I-70 over Ward Road Bridge Replacement

Weekly Traffic Impacts - April 28 to May 6

Travel Alert

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 and lasting until 6 a.m. on Monday, May 6, the Ward Road on ramp to westbound I-70 will be fully closed
• This extended closure was originally scheduled for April 26-29 but was postponed due to adverse weather conditions
• The recommended detour route is: south on Ward Rd to W. 44th Ave., south on Youngfield St, and west to W. 40th Ave. to Clear Creek Drive to enter westbound I-70 at Exit 264 (Clear Creek Dr/32nd Ave) - please refer to the map below for details
• The detour will add approximately 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Other detour routes do exist 
• Motorists can expect delays
• A single right lane closure on westbound I-70 will also be taken during this extended weekend closure period
• Signs, message boards and construction devices will be present to alert the public to the closures and alternate routes

Ongoing Impacts & Planned Work

• No impacts are expected Monday to Thursday
• Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 and lasting until 6 a.m. on Monday, May 6, the Ward Road on ramp to westbound I-70 will be fully closed (see Travel Alert above)
• This extended closure is weather dependent and subject to change
• The recommended detour route is: south on Ward Rd to W. 44th Ave., south on Youngfield St, and west to W. 40th Ave. to Clear Creek Drive to enter westbound I-70 at Exit 264 (Clear Creek Dr/32nd Ave) - please refer to the map below for details
• The detour will add approximately 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Other detour routes do exist 
• Motorists can expect delays
• A single right lane closure on westbound I-70 will also be taken during this extended weekend closure period
• Signs, message boards and construction devices will be present to alert the public to the closures and alternate routes
• Work includes removing asphalt and concrete, preparing subgrade, fast track paving on mainline westbound I-70, and SMA paving the bridge surface.

• There are no planned lane closures Monday to Thursday
• Periodic single lane closures switching to double lane closures may exist in both directions of Ward Road under I-70 concurrent with the full closure of the Ward Road on ramp to westbound I-70 from Friday, May 3 to Monday, May 6
• The closures will be taken from approx. 7 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday, only as needed
• The closure limits are confined to MP 0 (44th Ave) to MP .25 (just east of the I-70 interchange) 
• Flaggers will be present to manage traffic flows
• Signs, message boards and construction devices are in place alerting motorists and pedestrians to the work and closures
• Sidewalk access is limited and caution is advised
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

General Travel Impacts, Schedule & Scope of Work

• The project began in February 2023 with anticipated full completion by late 2024
• Periodic overnight lane and ramp closures will be taken in both directions of I-70 at Ward Road (Exit 266) Sunday to Thursday, during certain work activities
• Daytime single lane closures switching to double lane closures will exist in both directions of Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 Monday to Friday for access to the work zone
• These weekday closures will be in place from 7 a.m. to approx. 6 p.m.
• Some weekend work is expected, with lane closures taken in both directions of Ward Road, as needed
• Ward Road/CO 72 under I-70 will be fully closed during safety critical bridge work, with detours in place
• During full closures of Ward Road or the westbound I-70 on-ramp, motorists will be detoured to Youngfield Ave to access Exit 264 (Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave) or the Frontage Road to access I-70 via Kipling St 
• This state funded project is part of CDOT’s 10-Year Plan to replace two aging bridges on I-70 over Ward Road with a single structure
• This new structure is being built to meet today's standards to support increased traffic on the I-70 corridor

Nearby Project Impacts

• Impacts include full periodic closures of the Harlan St. interchange, the Exit 270 on and off ramps to westbound I-70, and other lane and road closures within the project's limits
• Motorists will be detoured to Wadsworth Blvd to bypass ramp closures
• This project has an estimated completion date of February 2025