Periodic closures expected on I-70 on weekdays near Idaho Springs beginning next month
Ongoing traffic impacts are likely to be felt on another section of Interstate 70 as transportation department officials move to the next phase of the multiyear Floyd Hill project.
Rock scaling is set to begin near Idaho Springs in October, which involves removing loose and unstable material in an area set for rock blasting activities. The efforts are meant to straighten existing curves in the highway in a bid to improve motorists’ safety. The efforts are also necessary to rebuild and replace bridges over Clear Creek.
Operations will span from east of U.S. Highway 6 (Exit 244) to Idaho Springs/Colorado Boulevard (Exit 241). Traffic holds will take place Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during off-peak travel times. Traffic will be held up to 20 minutes during each traffic hold and motorists should expect 45-minute delays as the traffic queue clears.
Holds could happen up to six times per day approximately every 60 to 75 minutes. Westbound I-70 traffic will be held east of the Hidden Valley interchange (Exit 243) while eastbound traffic will be held west of the Veterans Memorial Tunnels.
Following scaling operations, crews will pivot to rock blasting once per day and up to three times per week with similar traffic delays.
During rock blasting operations, westbound traffic will be held as far east as Homestead Road (Exit 247) and eastbound traffic will be held west of the Veterans Memorial Tunnels. Traffic will also be held on Central City Parkway, County Road 314 and at the Highway 6 on-ramp to westbound I-70. Work in these sections is expected to continue through 2026, while the full Floyd Hill project isn’t slated to be completed until 2028. To sign up for text alerts, text “floydhill” to 21000. More information can also be found at CODOT.gov/projects/i70floydhill.
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