FLOYD HILL, Colorado – Traffic may seem like it can’t get any worse on Colorado’s I-70, but even more construction is headed towards the Floyd Hill area this fall, likely causing more delays and traffic until its predicted completion in 2028. The Floyd Hill project, targeting problems along I-70 between Evergreen and Idaho Springs, is set to enter its next phase this fall.
The $700 million project began in July 2023, starting with the East Section around exits 248 & 247. Work on the West Section, between exits 243 and 241, began in March of 2024. Construction on the Central Section between exits 244 and 243, the final section of construction, will begin as the next phase this fall. The East Section is set to be completed in summer 2026, while both the Central and West Sections won’t be concluded until 2028.
The Floyd Hill project has many objectives, including the addition of a third westbound I-70 travel lane, the rebuilding of bridges, improved traffic flow, straightening of roadway curves, and the implementation of environmental mitigation. Traffic impacts throughout the construction include 20-minute traffic holds, overnight lane closures, temporary lane shifts, and much more.
The Central Section specifically aims to continue an express lane down I-70 westbound, replace bridges at the the bottom of Floyd Hill to improve safety and sight, flatten curves (safety and allows for 55mph designed speed), create a new road connection between US 6 and Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway, relocate the US 6/I70 on and off ramps, reconstruct portions of the Clear Creek Greenway, and more.
CDOT on Goals of the I-70 Floyd Hill Project:
- Add a third westbound I-70 travel lane in this two-lane bottleneck
- This new lane will be a full-time, tolled Express Lane from just west of Homestead Road (Exit 247) through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels to Colorado Blvd./Idaho Springs (Exit 241).
- Rebuild bridges due to use, wear and tear, and heavy usage
- Construct a missing two-mile section of the frontage road between US 6 and the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchanges, which will improve emergency response
- Build an extended on-ramp from US 6 onto eastbound I-70 for slow-moving vehicles to have more room to merge
- Improve traffic flow and access at interchanges and intersections
- Improve sight distance and safety by straightening roadway curves
- Improve the Clear Creek Greenway trail
- Implement environmental mitigation to enhance wildlife connectivity, air and water quality, stream conditions and recreation
- Install two permanent air quality monitors