I-70 over Ward Road Bridge Replacement

Weekly Traffic Impacts - May 12 to May 18

Travel Advisory - May 12

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 12 and lasting until approx. 6 a.m. on Monday, May 13, the Ward Road/CO 72 (Exit 266) on ramp to westbound I-70 will be closed, with detour routes in place
• Various lane closures will also be taken on westbound I-70 within the project limits from 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 12 to 6 a.m. Monday, May 13
• The closures are necessary while crews implement a westbound I-70 traffic shift north onto the new bridge structure
• Once implemented, westbound I-70 traffic will be in its final alignment
• The recommended detour route during the ramp closure 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 approx. 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Other detour routes do exist
• Motorists can expect delays and alternate routes are advised
• Signs, message boards and construction devices will be present to alert the public to the closures and alternate routes
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

Travel Advisory - May 13

• Starting at 11 p.m. on Monday, May 13, a double right lane closure will exist on eastbound I-70 between Colorado Highway 58/Golden (Exit 265) and Ward Rd/CO 72 (Exit 266)
• The lane closures will be taken from 11 p.m. on Monday, May 13 to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14
• During these closures, the eastbound I-70 off ramp to westbound CO 58 as well as the CO 58 on ramp to eastbound I-70 will be closed, with detours in place (see map below)
• The recommended detour route for CO 58 to eastbound I-70 is: head westbound on I-70 and take Exit 264; follow the detour signs on Youngfield to W. 44th Ave. to enter eastbound I-70 at the Ward Road on ramp
• The recommended detour route to westbound CO 58 from eastbound I-70 is: take Exit 264, follow Youngfield to W. 44th Ave, turn north onto Ward Road to enter the westbound I-70 on-ramp
• A single left lane closure on westbound I-70 will also be taken during this overnight period
• Flaggers, signs and barricades will be present to manage traffic flows and maintain safety
• The detours will add approx. 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Motorists can expect delays
• Alternate routes do exist
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

Travel Advisory - May 14

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, a single lane closure will exist on eastbound I-70 between Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave (Exit 264) and Ward Rd/CO 72 (Exit 266) as well as CO 58 (Exit 265) while traffic control crews place signs, barrier and construction devices 
• The single lane closure will switch to a full closure of eastbound I-70 at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14
• The full closure will last from 11 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15
• During the six-hour closure, all eastbound I-70 traffic will be routed off the interstate at the Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave off-ramp at Exit 264
• The eastbound I-70 off ramp to westbound CO 58 as well as the CO 58 on ramp to eastbound I-70 will also be closed, with detours in place
• The recommended detour route for eastbound I-70 through traffic is: exit Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave (Exit 264), follow the detour signs on Youngfield St. to W. 44th Ave., and head east to enter eastbound I-70 at the Ward Road on ramp
• The recommended detour route for CO 58 to eastbound I-70 is: head westbound on I-70 and take Exit 264; follow the detour signs on Youngfield to W. 44th Ave. to enter eastbound I-70 at the Ward Road on ramp
• The recommended detour route to westbound CO 58 from eastbound I-70 is: take Exit 264, follow Youngfield to W. 44th Ave, turn north onto Ward Road to enter the westbound I-70 on-ramp
• Please refer to the map below for all detour route information
• Uniformed traffic control officers, flaggers, signs and barricades will be present to manage traffic flows and maintain safety
• Advanced warning signs and variable message boards will be posted along eastbound I-70 from the US 6 interchange to Clear Creek Drive/32nd Ave. as well as on CO 58 alerting motorists to the closure
• The detours will add approx. 2 miles and 5 minutes to travel times
• Motorists can expect delays
• Alternate routes do exist
• The closure will not impact westbound I-70
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

Other Impacts & Planned Work

• Crews will be working on grading and preparing the new eastbound I-70 onsite detour  
• Work will be performed during daytime hours behind barrier, with no planned closures
• Regular daytime hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday
• Signs, message boards and construction devices will be present to alert the public to the closures and alternate routes
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change

• Periodic single lane closures switching to double lane closures will exist in both directions of Ward Road under I-70 during this period
• The closures will be taken from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday
• 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 zone and closures
• Sidewalk access is limited and caution is advised
• Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to chang

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
• Occasional full overnight closures of each direction of I-70 will be taken within the project limits for certain safety critical 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