.

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