C-470 Concrete Repairs Complete, Resurfacing Begins

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTY— Crews have completed all of the concrete repairs on eastbound and westbound C-470 between I-25 and Santa Fe Drive and asphalt resurfacing is just beginning. Since temperatures are not yet warm enough for paving during the overnight hours, crews will continue to work on weekends.

“With the concrete work complete, we will micro-surface C-470, which seals the concrete and levels the pavement,” said CDOT Project Engineer Doug Liane. “Once that work is complete, we will resurface both directions of C-470 in asphalt for a smooth driving surface.”

This weekend, crews will work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. The following closures will be in place:
Closures on Saturday, April 17, 2010
• Westbound C-470 between University Boulevard and Santa Fe Drive: The left lane of westbound C-470 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Major delays are expected and alternate routes are strongly advised.
• Eastbound C-470 between University Boulevard and Yosemite Street: One lane of eastbound C-470 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Major delays are expected and alternate routes are strongly advised.
• Lucent Boulevard to Westbound C-470: The ramp from Lucent Boulevard to westbound C-470 will be completely closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Detour: Motorists can take County Line Road to Santa Fe Drive where access to westbound C-470 is available.
• Westbound C-470 to Lucent Boulevard: The ramp from westbound C-470 to Lucent Boulevard will be completely closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Detour: Motorists can take Santa Fe Drive to County Line Road where access to Lucent Boulevard is available.
• Quebec Street to Eastbound C-470: The ramp from Quebec Street to eastbound C-470 will be completely closed from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Detour: Motorists can take County Line Road to Yosemite Street or I-25.

Closures on Sunday, April 18, 2010
• Westbound C-470 between University Boulevard and Santa Fe Drive: The right lane of westbound C-470 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Major delays are expected and alternate routes are strongly advised.
• Westbound C-470 to Santa Fe Drive: The ramp from westbound C-470 to Santa Fe Drive will be completely closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Detour: Motorists can take Platte Canyon Road to Mineral Avenue where access to Santa Fe Drive is available.
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at University Boulevard: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at University will be closed Sunday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

In addition to the weekend work, the following lane closures will be in place Monday, April 19th through Friday, April 23rd, weather permitting:
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at University Boulevard: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at University Boulevard will be closed Monday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at Broadway: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at Broadway will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at Santa Fe Drive: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at Santa Fe Drive will be closed on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Delays are expected during work hours and alternate routes are strongly advised. CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all traffic signs and flaggers and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.” Most fines will be doubled if the infraction occurs in the work zone.

This work is part of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project. The $32 million project will repair concrete along nine miles of C-470 and then pave the entire length in asphalt. Concrete repairs will also be made along 26 miles of the C-470 bike path between I-25 and I-70.

Castle Rock Construction Co. of Centennial, CO is the contractor for this project, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of September 2010.

In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million from the Recovery Act for highway projects and $103 million for transit projects. For more information about how Colorado is putting the recovery act to work, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery. For a list of CDOT’s Recovery Act projects, visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/arra.

The spending goes mainly to road, bridge work that bolsters trucking infrastructure. The latest figure, posted on the Recovery.gov site, is up from $10.264 billion as of March 26. DOT has made nearly $38 billion available to states for infrastructure projects under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and issues payments once it confirms work has been done.

Go to the Journal of Commerce to read the entire story.

Resurfacing on US 160 west of Del Norte

RIO GRANDE COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation has begun another resurfacing project in the San Luis Valley that will improve US 160 east of Del Norte. This project is made possible with $ 7.5 million in funding from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as well an additional $482,000 in CDOT resurfacing funds.

“We had a number of great ARRA projects this past construction season, with many winning state and national awards for quality,” CDOT Region 5 Transportation Director Richard Reynolds said. “We also had great prices and these savings allowed us to fund this resurfacing project on US 160 west of Del Norte. In addition to repaving almost 15 miles of US 160, we will be adding Americans with Disability Act-approved sidewalk ramps to aid access from the highway to Del Norte’s sidewalks.”

CDOT contractor, APC Southern Construction Company of Penrose, began lowering manholes and water/sewer connections last week, and paving began Monday, April 12. The project will resurface the highway east of town between MP 201 and 215. (A previous ARRA-funded project a project resurfaced a 3.3-mile stretch of US 160 west of Del Norte, from mile post 197.7 to MP 201.) Additional work consists of shoulder milling/paving and curb and sidewalk through the town of Del Norte, which will include ADA ramps (Americans with Disabilities Act).

“I’m glad that Recovery Act funding has helped provide needed resurfacing on this stretch of Highway 160 and sidewalk improvements and ADA upgrades in Del Norte,” Congressman John Salazar (CO-03) said. “I will continue to support projects like these; projects that improve our country’s infrastructure while putting Americans to work.”

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Work hours are Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Motorists can expect some single-lane, alternating traffic and possible travel delays of up to 15 minutes. All business accesses will be maintained, but may be temporarily altered. There will be no holiday work and no weekend work is anticipated. CDOT and APC Southern Construction greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation while driving through the work zone. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone.

PROJECT QUESTIONS/COMMENTS? Call Judy Lopez with APC, at 719-849-0946. For information about other CDOT projects, log on to http://www.coloradodot.info/ or call 511 from anywhere in the state.

