I-25 (US 36 to 104th Avenue) Safety & Operations Improvements Study
About the Project
This project is in the study phase to evaluate improvements to traffic operations and safety on I-25 between US 36 and 104th Avenue. This stretch of I-25 has seen a steady increase in crashes since 2012 – most of these rear-end crashes that are typically associated with congestion.
Project Area
The project area is approximately a 5-mile segment of I-25 from US-36/I-270 to the south and 104th Avenue to the north. This urban corridor is located in Adams County and surrounded by the local communities of Sherrelwood, Welby, Federal Heights, Thornton and Northglenn.
Schedule & Important Dates
- Open House Meeting: Second one planned for the summer of 2025
- NEPA process: Spring 2024 - Summer 2026
- Project Design: Spring 2024 - Summer 2026 (approximately)
- Construction: Spring 2027 (tentative)
- Improve traffic operations and safety.
- Minimize environmental, community, and climate impacts caused by the project.
- Wider shoulders along I-25 would improve safety by providing more space for emergency responders and drivers when needed.
- Wider Express Lane buffer would allow more time for drivers to react to other drivers entering and exiting the Express Lanes.
- Barrier separated Collector-Distributor (C/D) road system from westbound I-270 to 84th Avenue would improve northbound I-25 traffic flow. CD roads move vehicle-lane-changing away from high-speed traffic.
- Providing a northbound climbing lane from 84th to 104th avenues would assist heavy trucks ascend steep grades.
- Replacing the 88th Avenue bridge that would accommodate the full width of roadway improvements and Niver Creek Trail crossing.
- Adding auxiliary lanes in both directions between 84th and 104th avenues would improve traffic flow between interchanges.
- Adding a fourth general-purpose lane in the southbound direction between 84th Avenue and Thornton Parkway.
- Buses servicing the Thornton Park-n-Ride cause safety and operational issues when weaving to and from the outer slip ramps to access the I-25 North Express Lanes.
- Existing and growing traffic volumes combined with increasing population and employment growth will exceed capacity and increase travel demand by 2050.
- The crash rate in this corridor has steadily increased since 2012 with the predominant crash type being rear-end collisions that are typically associated with congestion.
