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Expect Major Delays At I-70 Twin Tunnels This Week

IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - A major project along Interstate 70 could add some extra time to the drive for those coming down from the mountains next week.

The Colorado Department of Transportation will be running traffic through the Twin Tunnels near Idaho Springs in intervals. The goal is to actually help traffic run more smoothly down the road.

The area of I-70 sees its fair share of traffic.

"We are going to be doing 30-minute traffic stops in the Twin Tunnels because we have to do a whole bunch of testing in anticipation of our project that's going to start in the spring," Stacey Stegman with CDOT said.

The project will widen the eastbound lanes of the Twin Tunnels to ease traffic congestion. Testing inside will be done Monday through Thursday before the project starts.

"We are drilling into the insides of the tunnel. We are looking for signals to find out where there are gaps or voids inside the tunnel so we know when we start work what to expect," Stegman said.

Drivers can expect traffic to be stopped for 30-minute intervals next week between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. CDOT is apologizing ahead of time.

"We're sorry about it. We wish we didn't have to do this, but this is an important project and in the end it's going to be for something good."

When the Twin Tunnel project is officially under way traffic will be rerouted.

"We're going to have traffic on the frontage road so traffic won't be affected on the highway when we have to do blasting and do this major work."

CDOT says those coming down from the mountains next week should plan ahead.

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