I-70 Floyd Hill Project makes progress during first six months of construction

Project Update

December 27, 2023 - Denver/Central Colorado - Work to expand further west in 2024

Clear Creek County — In July 2023, the Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor partner Kraemer North America began construction on the I-70 Floyd Hill Project which will improve eight miles of the Interstate 70 mountain corridor between Evergreen and eastern Idaho Springs. Construction began on I-70 in the East Section of the Project, a four-mile stretch that spans from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill.

In 2023, crews focused on rock scaling and rock blasting to widen I-70, drainage work and building retaining walls. The Project completed 66 traffic holds on I-70 and US 40 to perform rock scaling and eight rock blasts, removing 18,000 tons of material - the equivalent of 3,600 African elephants - from the slope above eastbound I-70 in this area to widen the highway. Rock blasting is approximately 90% complete in the East Section of the Project, with two final rock blasts for the East Section anticipated in late January/early February 2024. Crews installed 2,825 linear feet - more than nine football fields - of drainage pipe and built retaining walls enforced with 20,000 square feet of shotcrete, which helps maintain the corridor aesthetic with a natural-looking finish. Take a look at the video linked here to learn more about the Project’s shotcrete walls.

In late-fall 2023, crews began pre-construction activities in the West and Central Sections of the Project, which span from Hidden Valley/Central City (Exit 243) to eastern Idaho Springs (Exit 241). In October, crews relocated the I-70 Mountain Express Lane tolling infrastructure to prepare for construction and began utility relocation and grading along the Clear Creek Greenway Trail, which requires a long-term closure of the trail.

CDOT’s I-70 Floyd Hill Project is committed to providing jobs to Coloradans. The project currently employs 335 field employees who have contributed to 36,292 hours worked. Kraemer North America currently has 51 subcontractor contracts in place with 47 subcontractors being Colorado businesses, is supported by 45 suppliers and partnered with 26 disadvantaged business enterprises, which are for-profit small businesses majority-owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals.

In 2024, work will continue in the East Section of the Project with construction activities expanding further west toward Idaho Springs. Work in the West Section of the Project, which spans I-70 from Hidden Valley to Idaho Springs, will begin in early 2024 followed by work in the Central Section of the Project, which spans I-70 from the middle of Floyd Hill to Hidden Valley, which is expected to begin in summer 2024. Motorists can expect overnight lane and ramp closures and intermittent daytime traffic holds for rock blasting and rock scaling. The best way to stay informed is by signing up for Project text alerts -text floydhill (one word, lowercase) to 21000.

I-70 Floyd Hill Project geographic sections map
Map of the I-70 Floyd Hill Project broken out into geographic sections.

Project Information

For additional information about this project:

About the Project

The I-70 Floyd Hill Project will improve eight miles of the I-70 mountain corridor, from west of Evergreen to eastern Idaho Springs. The Project will deliver a third westbound I-70 travel lane, which will function as an Express Lane, to improve the current two-lane bottleneck. Other major elements include constructing a missing two-mile section of the frontage road between Evergreen and Idaho Springs, 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, improving sight distance on roadway curves, improving the Clear Creek Greenway trail, and implementing environmental mitigation to create safer wildlife movements and improve air and water quality, stream conditions and recreation.

Construction began in July 2023 and is expected to conclude in late 2028.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

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