Work is starting in Colorado on the upgrade of a section of the I-70 highway. Around 13km of I-70 will benefit from the improvement works, which come with a pricetag of US$700 million.
Called the I-70 Floyd Hill Project, the work will see an additional lane being added to the route in either direction, which will help to lower congestion during peak periods and cut journey times for drivers. A number of bridges will have to be rebuilt to allow for the extra lanes and the wider overall carriageway.
The project involves widening I-70 between Denver and Idaho Springs so that it features a minimum of three lanes in either direction. The work is needed to relieve congestion in the area at peak periods and should help reduce journey times for drivers.
The area has seen an increase in population in recent years along with growth in traffic volumes, leading to frequent delays during peak travel times. The project will be managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation.