Driving along the I-25 North corridor, residents and commuters alike may have noticed increased construction signage and activity on the interstate, as well as a few closures and detours throughout the past year.
Despite the inconveniences they may have caused travelers, all of these efforts contributed to an overall goal to bring “the new and improved I-25 North on time and on budget,” according to a press release from the Colorado Department of Transportation, or CDOT.
The I-25 North Express Lanes Project, which has been in the works since 2020, aims to increase highway capacity by adding adding an Express Lane in each direction, rebuild interchanges, replace aging bridges, straighten highway curves to improve safety, make major utility and drainage improvements, and add carpool and two mobility hub transit facilities, the press release stated.
CDOT said the project is making progress, citing the following advancements in 2021:
- Constructed new bridges on I-25 between, and including, the Little Thompson River and Larimer County Road 16.
- Closed Colorado Highway 56 at I-25 and reopened ahead of schedule after 115 days to flip and straighten the interchange so CO 56 now runs under I-25.
- Moved motorists onto new bridges and shifted traffic at US Highway 34 and Prospect Road.
- Completed the second phase of the new Great Western Railroad (GWRR) bridge over I-25.
- Completed phase one of the southbound I-25 widening from Larimer County Road 14 to CO 56.
- Completed Colorado Highway 60 bridges over I-25 to prepare for interchange completion in 2022.
- 11 of 17 bridges are under construction or were constructed between Johnstown and Fort Collins. Three of them were completed from start to finish in 2021.
- 65,000 square feet of walls were constructed between Johnstown and Fort Collins.
- Placed 156,000 square yards of concrete in 2021 between Johnstown and Fort Collins.
For Jared Fiel, CDOT’s northeast region communications manager, the number of improvements that construction workers were able to accomplish on the interstate last year amazed him, he said.
“(I’m impressed) when I see the amount of work we got done last year and when we have so much going on — supply chain issues, labor shortages and all that. Despite everything, we were able to stay even slightly ahead of schedule last year,” Fiel said. “For a project this big, that’s a huge accomplishment.”
While the construction along I-25 may be a nuisance to travelers today, Fiel feels like Coloradoans who frequent the interstate understand the necessity of the project, he said. Looking ahead in 2022, he’s confident that people will recognize the improvements.
“2022 will be the year when, from your windshield, you’ll be able to see exactly how much work has been going on and what this corridor will eventually look like,” Fiel asserted.
According to CDOT, the project team expects to complete the following improvements along the I-25 North corridor in 2022:
- Complete the US 34 and I-25 interchange into its final configuration.
- Shift northbound and southbound I-25 to its final alignment from Colorado Highway 402 to Colorado Highway 392.
- Complete the Kechter Road bridge over I-25 and open it to traffic.
- Complete the northbound and southbound I-25 Ports of Entry.
- Complete 16 of 17 bridges between Johnstown and Fort Collins.
- Continue work on I-25, the southbound ramps and bridge work at the CO 56 interchange.
- Begin Diverging Diamond Interchange work at the CO 60 and I-25 interchange.
- Complete the CO 60 and CO 56 interchanges, including the aesthetic work for the Town of Johnstown at CO 60.
- Substantially complete the CO 56 Mobility Hub, including the carpool lot.
As the 1-25 North Express Lanes Project moves full-speed ahead, in the interest of public safety, CDOT reminded drivers to observe the following tips while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones:
- Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
- Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
- Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
- Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
- Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
- Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
- Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
- Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
- Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
- Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
- Be patient!
Motorists should expect speed reductions to 55 or 65 miles per hour, minor lane shifts, temporary concrete barriers, median bridge work and delays during the scheduled work hours while traveling on I-25, the press release added.
If all goes according to plan, construction on the I-25 North corridor is expected to be complete in early 2024, according to CDOT.
