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Twin Tunnels public meeting in Idaho Springs tonight

Daily News staff report

The Colorado Department of Transportation will be accepting public comments on the approximately $60 million Twin Tunnels widening project tonight from 5:30-7:30 at the Buffalo Bar in Idaho Springs.

The project, a first step in a broad long-term plan to improve Interstate 70, is intended to address safety issues and improve traffic flows through the eastbound bottleneck formed by the two-lane, shoulderless tunnels.

CDOT proposes widening the interstate to three eastbound lanes between Idaho Springs and the base of Floyd Hill, enlarging the eastbound bore of the tunnels and addressing safety issues on the eastbound highway curves between the tunnels and Floyd Hill. The Twin Tunnels Environmental Assessment (EA) will define the proposed improvements, provide information on impacts to environmental and community resources and determine appropriate mitigation to minimize any impacts. The Federal Highway Administration is expected to issue a decision by the fall of 2012.



If the project receives the federally required approvals, construction would begin in the spring of 2013, and will be open to traffic by the end of 2013. During this construction period, eastbound interstate traffic would be rerouted around the Twin Tunnels.

Those unable to attend the meeting,



can submit comments and questions via the project website, http://www.coloradodot.info/project

/I-70TwinTunnels, or in writing to: Jim Bemelen, I-70 Mountain Corridor Program Manager, CDOT Region 1, 18500 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011-8017.


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