Frequently Asked Questions

Communities along the I-25 North corridor are expanding rapidly, contributing to major economic growth in Northern Colorado. CDOT will support this growth by delivering the I-25 North Express Lanes: Johnstown to Fort Collins project. Construction will begin summer 2018.

This project delivers many benefits to community members and commuters along the I-25 North corridor. The I-25 North Express Lanes project will:

  • Increase highway capacity by adding an Express Lane in both directions.
  • Replace aging bridges and widen others.
  • Improve bus service performance and reduce each total trip time by 15 minutes by adding new bus slip ramps from I-25 to the new Park-n-Ride at Kendall Parkway.
  • Create new pedestrian and bicycle access under I-25 at Kendall Parkway.
  • Connect the Cache la Poudre River Regional Trail under I-25 and network to 100 miles of trails, and also serve as a wildlife corridor.
  • Improve interchanges at Colorado Highway 402 and Prospect Road

The I-25 North Express Lanes: Johnstown to Fort Collins broke ground on Sept. 10, 2018. This project is anticipated to end in early 2022.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded CDOT and local partners a $15 million TIGER grant, helping them fund this $300+ million expansion of I-25 North. The project received widespread support by all of the communities and counties who have contributed significant funds for the original project scope.

Organization

Amount

USDOT TIGER Grant $15 million
Local Partners $25 million - $28 million
Partnerships, Federal Grants, Gas Tax Additional Funding

Local partners include the cities of Fort Collins and Loveland; the towns of Berthoud, Johnstown, Timnath and Windsor; Larimer and Weld counties; and McWhinney, a private developer. The cost that remains after these contributions will be covered by other state-funding mechanisms.

As with many other planned transportation projects throughout the state, the ability to fund these improvements remains a challenge. Currently, the majority of CDOT funding goes to maintaining the highway system in its current condition. With the financial investment by communities and counties along the corridor, and the federal TIGER grant, CDOT is able to deliver this project on an accelerated timeline, sooner than anticipated.

According to the Colorado State Demography Office, the population of Larimer County—currently 316,000 residents—is expected to increase by 52 percent by 2040. Similarly, Weld County's population of 268,400 residents is expected to increase by 111 percent by 2040. CDOT forecasts that this population growth will increase the number of vehicles making daily trips along the I-25 corridor by 60 percent in 2040. To provide the same, or better, quality of life and economic vitality for the future, improvements are needed on I-25.

CDOT is designing the I-25 North corridor in segments and phases, according to the 2011 Final Environmental Impact Statement, which analyzed potential transportation solutions along the corridor between Fort Collins/Wellington and downtown Denver, as well as along US 85 and US 287.

There are currently Express Lanes along I-25 between downtown Denver and 120th Avenue in Northglenn. CDOT is currently extending the Express Lanes that end at 120th Avenue to E-470/Northwest Parkway.

Local partners and elected officials have been heavily involved in the planning, implementation and funding of this critically important project.

In 2013, an I-25 Coalition was formed to help manage and accelerate improvements to the corridor. Six Northern Colorado communities, Weld and Larimer Counties, CDOT, chambers of commerce and private businesses have all been collaborating to help bring these improvements to fruition.

The I-25 Coalition has grown steadily and is currently made up of 90 representatives from Adams, Larimer and Weld counties, Berthoud, Broomfield, Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Fort Collins, Frederick, Johnstown, Loveland, Mead, Northglenn, Timnath, Thornton and Windsor, as well as CDOT, businesses and other interested agencies.

This project will not be a public-private partnership, meaning CDOT will continue to operate and maintain the roadway.

This project will add one Express Lane in each direction along I-25 between Johnstown and Fort Collins, in addition to the existing two general purpose lanes in each direction.

Express Lanes have proven success in increasing roadway capacity and helping to manage congestion on Colorado highways by adding a lane that provides a new choice to drivers. Motorists can choose to ride the bus, carpool or pay a toll to use the new Express Lanes as an alternative to the free general purpose lanes.

Adding an Express Lane optimizes trip reliability for those accessing it. When drivers choose to use the Express Lanes, space frees up in the general purpose lanes and improves speeds for the general purpose lanes, too. The result is a corridor that moves more vehicles and people more efficiently.

To use any Colorado Express Lanes, you will need an ExpressToll account and pass to avoid a higher license plate toll. The Switchable HOV Transponder is the only pass that allows you to choose the carpool option, and use the lanes for free if the driver has two or more passengers. A traveler may also use the lane without cost via transit providers like Bustang. Motorists can get a pass by visiting ExpressToll.com.

Express Lanes help to manage traffic congestion, and toll rates will vary by time of day to provide reliable travel times. Toll rates are set to provide reliable travel times and are not set to maximize revenue.

Toll rates have not yet been set. The toll rates and any rate changes will be approved by CDOT's High Performance Transportation Enterprise Board.

During the daytime, two lanes of travel will remain open to ensure travel reliability to motorists. Motorists can expect lane closures at nighttime, when travel volumes are lower. Construction at the interchanges may also result in detours and impacts to the driving public.

  • I-25 North Express Lanes: 120th Avenue to Northwest Parkway/E-470 (Summer 2016 – Winter 2018)
    This $97.5 million project adds capacity, and provides travel choice and reliability by adding one HOV/Express Lane in each direction along this stretch of I-25, along with other operational and safety improvements.

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You can also send questions to or request a presentation from the project team via email or phone:

Construction on the I-25 North Express Lanes: Johnstown to Fort Collins project is underway. To stay informed on timely construction activities, please sign up for our weekly construction email blast via the subscribe feature on this page.