The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced that it will be kickstarting the next phase of its highway improvement endeavors on Interstate 70, starting March 17. This resumption will focus on enhancing the eastbound lanes stretching from Bethune, which lies to the west of Burlington, all the way to the Colorado-Kansas state line. According to CDOT, this new stretch of work rides on the back of last year's completed segments one and two, which included a series of upgrades on the westbound lanes, covering resurfacing, an overpass rehabilitation, along with improvements to signage, guardrails, and road striping.
The 2025 project phase, dubbed segments three and four, aims to lay down new road surfaces, shore up some shoulders and overhaul another overpass, among other safety enhancements. For those commuting through this nine-mile stretch from Mile Point 427 to MP 436 at Burlington, expect to witness the spectacle of progress, albeit with some minor disruptions, as crews dig into the heart of the work. Segment four will see similar touch-ups in an 11-mile section from MP 438 near Burlington to MP 449.6 at the Kansas border, a late addition to the project, as detailed by CDOT.
Spearheading the operations is Simon Contractors from Cheyenne, Wyo., which has taken the helm not only to extend the life of the venerated asphalt but to shore up the infrastructure that is elemental to the safe passage of countless travelers. With a project timeline slated to wrap by late October, workdays have been designated from Monday to Friday, starting at the generous hour of 6 a.m. and coming to a close by 6 p.m., including the occasional Saturday overtime when paving is on the agenda.
In terms of travel impact, the CDOT has mapped out a plan that allows for the continuous flow of vehicles, mitigating delays whilst the improvements are underway. However, during the paving of segment three, drivers will be herded into a single lane in a head-to-head formation, an arrangement that promises to keep traffic ticking, though at the leisurely pace necessitated by the reduced speed limits in the work zones. For further project details, folks are directed to dial the project information hotline at 719-297-5144, or for the digitally inclined, to shoot an inquiry to the project team via email at [email protected].
