Denver Metro Area Wrong-Way Signage Improvements

About the Project

The Colorado Department of Transportation is working on a wrong-way driving counter measures sign project located in multiple counties in the Denver Metro Area. There are two phases of the project with work occurring at the same time. More information about each phase can be accessed below:

Phase 1

The Colorado Department of Transportation and contract partner CC Enterprises are pleased to announce the completion of Phase 1 of the wrong-way driving counter measures sign project located in multiple counties in the Denver Metro Area on November 10. The project took place at 83 off-ramps at the following locations:

• I-70 Mountain Corridor from the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel to Morrison (I-70 from Mile Point 216 to MP 260)
  
• I-70 Metro Corridor from Morrison to E-470 (I-70 from MP 260 to MP 290)
  
• I-70 Eastern Corridor from E-470 to Strasburg (I-70 from MP 290 to MP 328)
  
• I-225 from I-25 to I-70 (I-225 from MP 2 to MP 10)
  
• US 6 from I-70 in Golden to I-25 (US 6 from MP 276 to MP 283.5)
  
• US 285 from Pine Junction to I-25 (US 285 from MP 231 to MP 260)

Work in Phase 1 of this project included the removal and replacement of approximately 900 aging signs. The new signs are larger in size, which will improve visibility and safety.  Additional wrong-way signs were added at most locations, totaling about 1500 wrong-way/roadway signs and posts installed in this phase of the project.  The goal of the project was to lessen the chance of a motorist entering the interstate from the wrong direction. The new signage and pavement markings enhance safety by alerting motorists of wrong-way driving maneuvers onto these non-signalized highways.

Additional work consisted of installing overhead signage on existing signal structures and modifying signal bulbs to indicate lanes with through motions at the intersections.

Phase 2

The Colorado Department of Transportation, in partnership with CEC Infrastructure Group, LLC, has finished replacing wrong-way roadway signage along multiple different highways and interstates throughout the metro area, as well as six different counties including: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson.

This phase of the sign replacement project happened over an eight-month period. New signs were installed on all off-ramps in the Denver metro area. The working area was very widespread as signs were changed along I-25, C-470, CO 58, I-70, I-76, and US 36, as indicated on the map. Road work and travel impacts were very minimal. Work was completed in mid-December 2021. CEC Infrastructure Group, LLC was the prime contractor for this $2.2 million project.

The project has greatly improved the public’s safety by more effectively preventing drivers from entering the freeway in the wrong direction. Newer and much larger signs were installed in place of the current signs to more easily catch the attention of drivers before turning onto a highway.