I-70 Exit 203 Interchange in Frisco - Design Phase
About the Project
Safety, mobility, and operational improvements on I-70 at the Colorado State Highway 9 (CO9) Frisco interchange (Exit 203) and the adjacent intersection on Lusher Court/Dillon Dam Road (DDR) are needed. The Interchange experiences congestion during peak travel times. This project
will improve the capacity of the interchange by improving the westbound ramp and I-70 bridge. It also improves the eastbound ramps and adjacent intersection that affect the operation of this interchange.
The project will improve:
- Mobility: Interchange improvements enhance economic vitality and mobility by reducing travel delays caused by crashes and congestion for all users, including the freight industry and tourists. Mobility improvements help regional transit such as Bustang and Summit Stage, the local transit agency that uses I-70.
- Safety: The interchange improvements will increase traveler safety for all users, including new bicycle and pedestrian connections across CO 9 and I-70.
Schedule & Important Dates
2023 – Conceptual/Preliminary Design and Environmental Clearances & Approvals
2024 – Final Design, Right-of-Way Acquisition, and Early Utility Relocations
2025 – Advertisement and Begin Phase 1 Construction (Funding Contingent)
Project Area
The project area is at Exit 203 on I-70 in Frisco.
Project Status
In response to the I-70 Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed the Interstate 70 Exit 203 & Eastbound Auxiliary Lane Feasibility Study in 2020 that identified improvements at the interchange. Local stakeholders were involved in the feasibility study as part of the Project Leadership Team (PLT) and will continue to be involved in final design. CDOT is advancing these interchange concepts to finalize the project configuration including a new frontage road bypass under CO9 connecting Dillon Dam Road and Lusher Court which will relieve traffic congestion on CO9 near the Exit 203 interchange. The project will also add multi-use paths along the frontage road and across I-70 to existing hiking and biking destinations. Once the final configuration is set the project will advance to preliminary and final design. The project is identified as a priority project within the current CDOT 10-year plan. Depending on available funding the Project may be constructed in two phases with an initial phase to improve the I-70 Exit 203 interchange ramps and a second phase to construct the frontage road bypass and CO9 improvements.
- Conceptual Design was completed in the spring and summer of 2023.
- Preliminary Design will be completed between the summer of 2023 and winter of 2024.
- Environmental Clearance will be completed between the fall of 2023 and early spring of 2024.
- Right-of-Way Acquisition will begin Winter of 2024 and continue until the winter of 2025.
- Final Design will begin the spring of 2024 and continue until the fall of 2024.
- Prior to construction Utility Relocation will occur during the summer and fall of 2024.
- Advertisement for the full project will take place in the late winter of 2025. The project may be built in phases depending on funding. Phase 1 would include improvements to the Exit 203 Interchange ramps and bridge over I-70 and Phase 2 would include the new frontage road bypass and SH 9 improvements.
- Construction will begin the spring of 2025 and continue through the fall of 2026 with a winter shutdown between November and March.
- Project Leadership Team and Stakeholder Meetings will be held early summer of 2023, late fall 2023, spring of 2024, and fall of 2024.
- Public Open House Meetings will be held in fall of 2023 and Winter of 2025.
