Colorado DOT To Get $1.7b in Funds

The Colorado Transportation Commission has approved a number of new projects.

Source : Colorado Department of Transportation

October 5, 2022

Author : Alex Bustillos

As part of its 10-year transportation plan, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has specified $1.7 billion in infrastructure projects. These are slated for completion over the next five years.

The CDOT's 10-year Plan, which has received $2.2 billion in project financing since 2019, focuses on statewide safety, resilience, repair, and multimodal infrastructure projects. Recently, the Colorado Transportation Commission approved a significant upgrade to the proposal. Some of the projects under this scheme include:

  1. I-70 West- Floyd Hill in Clear Creek County ($700 million): This project comprises replacing existing infrastructure, reconfiguring non-standard interchanges, upgrading design standards, boosting travel time reliability, and achieving a minimum 55 mph design speed due to tight curves, steep hills, and frequent accidents.
  2. I-270 Improvements and Congestion Relief from I-76 to I-70 in Denver and Adams counties ($600 million): The project is pending completion of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study and could include controlled lane, highway, and bridge rebuilding, interchange ramp upgrades, freight accommodations, and new multimodal connections to fulfill safety and other traffic demands.
  3. North I-25 Express Lanes from Colorado State Highway in Weld and Larimer Counties ($350 million): It includes new express lanes, replacement of substandard infrastructure and interchanges, road geometry improvements, shoulder widening, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
  4. US 287 Corridor Improvements in Boulder County ($205 million): Early Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study includes intersection upgrades and additional transit facilities.
  5. $200 million to rebuild the US 85 and US 34 interchange in Weld County.

The upcoming projects also position CDOT for another record-breaking year of construction. CDOT's current prediction showcases that contractor payments will total $960 million, including $110 million from the state's Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise. Notably, these investments encompass the strategic capital investments outlined in the 10-Year Plan and baseline investments in basic maintenance and infrastructure repairs made each year, and they total to record-sized construction programs.

The Plan also incorporates new greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reduction standards. It requires the CDOT and the state's five Metropolitan Planning Organizations to determine the total pollution and GHG emission increases or decreases anticipated from future transportation projects and ensure that they do not exceed the predetermined standard.

The new set of projects approved today is made possible by a final year of legislative funding provided by Senate Bill 17-267 and the first years of sustained, long-term funding provided by Senate Bill 21-260, as well as above-base federal funds provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). CDOT also got the largest federal grant, at $100 million, to enhance Floyd Hill along the I-70 mountain corridor. This grant leverages recently enhanced state funds from Senate Bill 21-260.

"We are taking bold action to improve our infrastructure, roads and bridges while saving people time and money," said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. "From Floyd Hill to Lake City, we are fixing rural roads and making sure that Coloradans and visitors can get where they need to go safely and quickly."

Following the initial adoption of the 10-Year Plan, a succession of important milestones have occurred, including:

  1. Colorado has become the nation's leader in transportation planning and greenhouse gas reduction regulations. The Polis Administration proposes new transportation standards for Colorado and regional plans.
  2. COVID Relief Stimulus Funding Advances Highest Priority Project
  3. Polis Administration and CDOT execute 10-Year Plan progress ahead of schedule and within budget; repair over 600 miles of rural roads.
  4. CDOT is preparing to redouble its extraordinary dedication to rural roads.

“CDOT is proud to take this next step in building Colorado’s infrastructure and improving our transportation system for years to come,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.

Follow Contractor News for the latest update on public works projects and government construction grants.

Category : Department of Transportation State Government Freeways and Highways

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