CDOT hosts its first public open house for the I-270 Corridor Improvements project

News Release

October 16, 2023 - Denver/Central Colorado - Over 80 people attended to learn more about the project and provide input

Denver- The Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-270 Corridor Improvements project hosted its first open house as a part of its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process on Oct. 10. CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration are initiating an EIS to evaluate ways to improve the I-270 corridor. CDOT and FHWA began a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in 2020, initially anticipating an Environmental Assessment. Moving into 2023, CDOT determined a more detailed environmental review was needed and requested an EIS be prepared.

CDOT recognizes that I-270 corridor improvements are necessary, and minimizing environmental and community impacts is important. CDOT and FHWA need input from residents and businesses in the area, highway and transit users, and other interested groups on how to improve the corridor and minimize negative impacts.

NEPA requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their decisions and consider all reasonable options or alternatives before deciding whether to move forward with a project. An EIS documents the need for the project, identifies potential alternatives to address the needs, describes the environment in the affected area, analyzes the benefits and effects of the project to the environment and community, and commits to measures to mitigate impacts of the project.

CDOT and FHWA have been engaging residents and businesses over the past three years and are planning an extensive outreach program for the EIS that is expected to employ various methods, such as public meetings, bus tours, stakeholder meetings, elected official meetings, and agency meetings. CDOT and its bilingual community liaison plan on hosting and attending community events and meetings to develop relationships with the community and agency partnerships to share information and gather feedback.

CDOT and FHWA are considering a range of alternatives to improve traffic flow and safety on the I-270 mainline highway, interchanges, and surrounding pedestrian and bicycle facilities. These include widening of the highway, reconfiguring interchange ramps, replacing deteriorating bridges and pavement, improving pedestrian and bicycle crossing facilities across I-270, and providing modern drainage, water quality, intelligent traffic systems (ITS), and other supporting infrastructure.

Over the course of the EIS process, CDOT will be engaging with the public to determine the preferred alternative for I-270. For those who missed the open house on Oct. 10, 2023, the project team has made the meeting materials and comment forms available online via the project website.

For public meeting materials, please visit this link www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i270study/public-involvement.

I-270 Public Meeting
Members of the public talking to and learning about the I-270 Corridor Improvements Project with CDOT staff on Oct. 10, 2023.

Project Information

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