Major Renovation Could Bury Parts Of I-70 Across City
DENVER (CBS4) - A massive facelift to Interstate 70 would sink 10 lanes along a huge stretch of the metro area should a construction proposal go forward.
The project, which is slated to revamp how commuters travel between Interstate 25 in Denver and Tower Road in Aurora, will address a portion of interstate that runs above ground.
The project -- called the "partial covered lower" by the Colorado Department of Transportation -- would send traffic underground and create a massive new park above it.
"We want to make sure that if we do this, we do it for something that will be viable for the next 100 years," Peter Kozinski, the project engineer with CDOT, said.
Construction could begin in 2016. The project has a multi-billion-dollar price tag.
"We think it's a heck of a lot of money and something we take very seriously," Kozinski said.
Part of the funding could come from tolled express lanes.
"They're looking at several different funding sources, and that would include getting equity if it was through a public-private partnership or working with an outside firm to put in some equity and help with the design and help with the long-term maintenance," CDOT spokeswoman Megan Castle said.
This week, CDOT is seeking public feedback for its plans at three hearings in Denver, Commerce City and Aurora.
"We've been studying and talking about this thing for 10 years. We're really kind of in that home stretch, as we view it, and we want to get people's comments, thoughts and ideas, so we can craft the best alternative as we move forward," Kozinski said.
Additional Information From CDOT
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will accept public comments through Oct. 31 regarding the latest draft of the environmental study on improvements to Interstate 70 (I-70) through northeast Denver and Aurora.
"Making sure everyone has a chance to submit their comments is important to us, so we have decided to give them some more time," said Don Hunt, CDOT executive director. "We are approaching the time when decisions will be made about this corridor, and we want our process to be as transparent as possible."
Those interested have several options for submitting their comments.
Upcoming public hearings in Aurora, Commerce City and Denver will provide a forum for public comments. The hearings will be conducted from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a formal presentation and public comment period. A Spanish-language presentation and comment period will start at 6 p.m., to be followed by a presentation and comment session in English. Dates and locations are:
· Aurora – Tuesday, September 23, Sable Elementary School, 2601 Sable Blvd.
· Commerce City – Wednesday, September 24, Kearney Middle School, 6160 Kearney St.
· Denver – Thursday, September 25, Bruce Randolph Middle School, 3955 Steele St.
Comments can also be sent via mail to I-70 East EIS Team, Colorado Department of Transportation, 2000 S. Holly St., Denver, CO 80222; email at contactus@i-70east.com; telephone at 303-757-9413; online at www.i-70east.com. The project office at at 3501 East 46th Ave. will accept comments 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon, Friday and Saturday.
Copies of the study are available at 17 public locations throughout metro Denver, which are listed on the project website www.I-70East.com. The report also is available for viewing on the website and at the project office.
