I-70B East of Third Street Improvements in Grand Junction

About the Project

The Colorado Department of Transportation and prime contractor, Native Sun Construction, will be performing a safety and mobility improvement project in Grand Junction on I-70B. The project will focus primarily on the reconstruction of I-70B (Pitkin Avenue) and I-70Z (Ute Avenue) between Third Street and Sixth Street. This is the seventh in a series of phased improvements along I-70B. It follows the I-70B South of Rood Improvement Project (Phase 6), which was completed in October, 2025.

In addition to the roadway reconstruction, work will also include:

• Concrete sidewalk installations for better pedestrian mobility and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility
• Drainage improvements
• Utility upgrades
• New traffic signal installations
• Landscape beautification efforts

These safety and mobility improvements were identified during the 2008 Environmental Assessment to address congestion, provide effective business access along the corridor and bring multimodal upgrades for a safer and more comfortable travel experience for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

I-70B is the backbone of the transportation system in Grand Junction, serving as a gateway to regional retail, interregional connections, commuters, employment centers and other local institutional facilities, recreational facilities and neighborhoods. This project is part of CDOT’s 10-year plan for improvements statewide.

Work this Week & Lane Closures for I-70B East Third Street Improvements in Grand Junction

Project Benefits

• Providing improved street connections and mitigating congestion for easier business access
• Offering multimodal enhancement for greater pedestrian safety and accessibility
• Upgrading utilities for more resilient and long-lasting city infrastructure

Work Schedule

• The project is anticipated to begin in February 2026 and continue into early 2027
• General working hours will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Night and weekend work will be limited, but is anticipated intermittently throughout the course of construction

Traffic Impacts

• Drivers can expect Ute Avenue, Pitkin Avenue, Fourth Street and Fifth Street (US Highway 50) to be reduced to a single lane for the majority of the project
• Additional closures on Fourth Street and Fifth Street may occur temporarily
• Ten-foot width restrictions will be in place on Ute and Pitkin Avenue
• Speeds will be reduced to 25 mph in the work zone
• Streetside parking on Fourth Street between Ute and Pitkin Avenue and Fifth Street north of Ute Avenue will be impacted
• Business access points are expected to remain open during business hours
• Pedestrian and bicycle detour routes will be in effect while sidewalks are replaced. Please follow all on-site signage to navigate around active closures
• Bus routes may be impacted during construction. Please continue to check Grand Valley Transit and Bustang resources for more details on schedule and route changes
• Drivers are encouraged to account for up to 10 minutes of extra travel time when driving through the work zone
• Refer to COtrip.org for real-time travel conditions and road closures