Floyd Hill Early Projects

Several early projects were identified during the Floyd Hill Environmental Assessment process that could be advanced prior to the main I-70 Floyd Hill Project to help improve safety and mobility.

I-70 El Rancho Pegasus Shuttle Stop – Complete

The new I-70 El Rancho Pegasus Shuttle Stop and parking lot features a new Pegasus shuttle stop and 40-spot parking lot for transit users and carpoolers on the I-70 Mountain Corridor, adding another location to CDOT’s Pegasus shuttle network. The project also installed infrastructure to facilitate future electric vehicle charging.

Benefits of this shuttle service include:

• Daily service between the Denver area and I-70 mountain corridor communities
• Pegasus can use the I-70 Mountain Express Lanes west of Idaho Springs
• Pegasus will be able to use the new westbound I-70 Mountain Express Lane being built as part of the I-70 Floyd Hill Project
• Infrastructure for future electric vehicle charging at the Pegasus parking lot

US 40 & Floyd Hill Roundabouts - Complete

The US 40 & Floyd Hill Roundabouts, completed in fall 2024, built two, single-lane roundabouts at the intersections of US 40 and Homestead Road, and US 40 and County Road 65 to improve traffic flow and safety.

In addition to intersection reconstruction, crews made storm drain improvements, added lighting to the roundabouts, and installed bicycle-specific signage and pavement markings to enhance safety for cyclists. The roundabout location at US 40 and Homestead Road now has a bypass lane, allowing westbound US 40 travelers to bypass the roundabout if they don’t need to access the Floyd Hill neighborhood or I-70.

What this means for travelers:

• When entering the roundabout, yield to traffic already navigating it
• When a safe gap is available, merge into the roundabout going
  counterclockwise
• As you travel the roundabout, pay attention to signage and merging vehicles. Once you safely enter the roundabout, you are allowed the right-of-way, meaning you don’t stop to allow other vehicles to enter. That being said, please pay attention to inexperienced roundabout travelers
• When you reach your desired exit point, signal to alert fellow travelers that you are exiting the roundabout, then safely move out of it
• Pay attention to cyclists or pedestrians navigating the roundabout and make note of pavement markings and signage

For more information about safely navigating a roundabout, check out the Colorado Roundabouts educational video.

Wildlife Crossings

I-70 & Genesee Wildlife Underpass - Complete

The I-70 & Genesee Wildlife Underpass, completed in spring 2024, constructed a wildlife underpass on I-70 at approximately Mile Point 254.5, between the exits for Lookout Mountain and Genesee. This area was identified as a hotspot for wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC), having the highest number of WVCs on I-70 east of the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels. Wildlife fencing was placed along both sides of I-70 (north and south) and extends from the I-70 and Genesee Exit (Exit 254) to the I-70 and Lookout Mountain Exit (Exit 256).

US 40 Empire Wildlife Overpass - Designed

The US 40 Empire Wildlife Overpass project plans to construct a wildlife overpass on US 40 at approximately Mile Point 257 near the I-70 and US 40 Empire interchange (Exit 232). The wildlife overpass will allow safe connectivity for the largest bighorn sheep herd in the state of Colorado and the reduction of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Wildlife fencing will be placed along both sides of US 40 (north and south) and extend to the town of Empire and south on County Road 257. This project also plans to apply rockfall mitigation designs and fencing adjacent to the wildlife crossing structure.

Estimated Schedule:

• Construction: Design ready, funding not currently available
• Project Cost: Estimated $7 million - $10 million
• Contractor: To be determined

US 40 Empire Wildlife Overpass Rendering