In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million for transportation projects and $103 million for transit projects statewide. For more information about how Colorado is putting the recovery act to work, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery. For a list of CDOT’s Recovery Act projects and additional ARRA information, visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/arra.

Concrete Repairs Continue on C-470 this Weekend

DOUGLAS/JEFFERSON COUNTY— Concrete repairs on C-470 between I-25 and Santa Fe Drive will once again take place this weekend and next week. This weekend, crews will work from 8 p.m. on Friday, April 9th to 5 a.m. on Monday, April 12th, weather permitting. During this time, the following closures will be in place on C-470 and major delays are expected:
• Eastbound C-470 between Santa Fe Drive and University Boulevard: One lane of eastbound C-470 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Major delays are expected and alternate routes are strongly advised.
• Westbound C-470 between Quebec Street and Colorado Boulevard: One lane of westbound C-470 will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Major delays are expected and alternate routes are strongly advised.
• Westbound C-470 to Santa Fe Drive: The ramp from westbound C-470 to Santa Fe Drive will be completely closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday. Detour: Motorists can take South Platte Canyon Road to Mineral Avenue where access to Santa Fe Drive to available.
• Eastbound C-470 to University Boulevard: The ramp from eastbound C-470 to University Boulevard will be completely closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday. Detour: Motorists can take Quebec Street to County Line Road where access to University Boulevard is available.
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at University Boulevard: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 will be closed from 8 p.m. Sunday until 5:30 a.m. on Monday.

In addition to the weekend work, the following lane closures will be in place during the week of Monday, April 12th, weather permitting:
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at University Boulevard: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at University Boulevard will be closed on Monday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at Broadway: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at Broadway will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
• Eastbound and Westbound C-470 at Santa Fe Drive: The left lane of eastbound and westbound C-470 at Santa Fe Drive will be closed on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
•
CDOT would like to remind motorists to obey all traffic signs and flaggers and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.” Most fines will be doubled if the infraction occurs in the work zone.

Concrete repairs on the C-470 bike trail will resume this week at Quincy and move east. It will take approximately 11 weeks to complete the work from Quincy Avenue to Quebec Street. During the work, some minor closures or detours may be required. For safety reason, bicyclists will need to dismount from their bicycles to get around the work zone.

This work is part of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project. The $32 million project will repair concrete along nine miles of C-470 and then pave the entire length in asphalt. Concrete repairs will also be made along 26 miles of the C-470 bike path between I-25 and I-70.

Castle Rock Construction Co. of Centennial is the contractor for this project, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of September 2010.

In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million from the Recovery Act for highway projects and $103 million for transit projects. For more information about how Colorado is putting the recovery act to work, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery. For a list of CDOT’s Recovery Act projects, visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/arra.

Hamon Contractors is building the middle segment of the new 104th Avenue bridge in Northglenn, replacing an original I-25 bridge from 1962. CDOT photo.

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

More than $390 million in road construction projects on state highways will be underway this year in the metro Denver area, with more than a third of the total funded by the federal stimulus program.

The activity is spread across 32 projects in the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Region 6, which covers much of the Denver area with the exception of Boulder and Douglas County south of Highlands Ranch. It includes projects CDOT is doing plus several city projects in Denver and Aurora on state highways that CDOT is overseeing.

CDOT’s Region 6 staff led by Region Director Reza Akhavan outlined the projects in a briefing that brought to light some of the savings achieved recently in bidding results that allowed budgeted funds to be plowed back into additional work.

“This will be keeping us very busy this year,” Akhavan said.

CDOT aerial photo shows grading work at the 120th Avenue Connection project over US 36, looking southwest.

Foremost was savings in the $23.3 million 120th Avenue Connection project in Broomfield, which is providing a straight-across link west-to-east from CO 128 to 120th Avenue to allow traffic to bypass the busy Wadsworth/Midway Boulevard interchange with U.S. 36. Inside Lane wrote about this project when ground was broken, and at the time, CDOT didn’t have funding to start the second phase that would include the tie-ins on the east side with 120th.

Now, says CDOT Region 6 North Program Engineer John Schwab, savings achieved through the design-build contracting process used by CDOT and the contractor partnership of Edward Kraemer & Sons and HNTB will allow CDOT to begin design work on that second phase, as well as right-of-way acquisition. The hefty construction costs for that phase, estimated up to $40 million, means the rest will have to wait for more funding.

They projects range from the inexpensive– such as a $180,000 paint restriping of Parker Road between Hampden and Belleview Avenues to fit in third lanes in each direction, a small price to squeeze out extra traffic capacity on the busy corridor, and $500,000 for a wildlife fence along U.S. 6 between Heritage Road and 19th Street in Golden – to several in the $30 million and $40 million class.

Because of the lead time to get stimulus-funded projects underway, there are many projects this construction season that are being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They include the $47.2 construction of a new Central Park Boulevard interchange on Interstate 70 by SEMA Construction to provide better access to Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood and commercial area, the $17.9 million addition of a 17th Avenue interchange on Interstate 225 by Hamon Contractors to ease traffic flows into the Fitzsimons medical campus in Aurora, the $36.9 million replacement of the Alameda bridge over I-25 in Denver by Jalisco International and a new $32 million flyover ramp for southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470 by Edward Kraemer and Sons in Littleton.

