Highway bill may be a bonus for Colorado

Colorado stands to get $2.5 billion worth of federal highway projects over the next five years under the long-delayed transportation-spending package that could pass Congress late this week.

Colorado stands to get the biggest percentage increase of any state – nearly 47% – compared with the previous six-year spending blueprint, according to the office of Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, who served on a conference committee.

According to the Rocky Mountain News, the bill includes $110 million allotted for a long list of Colorado projects requested by Allard and other members of the state’s congressional delegation. Allard told Rocky Mountain News that he expects the highway funding bill to be passed this week.

Projects include:

• $5 million for I-25 from Douglas-Arapahoe County Lien to El Paso County

• $7 million for I-225 Parker Road to I-70

• $4 million for the Wadsworth bypass in Jefferson County

• $3 million for the I-70 Havana-Yosemite Interchange in Denver

• $4 million for the U.S. 36 Corridor between Denver and Boulder

• $4 million for the 56th Avenue & Quebec Street Intersection