I-70 Floyd Hill Project Update

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-70 Floyd Hill Project continues construction on the East Section of the project, which spans I-70 from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill (approximately exits 248 to 244). As crews begin to prepare I-70 for construction in the Central (middle of Floyd Hill to the Hidden Valley interchange) and West (Hidden Valley interchange to eastern Idaho Springs) sections of the project, watch for crews as work begins in the Mountain Express Lanes. 

Rock blasting operations will continue in the East Section up to two times per week, and motorists can expect a traffic hold of up to 20 minutes along eastbound and westbound I-70, and on US 40 between Homestead Road (Exit 247) and US 6 (Exit 244) interchanges, which may result in up to 45 minutes of delay as the queue clears. During the traffic holds, we recommend you turn off your vehicle to help with air quality. For updates on rock blasting, text floydhill (one word, lowercase) to 21000.

Rock Blasting Traffic Impacts

• Between noon and 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Thursday, Sept. 14 - Crews will conduct a rock blasting operation. A series of airhorn blasts will precede each detonation to warn people in the area. Crews will only do up to two blasts next week.

I-70 Mobile Lane Closures

• Overnight mobile single lane closures and daytime shoulder closures on eastbound and westbound I-70 between Stanley Road (exit 239) and US 6 (exit 244) for installation of work zone signage in the Mountain Express Lanes to prepare for upcoming construction in the Central and West sections of the project.

  • Westbound I-70: 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11 through Thursday, Sept. 14

  • Eastbound I-70: 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11 through Thursday, Sept. 14

Eastbound I-70 Single Lane and Shoulder Closures

• Overnight single right lane and shoulder closures on eastbound I-70 between Mile Points 242 and 244 near the Hidden Valley interchange for geotech work. 

  • 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 10 through Thursday, Sept. 14
  • Midnight to 7 a.m., Friday, Sept. 15

I-70 Ramp Closure at Homestead Road

• Crews will begin nightly closures of the eastbound I-70 off-ramp to Homestead Road (exit 247) for drainage work. The nightly closures will occur from Sunday, Sept. 17 through Friday, Oct. 6, occurring Sunday through Thursday nights only. 

  • 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights for three weeks starting Sunday, Sept. 17

Clear Creek Greenway Trail Closure

• Beginning as early as late-September, trail users can expect a closure of the Clear Creek Greenway Trail between the US 6 (exit 244) and Hidden Valley (exit 243) interchanges for utility work. There is no estimated timeframe for this closure and there is no detour. Stay tuned to these emails for more information as it becomes available.

I-70 Mountain Corridor-Wide Traffic Impacts

• Reduced speed limits as low as 45 mph, narrower lanes and shoulders, and increased truck traffic entering and exiting the work zones. Heed the speed limit, do not follow trucks into the work zone, go slow for the cone zone and do not drive distracted. 
• Motorists should expect daytime and nighttime shoulder closures on westbound I-70 for utility work. 
• All construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change. For real-time travel information, visit COTrip.org.

About the Project

The I-70 Floyd Hill Project will improve eight miles of the I-70 mountain corridor, from west of Evergreen to eastern Idaho Springs. The Project will deliver a third westbound I-70 travel lane, which will function as an Express Lane, to improve the current two-lane bottleneck. Other major elements include constructing a missing two-mile section of the frontage road between Evergreen and Idaho Springs, building an eastbound I-70 extended on-ramp for slow-moving vehicles, improving traffic flow and access at interchanges and intersections within the project limits, improving sight distance on roadway curves, improving the Clear Creek Greenway trail, and implementing environmental mitigation to create safer wildlife movements and improve air and water quality, stream conditions and recreation.

Construction began in July 2023 and is expected to conclude in late 2028.