After a historically low-snow winter, the Colorado Department of Transportation is kicking off projects along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor as the construction season once again gets underway.

On I-70, continued work on  Floyd Hill and West Vail Pass will once again result in significant roadway impacts, including holds and shifts in traffic patterns, CDOT communications manager Austyn Dineen said in an email.

Other projects, such as the two-year project to build a new interchange at Exit 203 to Frisco or repairs to bridges through Glenwood Canyon, will also result in some less significant traffic impacts, such as delays and lane closures, Dineen said.

With the hot, dry conditions this past winter, she said the transportation department expects elevated fire danger this summer, so drivers should dispose of cigarette butts properly, secure any chains to prevent sparks and report any fires immediately.

Here’s a deeper look at how construction projects planned on I-70 will impact summer travel.

Floyd Hill

The I-70 Floyd Hill project is entering an “important, new phase of construction” as crews work to realign westbound I-70 from its current location to the hillside south of Clear Creek, according to the transportation department.

Located between Evergreen and Idaho Springs, the nearly 8-mile project began in 2023, with work expected to last through the end of 2029. The roughly $900 million project aims to widen the canyon, build new interstate bridges with gentler, safer curves and remove an existing bottleneck on westbound I-70 at the top of Floyd Hill.

Construction of a cast-in-place segmental bridge, which will carry the new westbound I-70 alignment, kicked off this spring and will continue through mid-2027, according to CDOT.

Crews on movable platforms will reportedly build the bridge above live traffic until the full span of the bridge connects.

Throughout the summer, drivers can expect temporary I-70 lane and ramp closures, traffic holds for rock blasting, new traffic patterns, narrowed lanes and shoulders and reduced speeds, Dineen said. Flaggers and alternating traffic will also be required this summer on U.S. Highway 40 near Floyd Hill.

The 20-minute holds for rock blasting are planned to occur Mondays through Thursdays from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and between 9 a.m. and noon and Fridays, according to the transportation department.

Drivers can sign up for text alerts about the Floyd Hill Project by texting “floydhill” to 21000 or visit CODOT.gov/projects/i70floydhill for more information.

West Vail Pass

Now in its sixth — and final — year of planned construction, the West Vail Pass Project aims to bring a number of safety improvements to a roughly 10-mile stretch of I-70 with steep grades and tight curves.

This year, crews are planning to complete work on six wildlife crossings, an avalanche and rockfall mitigation system for the area known as The Narrows and resurfacing of westbound I-70. The work will also include landscaping and final improvements to the recreation path between the new bridges.

Beginning Monday, April 20, there is a possibility of daily single-lane closures along eastbound and westbound I-70 from Mile Post 180 to 190, according to the transportation department.

Starting in May, crews will shift I-70 traffic into a head-to-head, barrier-separated alignment in the new eastbound lanes to allow for roadway and wildlife underpass construction.

From early to mid-June, rock scaling is expected to require traffic holds from Monday to Thursday from about 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.

From mid-June to early September, installation of the new avalanche and rockfall mitigation system will require occasional 20-minute traffic holds on I-70 in both directions. Only a few traffic hold days are anticipated.

Night work is possible anytime during the construction season, but is expected to become more consistent toward the end of the project.

The Vail Pass Recreation Path will remain open and accessible to riders and trail users through the season, with similar impacts to previous years. Intermittent trail holds for construction access may occur, and variable trail conditions could exist through construction areas. There 

are no anticipated extended recreational path holds scheduled this summer.

Drivers can sign up for text alerts about the Floyd Hill Project by texting “vailpass” to 21000 or visit CODOT.gov/projects/i70westvailauxiliarylanes/construction for more information.

Interchange construction at Exit 203 to Frisco

The Colorado Department of Transportation also plans to start construction on the I-70 Exit 203 Interchange Project in Frisco on Monday, April 20. This two-year project aims to reduce a dangerous backup that occurs on I-70 near Exit 203 as well as make other improvements for pedestrians and vehicles in the area.

Work will occur Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with occasional Sunday work as needed, according to the transportation department. No full closures are expected during the first season of construction, and during the day, two lanes of travel on I-70 will remain open. 

Nighttime lane shifts are planned on I-70 and Colorado Highway 9 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

For more information on the project, call the project information line at 970-817-8647 or visit CODOT.gov/projects/i70-exit203-interchange-frisco.

Other projects with travel impacts

The Colorado Department of Transportation also has a number of other projects on I-70 that will result in fewer travel impacts this summer.

After work began last summer, the transportation department plans to wrap up the I-70 Glenwood Canyon Bridge Joint Improvement Project this fall. The project includes replacing 23 bridge joints and conducting other bridge repairs through the canyon. During weekdays this summer, the project will require single lane closures in both directions.

Between Exit 205 to Silverthorne and the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, culvert repairs will require single-lane and shoulder closures in both directions.

From Exit 253 to Chief Hosa to Exit 262 to Morisson, drivers can expect a westbound lane shift with reduced shoulder and lane widths and single- and double-lane closures during the night, beginning in mid-July, according to CDOT.