The Infrastructurist blog takes on the question of when the long-term transportation bill will come up. Federal transportation funding got a much-needed reprieve last week when President Obama signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, which will ensure sufficient federal highway and transit funding for the near future.

All of which is a huge relief to just about everyone involved in the construction and transportation biz. But there’s still a large piece missing: We’re still in dire need of a long-term transportation bill that defines this administration’s goals and priorities for the future of U.S. transportation.

So what are our chances of getting one passed during this session of Congress? Not good. Not good at all.

The low bidder on the first bridge replacement project funded by the FASTER bill’s increase in vehicle registration fees was the one closest to the job. Walsenburg Sand and Gravel Co. bid $1,837,111 to replace the bridge over Turkey Creek on CO 69 near Farisita. The project includes realignment of a half mile of the highway at the bridge. Walsenburg and Farisita are both in Huerfano County.

CDOT Media Release

Repairs begin at Glenwood Canyon Rockfall Site Today

Contract set with an early completion incentive designed to expedite work

GLENWOOD CANYON – The Colorado Department of Transportation begins repairs today (March 22) on damage caused by the rockfall incident on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon on March 8. Flatiron Construction Corporation of Longmont will be making the repairs. The cost of the repair project is approximately $860,000. However, the total cost of the rockfall event—including CDOT maintenance and design work—is expected to be much higher (that figure will be reported at a later date).

The Summit County Citizens Voice reports that state Sen. Dan Gibbs is pressing ahead with a pair of new laws aimed at easing despite some misgivings on the part of law enforcement officers.

“I think people want action,” Gibbs said, explaining that a measure requiring heavy trucks to stay in the slow lane on steep grades is straight-forward and aimed at three specific areas along the I-70 corridor: Floyd Hill, the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel approaches and Vail Pass.

Senate Bill 173 has been assigned to the transportation committee and hasn’t faced any votes yet.

The Loveland Reporter-Herald reports that the new design for the city’s most visible gateway on Interstate 25 leaves intact most of the features of the original one, including extensive landscaping, monuments and an arch-topped bridge carrying U.S. 34 across I-25.

It is slightly different from a proposal last fall that was withdrawn as the economy tanked. The design is subject to approval by the Centerra Metropolitan District and the Loveland City Council, both of which seem assured, work on the $2.9 million plan will begin this spring, and extensive landscape plantings can be done next spring.

The Wall Street Journal reports that American drivers confronted with an open stretch of interstate highway tend to drive at about 70 miles per hour—whatever the legal speed limit happens to be.

TomTom Inc., a marketer of GPS navigation devices, analyzed speed data it gathered. This helps to explain why safety advocates and conservationists are losing the long-running debate over lowering freeway speed limits.

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 Summit County Citizens Voice reports that the Federal Highway Administration, concerned about compliance with environmental laws, has asked CDOT to rewrite the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the I-70 Mountain Corridor in a more “citizen-friendly” format.

The 2,500-page document would then be re-released toward the end of this year.

“Two weeks ago, the feds came in and said they don’t like the way it’s going with regard to NEPA,” said Penny, referring to the National Environmental Policy Act, an over-riding federal law that outlines how environmental studies are conducted and the rules for public involvement.”

Go to the Summit County Citizens Voice to see the entire item.

Flatiron Construction is the apparent low bidder for repairs to the Interstate 70 viaduct in Glenwood Canyon, which was heavily damaged in the Monday rockslide, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced. The contract is for $860,417, with Flatiron committing to completion in 55 days.

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.