CDOT also will be starting up projects funded by the new revenue from the FASTER program’s vehicle registration fee hikes. They include new signals, auxiliary lane and realignment of the roadway geometry at the hazardous intersection of CO 7 and York Street in Adams County, more median cable guards on C-470 to prevent crossover head-on crashes and concrete median barrier on South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton.

“While a few large Recovery Act projects are still underway, there are many projects that are just starting that will greatly improve safety and mobility on our highway system,” said CDOT Executive Director Russell George. “Specifically, there will be several critical bridge and safety projects as a result of FASTER.”

Use this map of CDOT’s Region 6 — most of the Denver Metro area — along with the project descriptions below to see where these projects are located. I have put all 32 projects below with details on cost, schedule, work hours and project scope, along with pictures from many of them:

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Metro Denver CDOT Projects Spring-Summer 2010
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North Area (North Program Engineer John Schwab)
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Edward Kraemer and Sons has placed girders at the new 120th Avenue bridge over US 36 has girders and will soon install bridge decking. CDOT photo.

Cost: $23.3 million

Contractor: Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Yet to be determined

Work: Constructs a new six-lane road across US 36 to connect 120th Avenue and State Highway 128 in Broomfield in order to provide greater connectivity to US 36 and local roadways. This project will construct two of the three phases needed to complete the entire project. As part of this project, a new bridge over US 36 will be constructed as well as a new bridge over Commerce Street. Several local roads such as Commerce Street, Old Wadsworth Boulevard and 118th Avenue will be realigned to correspond with the new roadway. The RTD park-n-Ride facility at Wadsworth Parkway will be relocated near the Broomfield Event Center. Currently, motorists in the Broomfield area can only cross US 36 at Wadsworth Parkway. Due to the lack of continuity with State Highway 128 and 120th Avenue, the US 36/Wadsworth Parkway interchange is heavily congested and State Highway 128 and 120th Avenue are operating at capacity during peak hours. Traffic forecasts indicate at least a doubling in traffic over the next 20 years. The new 120th Avenue Connection will provide relief on these major corridors by improving connectivity, safety and mobility.

Update: To date, crews have conducted embankment work on 120th Avenue and have begun bridge construction over US 36. Girders and bridge deck panels have been installed for the new bridge over US 36.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. with double lane closures from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: September 2009 through October 2010
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Hamon Contractors is working on the middle segment of the new 104th Avenue bridge over I-25 in Northglenn. CDOT photo.

2. 104th Avenue over I-25

Cost: $6.5 million

Contractor: Hamon Contractors, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Yet to be determined

Work: Replaces the 104th Avenue bridge over I-25, which was originally constructed in 1962 and is one of Colorado’s structurally deficient bridges. The new bridge will be wider to accommodate an additional left turn lane from eastbound 104th Avenue to northbound I-25.

Update: The new bridge is being constructed in three phases with work beginning on the northern portion. Currently, crews have completed the northern and middle portions of the new bridge and work will begin on the southern portion towards the end of April.

Work Hours:
I-25: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. with double lane closures from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. There will be occasional full closures of I-25 for girder installation, deck panel installation and bridge deck concrete pours.
104th Avenue: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with double lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. There will always one lane open in each direction.

Duration: May 2009 through January 2011
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The original 80th Avenue bridge over U.S. 36 was built in 1951 as part of the Denver-Boulder Turnpike. Structures Inc. will build the replacement. CDOT photo.

Cost: $7 million

Contractor: Structures, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Yet to be determined

Work: Replaces the 80th Avenue bridge over US 36, which was originally constructed in 1951 and is one of Colorado’s structurally deficient bridges. When complete, the bridge will be wider to accommodate an additional left turn lane from 80th Avenue to Oakwood Drive and a wider sidewalk. The project also realigns 80th Avenue to the east to improve sight distance, access and traffic flow. The improvements will accommodate the future widening of US 36 as determined through the US 36 Environmental Impact Statement.

Work Hours:
US 36: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. There will be occasional full closures of US 36 for girder installation, bridge deck panel installation and bridge deck concrete pours.
80th Avenue: 80th Avenue will be closed for the duration of the project and a detour route will be in place which takes motorists to either 92nd Avenue on the north or 72nd Avenue on the south.

Duration: May 2010 through May 2011
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SEMA Construction crews are nearing completion on new I-76 bridges over the South Platte River and CO 224 in Adams County. CDOT photo.

4. I-76 over State Highway 224 and I-76 over the Union Pacific Railroad

Cost: $11 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: SEMA Construction, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Jake Koenig

Work: Replaces the existing I-76 structures over State Highway 224 and the Union Pacific Railroad, which were both originally built in 1967 and are two of Colorado’s structurally deficient bridges. In addition, the project will construct a crash wall for the I-76 structure over the Union Pacific Railroad as well for the State Highway 224 structure over the Union Pacific Railroad. The crash walls protect the bridge supports in case of a train derailment and are needed for the future North Metro FasTracks line. RTD is funding the design and construction of both walls.

