Colorado Gov. Jared Polis joined the state and local elected officials Thursday to announce the groundbreaking on a new $700 million infrastructure project.
The I-70 Floyd Hill project, a primary focus of Polis’ 10-year infrastructure plan, will rebuild a 7-mile stretch of I-70 from exit 248 northwest of Evergreen to exit 241 in eastern Idaho Springs as a way to eliminate a bottleneck on one of the state’s most congested corridors.
“I am thrilled to announce the start of the I-70 Floyd Hill project, which will add a lane Westbound from the top of Floyd Hill to the mountain express lane and a climbing lane Eastbound from the bottom of Floyd Hill to the Homestead exit,” Polis said. “These improvements will improve safety, reduce traffic and make it easier and faster for people to access the outdoors and mountain communities. When we passed the bipartisan ten-year infrastructure plan, this project was a key aspect and will deliver real results for those traveling on I-70.”
Construction on the project is expected to start this fall, beginning with a new wildlife crossing at Genesee and roundabouts along US-40. Major construction on the corridor will start in spring 2023, Polis said.
The project received $700 million in state and federal funding. This fall, Polis said, the state received the largest competitive grant the state has ever received for the I-7- Floyd Hill project from the U.S. Department of Transportation.