I-25 Widening Proposal Faces Big Obstacles
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4)- A plan to expand Interstate 25 to six lanes from the Denver metro area through northern Colorado faces some big obstacles.
The idea behind the proposal is to get rid of congestion along I-25 by widening the highway from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. The prospect of a better drive is good news to drivers.
"When I got on and saw how bad traffic was, I decided I'm not going to go today, I turned around," said Greeley resident Robert Witters.
"About once or twice a week I end up having to get stuck in traffic," said Fort Collins resident Jacob Mauro.
After years of talk about expanding I-25 from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, Gov. John Hickenlooper said he wants to make those plans a reality. He just need some help from state lawmakers, hoping a bill passes that would essentially shuffle state funds to benefit road projects.
"If we knew we had $200 million a year to borrow against, you always have a plan, but we could be building this stuff in 12 to 18 months and completing big chunks in three or four years," said Hickenlooper.
The governor said he would focus on expansions that would make all of I-25 at least six lanes wide with eight lanes in the most dense areas.
In some places, Hickenlooper said the state already knows where it would build the additional lanes and has already begun the permitting process.
