As part of the Colorado DOT's (CDOT) Central 70 Project, crews dedicated more than one million hours into completing 24 major milestones in 2020.
Since 2018, three million hours have been dedicated to construction of the state's largest infrastructure project in history.
The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70 East from Brighton Boulevard to Chambers Road.
According to CDOT, more than 1.66 million cu yd of dirt has been excavated, mostly in the lowered section, as crews worked to build the future westbound lanes of I-70. A portion of the 500,000-plus tons of asphalt placed along the project this year was used to construct these new lanes while a majority was used in the east segment (between Quebec Street and Chambers Road). With lower traffic volumes earlier this spring, paving progressed several weeks ahead of schedule as crews were able to implement daytime lane closures along the east segment. With final paving and striping completed, this marked substantial completion of this segment.
In addition, progress was made on the remaining 18 (out of 20 total) bridges across the project—demolishing old and building new.
The new 46th Avenue North was also constructed between Colorado Boulevard and Steele Street, which will eventually serve as a frontage road along I-70, similar to Buchtel Boulevard along I-25 between Broadway and University.
In August 2017, CDOT selected Kiewit Meridiam Partners (KMP) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Central 70 Project. The contract between CDOT and KMP was signed on Nov. 21, 2017. Design began in January 2018. Construction began in September 2018 and will continue through 2022.
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SOURCE: Colorado DOT
