The Denver Business Journal reports that Edward Kraemer and Sons was the apparent low bidder at Thursday’s bid opening for the reconstruction of the C-470 and Santa Fe Drive interchange.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is using the last of its federal stimulus money on the project, estimated to cost a total of $25.7 million. Kraemer’s bid of $17.2 million was about five percent less than the $18.2 million engineer’s estimate for the construction work.

It’s a first in the United States for bridge construction – the FasTracks bridge over Sixth Avenue Freeway in Lakewood will be rolled into place intact during a weekend highway closure in April.

View a slide show of the first girders placed for the light rail bridge over Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood.

CDOT Press Release

The Colorado Department of Transportation and the Town of Castle Rock celebrated the completion of the Interstate 25/Plum Creek Interchange reconstruction project at a grand opening ceremony today.

“Marking the completion of this project today is a tribute to cooperation and teamwork,” said Colorado Transportation Commissioner Gary Reiff. “Initial discussions between CDOT and Castle Rock began in 2002 about making this important upgrade to the transportation infrastructure of the area and now, by working together, we’ve enhanced the traffic movements throughout the area for the citizens of Castle Rock, Douglas County and for those who use I-25.”

Construction began in May 2008 to widen northbound and southbound I-25 from two to three lanes between 5th Street and Douglas Lane. A new I-25/Plum Creek Parkway Interchange also was constructed and now is fully aligned with Plum Creek Parkway, which was widened and straightened west of Wilcox Street. In addition, a small portion of the East Plum Creek Trail was built, which is part of the Colorado Front Range Trail.

“The new road gives residents another way to get to and from the interstate and downtown,” said Castle Rock Mayor Randy Reed, “and the reconstructed interchange makes the area more attractive and easier to navigate.”

Funding for the $30 million project was shared by CDOT ($20 million) and Castle Rock ($10 million). Work included a number of improvements by Castle Rock, as part of its Transportation Action Plan. Information is available at: www.crgov.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8

To minimize environmental impacts through the area, the banks of East Plum Creek will be re-graded and enhanced in the spring. It includes planting 112 additional trees, 850 bushes and other vegetation.

“We’ve accomplished our goal of maximizing capacity and enhancing safety through this area by widening I-25 and completely rebuilding the Plum Creek Parkway Interchange,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Tony DeVito. “It’s an area that will continue to see significant population growth so upgrading the primary transportation corridor between Denver and Colorado Springs was vital.”

The primary CDOT contractor was Edward Kraemer and Sons Inc., of Plain, WI.

Edward Kraemer and Sons has been chosen as the contractor for the Woodmen Road widening project, which will widen Woodmen to three lanes in each direction from east of Interstate 25 to Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs. The project also will include an interchange at Woodmen and Academy, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette.