I-270 Corridor Improvements
About the Project
Corridor Overview
Interstate 270 (I-270) runs from Adams County towards Boulder County in North Denver. Every day, more than 110,000 vehicles travel the highway. Nearly 10 percent of its daily traffic is freight trucks. The congested interstate carries far more traffic than it was designed for. The pavement and bridges are stressed by the traffic loads, and emergency repairs are needed regularly. The corridor also lacks safe and efficient walking, cycling, and public transportation options for residents and businesses near the highway.
Culturally diverse neighborhoods surround the I-270 corridor and rely on and are affected by the interstate. The state identifies these communities as “disproportionately impacted” meaning these areas have large communities of color, are lower-income, have higher housing cost burdens, and are at risk of experiencing higher levels of health or environmental impacts.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), along with the City of Commerce City and Adams County, started an environmental review of the I-270 Corridor in 2020. The agencies prepared a draft Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. Those documents, provided in the Archived Materials on the project website, were not complete or approved by CDOT but were released for transparency purposes and in response to community requests.
In late 2022, CDOT decided that a more detailed environmental review was needed. CDOT and FHWA are initiating an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to fully evaluate I-270 corridor transportation improvements. The EIS will study how the project affects neighboring communities and the environment. It will take a harder look at issues such as greenhouse gas, air quality, environmental justice, and cumulative impacts. An EIS provides a comprehensive study of reasonable alternatives, including a no-action alternative. CDOT will conduct extensive public outreach to better understand community concerns and impacts. This additional information allows for informed decision-making.
I-270 Corridor Improvements Study Area
I-270 Neighborhoods Base Map
