Project Update: I-70 Mountain Corridor, Peak Period Shoulder Lane

2019 marks the beginning of the construction phase of the I-70 Mountain Corridor Westbound Peak Period Shoulder Lane (PPSL) Project. This exciting project will reduce congestion and improve safety on a 12-mile stretch of the I-70 Corridor in Clear Creek County, particularly on weekends when crowds are flooding to-and-from their mountain adventures and the Denver metro area. This 12-mile section of the I-70 Mountain Corridor – winding through Clear Creek County and towns including Idaho Springs, Georgetown, and Empire – is a critical interstate corridor, but has become a source of frustration for local residents and tourists alike due to weekend traffic, congestion and extended travel times.

For the last two years, CDR has worked with CDOT on a Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) NEPA and design proves including stakeholder engagement, public involvement, meeting facilitation and mediation during the CSS Design Phase of the Project. The final Design Plans and Specifications are under final review, and the Construction Phase of the corridor improvement process will begin in March 2019. CDR will continue to facilitate a Project Leadership Team (PLT), made up of local jurisdictions, CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to oversee the development of a Public Information Plan, construction scheduling and change orders, and the review and monitoring of the design agreements as they are translated into on-the-ground construction decisions.

In addition to the PLT, there will be a Project Information Leadership Team (PILT) made up of corridor stakeholders and impacted agencies. The PILT will develop a robust messaging campaign throughout the construction of the project to assure coordinated, consistent and accurate communication throughout the entire corridor. This team will also lead weekly update “snapshot” calls that are open to the community and will respond to public comment and inquiry.

CDR is committed to providing facilitation support services, process design and community engagement services to CDOT and impacted communities throughout the Construction Phase of the Project. The two-year construction timeline will begin in the Summer of 2019 with the intent to open the new westbound Peak Period Shoulder managed lanes in the Summer of 2021.