I-25 North Express Lanes Project urges drivers to use caution when traveling through the active work zone

Travel Advisory

April 23, 2026 - Northeastern Colorado - National Work Zone Awareness Week runs April 20 to 24

Weld County — National Work Zone Awareness Week is Monday, April 20, to Friday, April 24, and the I-25 North Express Lanes Project, Mead to Berthoud, wants to remind drivers of the critical role work zone safety plays in protecting those working and driving on Colorado roads.

This year's National Work Zone Awareness Week theme, "Safe Actions Save Lives," is a reminder that everyone has a responsibility to ensure safe travel through work zones for fellow roadway users and construction crews. While “Safe Actions Save Lives” is an especially important reminder during this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the I-25 North Express Lanes Project team want drivers to put this into practice by making safe actions when driving through the work zone every day. This means putting down the phone, driving distraction-free, staying aware, slowing down and following all posted speed limit signs. Practicing safe driving habits can make all the difference in preventing crashes and protecting lives.

One way the I-25 North Express Lanes Project encourages safe driving habits is through the new CDOT Speed Enforcement Program. Speed enforcement cameras were implemented on the project corridor to create safer, smarter work zones for drivers and construction crews. This program focuses on reducing excessive speeding in areas with vulnerable populations, such as work zones, where frequent crashes not only disrupt traffic flow but, more critically, result in serious injuries and loss of life. Since installing the speed cameras in early March, excessive speeds in the work zone dropped by over 90%.

CDOT issues $75 fines for speeding in the I-25 North work zone between Mead and Berthoud. Civil penalties took effect on April 2, following a 30-day grace period (March 1 through April 1) during which speeding drivers were given warning notices. For more information about the program, please visit codot.gov/programs/speedenforcement.

During this National Work Zone Awareness Week, please continue to prioritize safety for all drivers and construction crews. This project is set for completion in Fall of 2027. Activities for this year include completing bridge reconstruction, paving northbound lanes and installing intelligent transportation systems. This project includes bettering east-west connectivity by adding bike lanes and sidewalks on the new bridges crossing over I-25, creating a foundation for future regional connections and a safer, more efficient I-25. CDOT thanks you for your continued patience and flexibility as CDOT completes this piece of a newer, safer I-25 North corridor. During this National Work Zone Awareness Week, and always, remember to drive safely through the work zone and remember–safe actions save lives.

Please visit codot.gov/projects/north-i-25, for the most current travel updates. The I-25 North Express Lanes Project: Mead to Berthoud section is a continuation of the approximately 20 miles of improvements that have been completed on I-25 between Berthoud to Fort Collins over the past six years. This approximately 6-mile project will expand and enhance I-25, from Colorado Highway 66 in Mead and connect to the newly built portion of I-25 just south of CO 56 in Berthoud. Once complete in 2028, this project will complete a major missing puzzle piece on I-25 and will be the first time there will be more than two lanes of I-25 from Denver to Fort Collins in both directions.

Stay informed

For additional information about this project, contact the project team.

  • Project phone line: (720) 593-1996
  • Project email: [email protected]
  • Project web site: codot.gov/projects/north-i-25
  • Sign up for weekly project updates by logging onto the project web site and filling out the right-side form to “Subscribe to Project Updates.”

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!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!