FRISCO, Colo. (AP) – Colorado officials expect the Federal Highway Administration to decide next month whether to approve a plan to ease congestion on Interstate 70 between Denver and Glenwood Springs.

The Colorado Department of Transportation in March released an environmental impact statement on various options. The preferred alternative would widen I-70 to six lanes between Floyd Hill and the Twin Tunnels near Idaho Springs and add auxiliary lanes for slow-moving vehicles near the Eisenhower Tunnel.

It also proposes evaluating a high-speed rail service between Denver and ski towns, but studies would still be needed to determine its feasibility, possible stops, funding and how it would be managed.

The Summit Daily News reports that if nothing is done by 2035, CDOT expects weekend travel times on I-70 could be triple that in 2000.

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