Road Construction Alert for I-70, West Parachute Interchange, Week of July 8th

I-70 West Parachute Interchange Lane Closure Schedule for the week of July 8

July 8, 2012 – Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - Parachute — From July 8 to July 14, 2012, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and it’s contractor SEMA Construction, will continue work on the I-70 West Parachute Interchange project.  

To complete this work, the following lane closures will be in effect:

Lane Closures along I-70 (Mile Post 72)

• Single lane traffic in both East and West bound directions of I-70 will be in effect as crews continue hauling in embankment material for the new exits and roundabouts;
• Commuters traveling along West bound I-70 should expect lane shifts when traveling through the work zone to accommodate trucks exiting off I-70.
• Heavy equipment will also be exiting off I-70 using the East bound lanes.

Lane Closures along and US 6

• Single lane traffic in both East and West bound directions of I-70 will be in effect Monday July 9 through Wednesday July 11.
• Beginning Thursday July 12 single lane alternating traffic will be in place as crews begin milling the roadway and removing the guard rails.
• Trucks will be hauling the milled asphalt approximately 1.5 miles east of the bridge to the US 6 and US 24 junction.

Please follow the directions of traffic signs and flaggers and proceed with caution when driving through the work zone.

The new interchange will offer on- and off-ramps in both east and west directions and will utilize an existing overpass bridge on US 6. The new interchange will offer efficient, full-service traffic movements in this rapidly growing area.

The total project cost will be approximately $12 million—from the Environmental Assessment to design and through construction. The funding came from several sources other than CDOT: the Town of Parachute, Garfield County, Battlement Mesa Company, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Additionally, the gas production companies of Encana and Williams are providing $150,000 per company per year for the calendar years of 2011 and 2012 (yielding a total of $600,000). CDOT is contributing $6 million.

The project has a completion date of October 31, 2012.

For project comments or questions, the public may call the project hotline at:  (970) 414-0611 or write the project email at:  i70.parachute.project@gmail.com.