I-70 Floyd Hill Project Update

Next week, crews will conduct a rock blasting operation along I-70 between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7. Motorists can expect one 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 delay as the queue clears. Please stay on I-70. During the traffic hold, we recommend you turn off your vehicle to help with air quality. For updates on rock blasting, text floydhill (one word, lowercase) to 21000.

Input Needed! The Project is actively working on solutions for alternative trail access during the Clear Creek Greenway Trail closure and is seeking input as part of our planning process. Please complete this brief online survey about your trail usage by Friday, Feb. 23.

Rock Blasting Impacts

• Between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7 - Expect one, 20-minute traffic hold and up to 45 minutes of delay as crews conduct a rock blast. A series of airhorn signals will precede each detonation to warn people in the area.  

I-70 Lane Closures

• Expect overnight, single left lane closures on eastbound I-70 between mile point 246 and Homestead Road (Exit 247) for temporary barrier maintenance. This work is weather-dependent and subject to change.
  • 9 p.m. - 9 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 4
  • 7 p.m. - 6 a.m., Monday, Feb. 5

Early Project Update - Genesee Wildlife Crossing

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-70 & Genesee Wildlife Underpass project which spans I-70 between Genesee (Exit 254) and Lookout Mountain (Exit 256) will require full closures of the Genesee on-ramp to westbound I-70 and US 40 in early February. Crews will perform roadway excavation to install a structure, grates (similar to cattle guard), and fencing to guide wildlife to the new underpass. No local access or driveways will be blocked during these closures.

• 7 a.m., Monday, Feb. 5, to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8 - Full closure of eastbound and westbound US 40 between Genesee and Lookout Mountain. Detour: To access eastbound US 40, use eastbound I-70 to Lookout Mountain (Exit 256). Motorists on westbound US 40 can access local side streets but cannot reach the Genesee and Mount Vernon interchange

• 7 a.m., Monday, Feb. 12, to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb.15 - Full closure of the Genesee on-ramp to westbound I-70. Detour: Motorists must travel on eastbound US 40 or eastbound I-70 and use the Lookout Mountain (Exit 256) on-ramp to westbound I-70.

Clear Creek Greenway Trail Closure

The Clear Creek Greenway trail remains closed between the US 6 (Exit 244) and Hidden Valley (Exit 243) interchanges for construction and utility work in this area. This work is scheduled to last until spring 2024, but trail users can expect ongoing trail impacts and closures through spring 2027. This one-mile portion of the trail will be an active construction zone and will be unsafe for multi-use travel. Other segments of the trail will remain open. 

There is currently no alternative route for this trail closure. The Project is actively working on solutions for alternative trail access and is seeking input as part of our planning process. Please complete this brief online survey about your trail usage by Friday, Feb. 23. Please plan ahead and continue to check this webpage prior to Clear Creek Greenway Trail use. For up-to-date information visit bit.ly/ccgreenway.

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. 
• 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.