The Colorado Dept. of Transportation will have at least 30 active construction projects in the Denver metro area this summer, not including maintenance projects, and 12 of those are being funded either by FASTER or the Colorado Bridge Enterprise (CBE). The 30 projects total nearly $386 million.

Photo: CDOT

Three major projects will take place along five miles of I-25, as well as two on Federal Boulevard:  

• I-25 over the South Platte River: This $16.3-million project will replace the I-25 bridge over the South Platte River, also known as the Broncos Arch bridge due to its proximity to Invesco Field. The bridge was originally constructed in 1951 and is one of Colorado’s poor bridges. Construction is scheduled to begin later this month and continue through August 2013.

• I-25 over Santa Fe Drive (U.S. 85): This $60-million CBE project replaces the I-25 bridges over Santa Fe Drive, two of the worst bridges in Colorado, and constructs a flyover ramp from northbound Santa Fe Drive to northbound I-25 to replace the current left side on-ramp. Once complete, there will be four lanes in each direction of I-25 through Denver from C-470 to U.S. 36.

• I-25 at Alameda (State Highway 26):  This project replaces the Alameda Avenue bridge over I-25 and reconstructs I-25 under Alameda Avenue in concrete. When complete, the Alameda Avenue bridge will be wider to accommodate full shoulders and sidewalks. This $36.9-million ARRA project will be complete by the end of June 2012.

• Federal (S.H. 88) over Colfax (U.S. 40): The $8.6 million CBE project replaces the Federal Boulevard bridge over Colfax Avenue with one that is wider to accommodate 8-ft sidewalks on each side of the bridge as well as curb and gutter in the median. Construction is scheduled to begin in August and continue through August 2013.

• Federal (S.H. 88) between 6th and Alameda: The $7.8-million project will reconstruct and widen approximately one mile of Federal Boulevard in concrete to accommodate an additional lane on northbound Federal Boulevard. This project will be complete by the end of January 2013.

Some of the other key projects that recently began construction or will soon begin include:

• 84th over I-25: This project replaces the 84th Avenue bridge over I-25, originally constructed in 1959 and in poor condition. The new bridge will accommodate an additional left turn lane from eastbound 84th Avenue to northbound I-25 as well as 10-ft sidewalks on each side of the bridge. The $8-million FASTER bridge project will be complete in October 2012.

• Wadsworth (S.H. 121) between 88th and 104th: This $7.1-million surface treatment project will place six in. of concrete over the existing asphalt along approximately two miles of Wadsworth Boulevard to extend the life of the roadway. The project is scheduled to begin in May and continue through December.

• I-76 over the South Platte River: This project replaces the eastbound and westbound I-76 bridges over the South Platte River, between York Street and State Highway 224, with one structure. The existing bridges were originally constructed in 1967 and are in poor condition. The $11-million CBE project is scheduled to begin in July and continue through July 2012.

• I-70 over Sand Creek: This $8.3-million CBE project will replace the eastbound and westbound I-70 bridges over Sand Creek, between Quebec Street and I-270, with one bridge. The existing eastbound structure was originally constructed in 1960 and the westbound structure was constructed in 1964, and both bridges are in poor condition. The project is scheduled to begin in June and will continue through October 2012.

• US 6 (6th Avenue) over Sheridan (S.H. 95): Replaces the 6th Avenue bridge over Sheridan Boulevard, originally constructed in 1961 and in poor condition. The $11.1-million CBE  project is scheduled to begin in September and continue through May 2013.

• Havana (S.H. 30) over Cherry Creek: This project replaces the Havana Street bridge over Cherry Creek, near Dartmouth Avenue. The existing bridge was originally constructed in 1956 and is in poor condition. The $3.2-million FASTER bridge project will continue through March 2012.

Numerous projects that were under way last summer or fall will continue into this year’s construction season, with six of them wrapping up this year:

• 80th over U.S. 36:  This project replaces the existing 80th Avenue bridge over U.S. 36, originally constructed in 1951 and one of Colorado’s poor bridges. The $7.5-million project will be complete by the end of August, with the new 80th Avenue bridge opening to traffic in May.

• I-70 at Ward Road:  This project reconstructs the eastbound I-70 exit ramps at 44th Avenue/Ward Road by moving the ramps east a quarter of a mile to increase merge distance. The $8.5-million started in January 2010 and will be complete by July.

• Parker (S.H. 83) at Arapahoe (S.H. 88):  This final phase of the interchange improvement project constructs a grade-separated interchange and corresponding ramps. The $32-million project is scheduled to be complete in December.

• I-225 between 2nd and Mississippi:  This long-awaited $20.3-million project widens I-225 between 2nd Avenue and Mississippi Avenue to accommodate three lanes in each direction with an additional auxiliary lane. I-225 from north of Colfax Avenue to 2nd Avenue will be restriped to also accommodate three lanes in each direction.  The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of August. CDOT and RTD are working towards advertising a joint project that will widen I-225 between Parker Road and Iliff Avenue and extend light rail. The final phase between Iliff and Mississippi is not yet funded.

• Santa Fe Drive (U.S. 85) at C-470: This $32-million ARRA project constructs a flyover ramp from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470 to improve safety and mobility. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of January 2012.

• Hampden (U.S. 285) between Kipling and Federal:  This design-build project replaces the Wadsworth Boulevard, Pierce Street and Federal Boulevard bridges and reconstructs Hampden Avenue between Wadsworth Boulevard and Federal Boulevard. The $40.1-million project is scheduled to be complete by July.

• Parker Road (S.H. 83) between E-470 and Peoria: This $2.3-million surface treatment project repairs or replaces approximately 760 concrete slabs along eight miles of Parker Road and replaces the expansion joints over the Cherry Creek Spillway, Vaughn Way and Piney Creek. The project will continue through July.