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). 

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, there will be no construction impacts beginning at 6 a.m., Friday, Sept. 1 through 6 a.m.,Tuesday, Sept. 5.

When work resumes after Labor Day, 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., Thursday, Sept. 7 - 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 have one blast next week.

I-70 Ramp Closure at Homestead Road

• The Homestead Road on-ramp to westbound I-70 (Exit 247) will be closed for roadway repairs overnight Tuesday, Sept. 5 into the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 6. Detour: Continue west on US 40 and use the US 6 interchange (Exit 244) for access to westbound I-70.
  • 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5 to 6 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 6

I-70 Lane Closures

• Lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-70 between CR 65 (Exit 248) and US 6 (Exit 244) for roadway repairs.
  • 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5 and Wednesday, Sept. 6

Clear Creek Greenway Trail Closure

• Beginning as early as mid-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.