Please be advised of the following traffic impacts, restrictions and planned work for next week for the I-70 over Ward Road Bridge Replacement project in Jefferson County.
Ongoing Impacts
Sunday, Feb. 25 to Thursday, Feb. 29 - I-70 at Ward Road - no planned overnight lane or ramp closures
No overnight lane or ramp closures are planned on I-70 within the project limits
Periodic short-term early morning lane closures may exist from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday to Friday for equipment mobilization
The project limits are confined to Mile Point 266.5 (Exit 266 Ward Road) to MP 265 (Exit 265 CO 58/Golden)
A traffic shift is in place on westbound I-70
Lanes are narrowed and barrier is in place
Crews will be working behind barrier during daytime hours
Caution is advised
Work includes excavation of roadway.
Monday, Feb. 26 to Friday, March 1 - both directions of Ward Rd/CO 72 under I-70 - daytime lane closures
Single lane closures switching to double lane closures will exist in both directions of Ward Road/Colorado Highway 72 under I-70 during daytime hours Monday to Friday
The weekday closures will be taken from approx. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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
Motorists can expect changing lane closure conditions as crews switch from side to side during work activities
Signs and construction devices are in place alerting motorists and pedestrians to the work and closures
Some Saturday work is expected
Sidewalk access is limited and caution is advised
All construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change
Work includes forming and pouring sleeper and approach slabs for the new westbound I-70 bridge.
Views of recent deck pour for the new westbound I-70 bridge over Ward Road. Photography by Neil Olson.
General Travel Impacts & 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 Saturday work is expected
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
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