Update: The bridges are being constructed in three phases as to not disrupt traffic. Currently, crews have completed the westbound and middle portions of the new bridges and are working on the eastbound portion. Girders have been installed for the final portion and crews will pour the bridge deck in late April.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with occasional night work.

Duration: June 2009 through July 2010
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The new CO 7 bridge being built by Zak Dirt Inc. over the South Platte River in Brighton is nearly complete. CDOT photo.

5. State Highway 7 over the Platte River

Cost: $3.6 million

Contractor: Zak Dirt, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Jake Koenig

Work: Replaces the existing State Highway 7 structure over the Platte River with a new structure and replaces the existing bridge over the McCann Ditch with a new concrete box culvert. The State Highway 7 bridge over Platte River was originally constructed in 1967 and is one of Colorado’s structurally deficient bridges.

Update: To date, crews have completed two thirds of the new bridge and will have the final one third complete by the end of April. In May, crews will pave State Highway 7 in asphalt through the construction zone.

Work Hours: State Highway 7 is in a temporary alignment with traffic shifted to the south, but all lanes are open in each direction. Occasional night work will take place Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: June 2009 through June 2010
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6. 96th Avenue at I-76

Cost: $4.1 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Castle Rock Construction Co.

Resident Engineer: Jake Koenig

Work: Constructs roundabouts at the on and off-ramps at the interchange of 96th Avenue and I-76 to improve safety and mobility.

Update: The majority of the work is now complete, but crews are finishing work in the southeast quadrant of the roundabouts.

Work Hours: Single-lane alternating traffic on 96th Avenue Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The ramp from eastbound I-76 to 96th Avenue is closed as well as the southeast service road.

Duration: May 2009 through April 2010
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7. US 6 over Lakewood Gulch

Cost: $1.1 million

Contractor: Hamon Contractors, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Yet to be determined

Work: Repairs bridges at three locations in the Denver metro area. The work includes cleaning and repairing the culvert at US 6 over Lakewood Gulch; removing deteriorating concrete and patching at Quebec Street over Sand Creek; and replacing expansion joints on I-70 over I-25.

Update: The work on US 6 over Lakewood Gulch and Quebec Street over Sand Creek is complete. Crews will begin repairs at I-70 over I-25 in May once the expansion joints have been fabricated.

Work Hours: Single lane closures from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

Duration: February 2010 through June 2010
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8. Colorado Boulevard (State Highway 2) – 62nd Avenue to Quebec Street

Cost: $3.2 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: LaFarge North America, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Bill McDonnell

Work: Resurfaces 2.4 miles of Colorado Boulevard in asphalt and upgrades traffic signals.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Duration: May 2010 through September 2010
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9. US 85 at 144th Avenue

Cost: $800,000 (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Bill McDonnell

Work: Constructs raised traffic islands on 144th Avenue to prohibit traffic in both directions of 144th Avenue from making left turns onto US 85 and also from crossing over US 85. Improvements will also be made to the left turn lanes on US 85.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with occasional night work.

Duration: May 2010 through June 2010
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10. State Highway 128 – McCaslin Boulevard to Eldorado Boulevard

Cost: $1.4 (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Bill McDonnell

Work: Rotomills and resurfaces approximately one mile of SH 128 in asphalt

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with occasional night work.

Duration: August 2010 through September 2010
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Central Area (Central Program Engineer Jim Bemelen)
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11. I-70 at Ward Road

Cost: $8.5 million

Contractor: Asphalt Paving, Co.

Resident Engineer: Ed Martinez

Work: Reconstructs the eastbound I-70 exit ramps at 44th Avenue/Ward Road by moving the ramps east a quarter of a mile from their current location in order to increase merge distance. The north side of 44th Avenue will also be widened to accommodate two left turn lanes from eastbound 44th Avenue to I-70 as well as one full continuous merge lane on 44th Avenue between the I-70 off-ramp and Ward Road. Following the completion of interchange work, I-70 between Colfax Avenue and Kipling Street will be rotomilled and paved in asphalt.

Work Hours:
I-70: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m with double lane closures from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
44th Avenue: Lane closures Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. At least two left turn lanes from 44th Avenue to eastbound I-70 must remain open at all times as well as at least one lane of eastbound and westbound 44th Avenue.

Duration: January 2010 through June 2011
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12. I-70 – Colorado Boulevard to Monaco Street

Cost: $5 million (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Ed Martinez

Work: Replaces concrete barrier along I-70, constructs a new crash wall on Colorado Boulevard under I-70 and installs several new permanent sign structures.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. with double lane closures from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Duration: June 2010 through October 2010
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13. I-70 – Brighton Boulevard (State Highway 265) to Colorado Boulevard (State Highway 2)

Cost: $21.7 million

Contractor: American Civil Constructors, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Tony Stewart

Work: Repairs or replaces 60 expansion joints on the I-70 viaduct, which is over 40 years old. The project also reconstructs the median to improve drainage and replaces the bridge rail. In all, 64 expansion joints will be repaired or replaced on the viaduct between two projects. The first project, which was completed in 2006, repaired or replaced four expansion joints. This work will help extend the life of this aging structure, which was originally constructed in 1964.

Update: To date, crews have completed the majority of the expansion joint work between Brighton Boulevard and Vasquez Boulevard and have just started work between Vasquez Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard.

Work hours:
I-70: Single lane closures Sunday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. with double lane closures from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
46th Avenue: Various segments of eastbound or westbound 46th Avenue will be closed based on the location of the work on I-70.

Duration: September 2008 through May 2011
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14. Colorado Boulevard (State Highway 2) – Alameda Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard

Cost: $3.8 million

Contractor: LaFarge West, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Tony Stewart

Work: Resurfaces approximately 3.5 miles of Colorado Boulevard in asphalt, reconstructs the median and curb ramps. The traffic signals will be upgraded and turn lanes will be improved at the Colorado Boulevard/Colfax Avenue; Colorado Boulevard/17th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard/Montview Boulevard intersections.

Work hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Duration: May 2010 through October 2010
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15. I-70 at Central Park Boulevard

Cost: $47.2 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: SEMA Construction, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Tony Stewart

Work: Constructs a full interchange at I-70 and Central Park Boulevard which is between Havana Street and Quebec Street. The project will construct all ramps and structures for eastbound and westbound I-70 and for Central Park Boulevard. I-70 between Sand Creek and Havana Street will also be paved in asphalt. This project is being funded by the City and County of Denver with CDOT oversight.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. with double lane closures from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Occasional weekend work is possible.

Duration: June 2010 through Spring 2011
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16. US 287 from 10th Avenue to Baseline Road (State Highway 7)

Cost: $5.9 million (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Randy Furst

Work: Replaces approximately 230 concrete slabs, rotomills and paves two bridges on US 287 and conducts erosion control work on the east side of US 287.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Duration: May 2010 through December 2010
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17. Federal Boulevard (US 287) at 120th Avenue (State Highway 128)
Sheridan Boulevard (State Highway 95) – 52nd Avenue to 56th Avenue

Cost: $664,000

Contractor: K.E.C.I Colorado, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Randy Furst

Work: Upgrades the traffic signals at both locations to include mast arm poles and LED lights. A raised median will also be installed on Sheridan Avenue between 52nd Avenue and 56th Avenue to improve safety

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Duration: March 2010 through June 2010
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South Area (South Program Engineer Paul Jesaitis)
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Structures Inc. has excavation underway for the widening of Arapahoe Road under I-25. CDOT photo.

Cost: $2.4 million

Contractor: Structures, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Abe Lavassani

Work: Adds an additional through lane in each direction by placing the new lanes where the existing on-ramp lanes exist. This means that the third lane will be separated from the existing through lanes by the pier columns. In addition, a turn lane on westbound Arapahoe Road between the southbound I-25 off-ramp and Yosemite Street will be added and the center median will be modified to accommodate the new configuration.

Update: The majority of the work has been completed, but median work and paving remain. Over the next couple of months, crews will remove the medians on eastbound and westbound Arapahoe Road, pave the additional lane from southbound I-25 to westbound Arapahoe Road, complete asphalt paving through the construction zone and complete landscaping.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. There will be occasional weekend work.

Duration: September 2009 through June 2010
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19. Southbound I-25 to I-225
Parker Road (State Highway 83) to Southbound I-225

Cost: $1.5 million

Contractor: ABCO Construction, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Abe Lavassani

Work: Installs an anti-icing treatment on the ramps from southbound I-25 to northbound I-225 and northbound Parker Road to southbound I-225 to improve traction. Automatic anti-icing systems will also be installed on the ramp from southbound I-25 to northbound I-225 and from southbound I-225 to southbound I-25.

Update: The traction material has been installed on the ramp from southbound I-25 to northbound I-225 and on one lane of the ramp from northbound Parker Road to southbound I-225. Crews will likely return in May to complete the paving on the second lane of the northbound Parker Road to southbound I-225 ramp. Crews will be wrapping up the installation of the two anti-icing systems in the next couple of weeks.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.

Duration: October 2009 through June 2010
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20. Parker Road (State Highway 83) at Arapahoe Road (State Highway 88)

Cost: $30 million (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Abe Lavassani

Work: The final phase of this interchange improvement project constructs a grade-separated interchange and the corresponding ramps and improves drainage. When complete, Parker Road will run over Arapahoe Road and the traffic signal will be removed for free-flowing traffic at the interchange.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Throughout construction, Parker Road or Arapahoe Road may be placed in a temporary alignment.

Duration: May 2010 through December 2011
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21. I-225 at Colfax Avenue (US 40)- Phase I

Cost: $1.4 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Concrete Works of Colorado

Resident Engineer: Rick Erjavec

Work: This is the first phase of an interchange improvement project. This phase will reconstruct the southbound I-225 off-ramp to Colfax Avenue as well as the northbound I-225 on-ramp from Colfax Avenue. Drainage improvements will also be made. The City of Aurora will construct this phase with CDOT oversight.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: November 2009 through April 2010
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22. I-225 at Colfax Avenue (US 40)- Phase 2

Cost: $17.9 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Hamon Contractors, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Rick Erjavec

Work: The second phase of the interchange improvement project will construct the southbound off-ramp to 17th Avenue and Colfax Avenue along with the southern portion of 17th Avenue to serve inbound traffic. The City of Aurora will construct this phase with CDOT oversight.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: April 2010 through December 2011
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23. I-225 – 2nd Avenue to Mississippi Avenue

Cost: $33 million (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Rick Erjavec

Work: Widens I-225 between 2nd Avenue and Mississippi Avenue to accommodate three lanes in each direction with an additional auxiliary lane. I-225 from north of Colfax Avenue to 2nd Avenue will be restriped to also accommodate three lanes in each direction. A new 8-10 foot concrete noise wall will be constructed near Mississippi Avenue to replace the deteriorating wooden fence and a new 8-10 foot noise wall will be constructed near Potomac Circle.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: June 2010 through August 2011
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Castle Rock Construction crews continue to work on rehabilitation of the C-470 roadway. CDOT photo.

24. C-470 – I-25 to Santa Fe Drive (US 85)
C-470 Bike Trail – I-25 to I-70

Cost: $32 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Castle Rock Construction Co.

Resident Engineer: Ron Buck

Work: Repairs or replaces concrete slabs along nine miles of C-470 and resurfaces C-470 in asphalt. Rehabilitates and replaces concrete slabs on the C-470 bicycle/pedestrian trail.

Update: To date, the concrete repairs are complete on westbound C-470 and the majority of eastbound C-470. Crews will complete the concrete work on eastbound C-470 in the coming months and then begin asphalt paving on both eastbound and westbound C-470. Bike path work is also still underway.

Work Hours: The majority of the roadway work on C-470 will take place from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday each weekend. Single lane closures are also possible Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Work on the bike path will take place Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Duration: July 2009 through September 2010
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The 1958 Valley Highway bridge over Alameda Avenue -- and the flash flooding that often occurs underneath it -- will be things of the past with a replacement project now getting underway by Jalisco International. CDOT photo.

25. I-25 at Alameda Avenue

Cost: $36.9 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Jalisco International, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Ron Buck

Work: Replaces the Alameda Avenue bridge over I-25 with one that is wider to accommodate an additional lane in each direction. Minor improvements will also be made to I-25 under Alameda Avenue and drainage will be improved. This work is part of a larger project that will eventually improve I-25 as determined in the I-25 Valley Highway Environmental Impact Statement.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. with occasional weekend work.

Duration: April 2010 through September 2011
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26. Santa Fe Drive (US 85) at C-470

Cost: $32 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Ron Buck

Work: Constructs a flyover ramp from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470 to improve safety and mobility.

Work Hours:
Santa Fe Drive: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
C-470: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Full closures of C-470 will also be required for girder installation, bridge deck panel installation and concrete deck pour.

Duration: June 2010 through January 2012
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27. I-25 – 6th Avenue to 23rd Avenue

Cost: $4.3 million (ARRA project)

Contractor: Brannan Sand and Gravel Co.

Resident Engineer: Tony Gross

Work: Rotomills and resurfaces approximately three miles of I-25 in asphalt.

Update: The majority of work is complete, but crews need to complete some smoothness grinding and some erosion control work.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Duration: June 2009 through April 2010
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Concrete Express crews excavate for new bridge pier footings at the Hampden Avenue bridge over Federal Boulevard. CDOT photo.

28. Hampden Avenue (US 285) -Kipling Street to Federal Boulevard

Cost: $40.1 million

Contractor: Concrete Express, Inc.

Resident Engineer: Tony Gross

Work: Replaces the Wadsworth Boulevard (State Highway 121), Pierce Street and Federal Boulevard (State Highway 88) bridges over Hampden Avenue and reconstructs Hampden Avenue between Wadsworth Boulevard and Federal Boulevard.

Update: Construction started near Federal Boulevard with crews realigning Hampden Avenue to accommodate reconstruction in the median. In late April/early May, construction will begin to replace the Hampden Avenue bridge over Federal Boulevard. Construction will continue to move west as work progresses.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Full closures of Hampden Avenue will also be required for girder installation, bridge deck panel installation and concrete deck pour.

Duration: January 2010 through June 2011

Region 6 Traffic Engineering Projects (Traffic Engineer Steve Hersey)
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29. State Highway 7 at York Street

Cost: $750,000 (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Jake Koenig

Work: Adds an auxiliary lane on State Highway 7 from 168th Avenue to York Street and installs a new traffic signal at the SH 7/York Street intersection.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Duration: June 2010 through November 2010
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30. C-470 – Quebec Street to I-25
C-470 – Morrison Road to Wadsworth Boulevard
Santa Fe Drive (US 85)- Aspen Grove Way to Ridge Road

Cost: $3.3 million (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Leela Rajasekar

Work: Installs median cable guardrail in two locations along C-470 to help prevent crossover accidents. Concrete median barrier will also be installed on Santa Fe Drive.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Duration: June 2010 through February 2011
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31. US 6 – Heritage Road to 19th Avenue

Cost: $500,000 (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Leela Rajasekar

Work: Installs a wildlife fence along US 6 to help prevent wildlife/vehicle collisions.

Work Hours: Single lane closures Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday through
Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: August 2010 through November 2010
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32. Parker Road (State Highway 83) – Belleview Avenue to Hampden Avenue

Cost: $180,000 (estimate)

Contractor: Yet to be determined

Resident Engineer: Alazar Tesfaye

Work: Restripes Parker Road to accommodate a third through lane in each direction.

