Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If improvements to I-270 are approved and constructed, CDOT would consider conducting a speed study based on post-construction traffic operations to determine whether the posted speed limit is the appropriate speed limit for the corridor. Until that study is completed, the I-270 speed limit will remain at the current 55 mph. For more information on speed limits and speed studies, please visit https://www.codot.gov/library/Brochures/Establishing_Realistic_Speed_Limits_Brochure.pdf.

Through the Environmental Assessment process, CDOT is evaluating the benefits and impacts of widening I-270 from four to six travel lanes (from two lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction). This expansion of I-270 was included in the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) 2040 Fiscally Constrained Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) adopted on February 18, 2015.  The 2040 RTP defines transportation elements and services to be provided over the next 25 years based on reasonably expected revenues. Funding for the I-270 Environmental Assessment and preliminary design was subsequently programmed in DRCOG’s Transportation Improvement Program, and then in CDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. 

CDOT has identified safety and operational issues at the I-76, Vasquez Boulevard, and Quebec Street interchanges.  Therefore, improvements at these locations are being evaluated in the Environmental Assessment process.  Improvements to the I-270 and I-70 interchange are part of the Central 70 project currently under construction, and evaluated previously as part of the I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement. Improvements to the interchange at I-25 would be part of future I-25 improvements identified as part of the ongoing Express Lane Direct Connect study. 

Restricting truck access is not being considered because part of the Purpose and Need of the I-270 Corridor Improvements project is to improve truck freight movement efficiency.  Currently, Colorado law requires that all slower-moving vehicles stay in the right lane.  Designated truck lanes are typically considered when trucks comprise at least 20 percent of the traffic volume on a route; I-270 currently averages 11 percent truck use, which is not expected to dramatically increase in the future. To improve truck freight movement efficiency, CDOT is evaluating interchange designs and auxiliary lanes between select interchanges. An auxiliary lane is an additional lane between two interchanges used for acceleration, merging, truck climbing, and exiting the freeway. Wider shoulders, which provide room for disabled trucks to stay clear of I-270 travel lanes, are also are being evaluated.

Improvements to I-270 will not preclude continued use of trail corridors within the study area.  Temporary trail closures could occur if I-270 bridges over the trails are replaced, but trail detours would be provided if this occurs.  More information on these potential impacts will be included in the Environmental Assessment.  CDOT is coordinating with The Greenway Foundation and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership to understand their concerns and to minimize project disruption to existing and planned trail systems. 

Proposed improvements are still being developed and evaluated; therefore, right-of-way requirements are not known at this time.  Impacts to adjacent properties will be evaluated, and measures will be identified to mitigate impacts; this will be disclosed in the Environmental Assessment.  For any right-of-way to be acquired for the project, CDOT will comply with the policies outlined in their Right-of-Way Manual (May 2016), which provides guidance for acquiring real property based on federal and state statutes, and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act (1970). 

Express Lanes, High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, and High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are examples of managed lanes. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines managed lanes as “a set of lanes where operational strategies are proactively implemented and managed in response to changing conditions.”  In December 2012, the Transportation Commission approved Policy Directive number 1603.0, which states, “The use of managed lanes shall be strongly considered during planning and development of capacity improvements on state highway facilities in Colorado.” In compliance with this policy directive, CDOT is considering managed lanes as a means of improving travel time reliability and reducing travel delays on I-270.