I-70 Floyd Hill Quarterly Newsletter

Year in Review

In July 2023, construction began on the I-70 Floyd Hill Project, which will improve eight miles of the Interstate 70 mountain corridor between Evergreen and eastern Idaho Springs. Construction began on I-70 in the East Section of the Project, a four-mile stretch that spans from County Road 65 to the bottom of Floyd Hill. 

Progress to date:

• Completed 66 traffic holds on I-70 and US 40 to perform rock scaling and eight rock blasts, removing 18,000 tons of material — the equivalent of 3,600 African elephants — from the slope above eastbound I-70 in this area to widen the highway. 
• Rock blasting is nearly complete in the East Section of the Project, with no more than two rock blasts for the East Section anticipated in early-February 2024. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for text alerts by texting floydhill (one word, lowercase) to 21000. Expect rock scaling and blasting in other sections of the project in the future.  
• Crews installed 2,825 linear feet — more than nine football fields — of drainage pipe and built retaining walls enforced with 20,000 square feet of shotcrete, which helps maintain the corridor aesthetic with a natural-looking finish. 

Caption: Left photo - People on hillside conducting rock scaling operations. Right photo - Workers spraying shotcrete on hillside.

Pre-construction activities kicked off in the West and Central Sections of the Project, which span from US 6 (Exit 244) to eastern Idaho Springs (Exit 241).

Crews relocated the I-70 Mountain Express Lane tolling infrastructure to prepare for construction and began utility relocation and grading along the Clear Creek Greenway Trail, which requires a long-term closure of the trail. There is currently no alternative route for this trail closure — the Project is actively working on solutions for alternative trail access through 2026.

For the I-70 Floyd Hill Project to be successful, it takes a village. To date, the Project team currently has 335 field employees who have contributed to 36,292 hours worked, which is the equivalent of one person working nonstop for over four years straight. Kraemer North America currently has 51 subcontractors supporting the Project — 47 of those subcontractors being Colorado businesses — and 45 suppliers. The Project team has employed 26 disadvantaged business enterprises, which are for-profit small businesses majority-owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. 

Learn more about the Project by visiting our website here.

West Section Construction

In early spring 2024, construction activities will expand into the West Section of the Project, which spans I-70 from Hidden Valley to Idaho Springs. Construction in the West Section of the Project is expected to last approximately four years through summer 2028 — completion of the entire Project is slated for the end of 2028. 

Motorists can expect similar impacts in the West Section as the East Section, including overnight lane and ramp closures and intermittent daytime traffic holds for rock scaling and blasting operations, which are scheduled to begin in summer 2024 and will last through 2026. To stay up to date on related traffic impacts, sign up for text alerts by texting floydhill (one word, lowercase) to 21000. 

During West Section construction, crews will work to deliver: 

• Straightened curves to improve safety and allow motorists to maintain a 55 MPH speed. 
• A westbound I-70 Express Lane that extends from the top of Floyd Hill through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels allowing users to pay a toll for a more reliable trip or continue to use the general-purpose lanes for free.
• Reconstructed bridges over Clear Creek. 
• Resurfaced Clear Creek Greenway Trail from Hidden Valley/Central City interchange to the Veterans Memorial Tunnels.
• A noise wall east of Idaho Springs at Colorado Boulevard/Idaho Springs (Exit 241).

Check out our video series!

The I-70 Floyd Hill Project team recently introduced a new video series called “I-70 Floyd Hill Deconstructed.” This video series gives you a behind-the-scenes view of the Project and allows you to meet the people who are building the Project.

Do you know what shotcrete is? Check out episode one of the series to meet Josh and learn more about shotcrete and its use on the Project!

A New Visualization of the Future of I-70 Floyd Hill

The I-70 Floyd Hill Project team recently completed a new video rendering to show the future of Floyd Hill. Throughout the video, you can see the details of the final Project along with helpful notes that annotate the Project components you are looking at in the model. The video is a nice visualization of this complex Project. Click here to take a look at the three-minute video. 

Local Business Spotlight: Smokin' Yards

Enter the world of Smokin' Yards, a BBQ haven that first lit its grills in 2008 in the picturesque town of Idaho Springs. Right by the Clear Creek river, Smokin' Yards boasts "High Elevation BBQ," a culinary journey inspired by various BBQ regions.

The success of the Idaho Springs location prompted the opening of a second location in Denver's vibrant Santa Fe Art District. This expansion, mirroring the commitment to excellence at the flagship restaurant, promises patrons in both locales an unforgettable BBQ experience.

Located at 2736 Colorado Blvd., in Idaho Springs, the original Smokin' Yards welcomes guests daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. From the serene charm of Idaho Springs to the artistic vibrancy of Denver, Smokin' Yards invites all to savor their delectable offerings. Indulge in a symphony of flavors, expertly crafted for a memorable dining experience either at the restaurant or catered to your next event. 

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.