Work Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Duration: May 2010 through June 2010

The project will widen U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder, rebuild the Wadsworth interchange, add carpool and toll lanes and bus stops and build a bike trail near the highway. The massive price tag means it will have to be built in phases.

Federal officials will be in the Denver area this week to review plans for the highway corridor and discuss ways of “leveraging” the $10 million federal stimulus grant the project received in February, Broomfield transportation manager Debra Baskett said.

The meeting is a follow-up on CDOT`s request for $300 million from the federal government`s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant program.

Go to the Broomfield Enterprise to read the entire story.

This week, the Colorado Department of Transportation is relocating utilities and clearing material from the sides of U.S. Highway 160 from mileposts 92.9 to 94.8, just east of the Florida River, so crews with Four Corners Materials of Cortez can move the county roads 222/223 intersection one mile to the east.

Go to the Durango Herald to see the entire article.

RTD Route 31X bus leaves Market Street Station via 16th Street. RTD is planning to switch to smart card fare collection on bus and light rail services. Inside Lane photo.

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

RTD is moving closer to collecting bus and light rail fares through pre-paid smart cards with a $15.35 million contract to ACS Transport Solutions Inc. to provide the cards, readers, base data processing equipment and wireless communications.

The cards will be used by monthly pass holders as well as those who use the annual Eco Pass, and will provide RTD with the capability to market various niche fares, such as daily or weekly passes.

On the back end, the smart cards will give RTD the kind of tracking data is has long wanted to be able to properly price its fare programs, especially the annual Eco Pass, in which employers participate to provide annual transit passes to their work force. The data collection system will allow RTD to determine how and where holders use the passes. Currently, when pass holders board a bus, the driver pushes a button on the fare box to register what type of pass it is, but there is no ability to record who the user is.

On light rail, the new system ACS will provide comes with fare validators that will require the riders to tap their cards and deduct their fares. The wireless component of the system will transmit that information to central data processors. Fare inspectors will use new hand-held devices capable of reading riders’ cards to check whether they tapped the validators before boarding.

Numerous transit agencies use smart-card technology for fare collections. ACS recently installed its system in the Houston METRO transit district.

RTD believes that by using these cards rather than monthly or other passes, it eventually will be able to improve the bus boarding process, minimize the dwell time of buses at each stop and decrease the need to handle cash.

ACS’s proposal was slightly higher than the other bidder, Scheidt & Bachmann. But price was not the heaviest-weighted factor, at just 20 percent. RTD made the technical specifications worth 30 percent of the scoring. The qualifications and experience of the bidder were worth a combined 20 percent, project management plan was worth another 20 percent, and the resumes and experience of the actual key personnel the bidder would put on the Denver contract were worth 10 percent.

RTD has allocated $17.1 million in federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act toward this contact and another project to replace all the bus fare boxes in its fleet. The fare box replacement is estimated to cost $10.5 million, or up to $13.3 million if RTD includes several optional items in the procurement.

ACS Transport Solutions is a Columbia, Md., subsidiary of Affiliated Computer Services, a Xerox owned company.

According to an RTD staff memo, the ACS contract includes:
• The acquisition and installation of “on-board smart media processors” – smart card readers – for all of the approximately 1,100 buses in RTD’s fixed route fleet, both RTD and contractor operated;
• All mobile communications needed for the smart card readers to communicate and transmit data between the buses and the central data processing function, including communications/data processing equipment, for installation in all bus garages both RTD and contractor operated;
• The acquisition and installation of smart media validators – smart card readers – at light rail platforms;
• All communications needed for the light rail validators to transmit data between light rail stations and the central data processing function;
• Hand-held smart media validators for light rail fare inspectors to use to monitor riders’ proper utilization of the prepaid smart fare media on light rail vehicles;
• The development and implementation of all back-office data reporting, accumulation, storage and analysis tools;
• Initial program rollout including initial program development – privacy policy, community outreach and customer education programs, etc. – program administration and distribution of approximately 200,000 smart cards and decals to participants in RTD’s Eco Pass, Neighborhood Eco Pass and College Pass programs, included in the first year of this project;
• Call center operations, customer service and education, and ongoing administrative services for the smart card program for the first several years of operation;
• All training and software support;
• Options for the acquisition of additional equipment as RTD services expand, for example, additional light rail validators for the FasTracks West Corridor now under construction and other FasTracks corridors as they are opened.

Denver's design shows the new bridge, in green, with a traditional diamond-type interchange on I-70 and a set of braided ramps, in purple, on the west side connecting to I-270.

By Kevin Flynn
Inside-Lane.com

Where jetliners used to cross Interstate 70, Denver soon will be building a new $50.6 million interchange project that will reunite the south side of the old Stapleton airfield with the north side.

But this time, it’s not 747s or DC-10s that will go over top of I-70 traffic, but Stapleton neighborhood residents, regional shoppers and other highway travelers.

The new interchange will carry the Stapleton neighborhood’s Central Park Boulevard over I-70 to Northfield Boulevard in the growing commercial area where Stapleton’s two old north-south runways used to be.

The project is being done by SEMA Construction and Wilson and Company under a design-build contract with Denver. In January, SEMA was given the Notice to Proceed, and the design phase is at 40 percent completion, according to Steven Coggins, Denver’s project manager. Construction is expected to start in June with completion anticipated by October 2011.

A TWA jet is on take-off from Stapleton's old Runway 35 crossing I-70. Several years later, a second north-south runway was added north of I-70 and a second tunnel-bridge was built next to this one for the access taxiway. Photo at Matt Salek's Milepost 61 blog.

The project is using a mix of funding sources including the city’s Better Denver bond program, which is providing up to $30 million.

It is also using $12 million in federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act competitive grants program, channeled through the Denver Regional Council of Governments; and $8 million in other federal transportation funding.

And this week, the Colorado Transportation Commission is expected to approve an application for $1 million in earmarked Interstate Maintenance funds from the Federal Highway Administration to add the replacement of 800 feet of dilapidated concrete on the ramp from westbound I-70 to Interstate 270 to the project. The new ramps tied into this segment but initially it was going to be left as-is.

The Colorado Department of Transportation, which controls I-70, is providing oversight.

Rendering from Denver's interchange study shows the conceptual layout of the wide bridge planned for Central Park Boulevard over I-70. Ramps from and to I-270 straddle I-70 under the bridge.

The “spaghetti” of ramps will allow drivers direct access into both sides of Stapleton via a new Central Park Boulevard bridge, which will cross I-70 just to the east of the existing airport cargo bridge. That is the only bridge over the highway left from Stapleton’s airport days, but it was not adequate for re-use. Central Park Boulevard’s bridge will be between the cargo bridge and the spot where old Runway 17R-35L used to cross over on a long bridge that formed a tunnel carrying I-70. Just to the east of that spot, there used to be a second I-70 tunnel over which a taxiway to Runway 17L-35R was located.

While development of the Stapleton neighborhood has pretty much erased traces of the old runways south of I-70, there are still vestiges of them remaining on the north side.

The Stapleton developer, Forest City Enterprises, will spend an additional amount up to $20 million to construct the extension of Central Park Boulevard from 36th Avenue to Northfield Boulevard.

The design includes two “braided” style ramps, which allow traffic to and from I-270 to cross over entrance and exit ramps from I-70 to Central Park Boulevard. Braided ramps lift one flow of traffic over another to let them change sides without conflict.

While more expensive to build, braided ramps are much safer than old-style “weave lanes” in which traffic trying to merge left onto a freeway had to compete with traffic merging right to get off. Recently constructed examples are at southbound Interstate 25 and Speer Boulevard, and northbound I-25 at Belleview Avenue/Interstate 225.

Old CDOT photo shows then-new I-70 tunnel going under Stapleton Airport's Runway 17-35. Later, a second tunnel was built for the highway, closer to front of photo, for a taxiway to a new runway on the north airfield.

The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Heyl Construction have begun construction on the SH 340 Intersection Improvement Project in Fruita.

FRUITA – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Heyl Construction have begun construction on the SH 340 Intersection Improvement Project in Fruita. The project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was contracted to Heyl-a Western Slope contractor from Newcastle-for $1.36 million.

“This funding represents the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at work here on the Western Slope,” U.S. Senator Mark Udall said. “Especially with the growth in the area, these improvements to one of Fruita’s busiest intersections are badly needed, and the Grand Valley Transportation Planning Region has done a great job of getting these projects ready. This project will help address the transportation needs of Fruita travelers, while putting Western Slope workers back on the job.”

The project area includes SH 340 north of I-70 at Aspen and Cherry streets, as well as south of I-70 to Redcliff Drive. The project has a completion date set for May 21, 2010.

“I am pleased that ARRA funds are being utilized for much needed safety and capacity improvements to the intersection of SH 340 and Aspen/Cherry streets in Fruita,” Representative John Salazar (CO-3) said. “Not only will this project bring important jobs to this Western Slope community but it will certainly assist in the mitigation of congestion to this growing community. The partnering of the Grand Valley Transportation Planning Region to make this project viable, along with the use of federal funds, certainly displays how properly applied planning and funding can effectively be targeted to meet local needs.”

North of the interstate, the work will involve the installation of a traffic signal at SH 340 and Cherry/Aspen streets, resurfacing, drainage improvements and pedestrian crossing. On the south side (south of the roundabouts), work includes the installation of new curb and gutter, roadway resurfacing and shoulder work.

“As communities across the Western Slope continue to grow and develop, these projects ensure congestion and traffic don’t grow with them,” U.S. Senator Michael Bennet said. “The Grand Valley Transportation Planning Region and its partners have done a great job in identifying projects that make the most of Recovery funding, strengthening our infrastructure in a in a way that saves and creates jobs.”

During the project, work hours are Monday through Friday, from 7:30 AM to 5 PM. Motorists will encounter some single-lane alternating traffic at times, some lane reductions and minor delays. All business accesses will remain open but may be altered temporarily. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million for transportation projects and $103 million for transit projects. For more information about how Colorado is putting the recovery act to work, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery. For a list of CDOT’s Recovery Act projects and additional ARRA information, visit www.dot.state.co.us/arra.

PROJECT QUESTIONS/COMMENTS? Call ACC’s project information hotline at (970) 309-5914. For information about other CDOT projects, log on to www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state.