Road Construction Updates
I-225 widening project to implement northbound lane closures for traffic realignment
Beginning 8 p.m. Feb. 27, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will implement lane closures along I225. These closures are being done as part of the I-225 widening project. From 8 p.m. through 9 p.m. the left lane of
northbound I-225 from Yosemite to Parker Road will be closed. From 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m., the two left lanes of I-225
will be closed. These closures are necessary in order for crews to realign northbound I-225 traffic and to restripe the
lanes. Also from 10 p.m. through 5:30 a.m. Feb. 27, northbound I-225 from Parker Road to Iliff Avenue will have
alternating right and left lane closures for traffic realignment and restriping.
The I-225 widening project will result widen I-225 to accommodate three lanes in each direction with an additional
auxiliary lane. This is the final project to complete the widening of I-225 between I-25 and I-70, eliminating the
bottleneck that now exists at Mississippi Avenue. As part of the project, the Yale Avenue bridge over I-225 will be
replaced and other minor roadway elements will be completed to accommodate RTD’s extension of light rail from
Parker Road to Iliff Avenue. The project is being funding by CDOT and RTD and is scheduled to be complete by
September 2014.
Abilene Street full closure to be extended
Iliff to Jewell avenues through spring 2014
The I-225 Rail Line team is moving into a new phase of construction on Abilene Street and will extend the full closure
from Iliff up to Jewell avenues as early as Friday, Feb. 21. This closure is expected to last through spring 2014.
Business access will be maintained at all times; follow detour signage. Refer to the map below for alternate routes
(remember to use caution when driving through the school zone on Blackhawk Street).
Detour: Motorists accessing restaurants and businesses along Abilene Street and Evans Avenue will be detoured:
•
Southbound Abilene Street traffic will be redirected at Jewell Avenue to Blackhawk Street
•
Iliff Avenue traffic will be directed at Blackhawk to Evans Avenue
•
Pedestrians are advised to use the same detour
•
Northbound and southbound through traffic should use Sable Boulevard as an alternate route
If you are a business manager/owner…
As part of our outreach efforts during construction, we are excited to announce the development of a new page on
our I-225 Rail Line website titled “Support Local Businesses Along the Line” that includes links to local Aurora
businesses. This is a great opportunity to promote support for your business during construction. We encourage you
to email us to include your business name and a link to your website to showcase coupons, happy hours, or other
promotions you may be offering to customers. We also have provided helpful hints on how to survive construction.
We understand the challenges construction of the I-225 Rail Line might bring to your business, and we appreciate
your continued patience.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
We look forward to you participation.
Get More Information
Website: I-225 Light Rail Line (click on construction information)
Email: I-225@rtd-fastracks.com
Construction Information Line: 720-863-8505
Peoria Crossing Project Updates
Turn restrictions from eastbound Smith Road
Beginning Dec. 26, right turns will be prohibited from eastbound Smith Road onto southbound Peoria Street for work
on the Peoria Street bridge.
Advance warning signage along eastbound Smith Road will direct motorists to take Moline Street south to 33rd
Avenue to access Peoria Street. The right turn restriction at Peoria Street will be in place for about two months.
Peoria between 33rd and 35th
Currently, the right northbound lane of Peoria between 33rd and 35th will be closed to through traffic through
December as utilities are relocated, a new drive to the business park is built, and the old drive is closed. Two lanes of
traffic will remain open on northbound Peoria.
Please note: Peoria Street between 39th and 33rd avenues will continue to have a long-term closure of the far right
southbound lane during construction of the Peoria Crossing Project. This lane closure creates a work zone that will
allow crews to safely build the new bridge just west of Peoria Street while keeping the road open to travelers.
The Peoria Crossing Project involves building an overpass bridge just west of the current Peoria Street alignment to
span the Union Pacific Railroad and East Rail Line tracks, separating vehicle traffic from passing railroads. The new
bridge is scheduled to open in June 2014 with project completion scheduled for September 2014.
Motorists who travel south on Peoria Street in this area should allow for extra time while drivers become accustomed
to this change.
This schedule is weather dependent and subject to change. For more information on the Peoria Crossing Project, call
855-324-5373 or visit the project website at www.denvergov.org/peoriacrossing.
I-225 Rail Line Weekend of Feb. 24 Construction Activities:
Segment 1 – Nine Mile Station to Iliff Avenue Station

Northbound and Southbound I-225 (Parker Road to Mississippi Avenue) – alternating overnight right and left lane
restrictions Feb. 24 and 25

Northbound I-225 on-ramp at Parker Road – intermittent overnight traffic stops Feb. 25
Area A - Iliff Station to Exposition Avenue

Iliff Avenue and Abilene Street Intersection – various lane restrictions through spring 2014

Abilene Street FULL CLOSURE through spring 2014; see alternate routes (use extreme caution through school
zone on Blackhawk Street)
o Closure of Abilene Street extending from Iliff to Jewell avenues
o Remember to support local businesses along Abilene Street - access from Blackhawk Street detour

Mississippi Avenue – intermittent day and nighttime lane restrictions through spring 2014
o Mississippi Avenue (Abilene Street to southbound I-225 on/off-ramps) – closure of far right eastbound and
westbound lanes
o Northbound I-225 on/off-ramps at Mississippi Avenue – closure of far left turn lane
Area C - 2nd and Abilene Station to 6th Avenue

6th Avenue – daytime lane restrictions through early 2014
o
o
o
Northbound I-225 off-ramp to 6th Avenue – closure of far right turn lane
6th Avenue to northbound I-225 – closure of westbound far right turn lane
6th Avenue (Sable Boulevard to southbound I-225 ramps)– intermittent eastbound and westbound lane
restrictions
Tower Road to East Colfax Avenue update
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has begun reconstructing the 2.5-mile segment of Interstate 70
between Tower Road and Colfax Avenue (U.S. 40/287). Work for this project will consist of removing the existing
asphalt and replacing it with concrete pavement, shoulder widening, and new bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad
and Smith Road. The project also includes new drainage ponds, guardrails, curbs and gutters, signing and striping.
The left hand lane of I-70 eastbound from Tower Road to Colfax Avenue will be closed for approximately six months.
This will take that stretch of eastbound I-70 down to one lane for the duration of the closure. This work is necessary to
demolish and reconstruct the westbound bridge. During this time, the westbound traffic will be crossed over to the
eastbound lanes.
One lane of westbound traffic will also be closed for the duration of this phase of the project beginning about Feb. 9.
Originally, the design for this project included two year lane reductions along this stretch taking each direction of I-70
down to one lane through summer 2015.
The bridge demolition and reconstruction that is part of this project will replace a bridge that is at capacity. The bridge
currently in place will be replaced with a bridge that can handle the volume and speed of traffic traveling that stretch
of road. The new bridge will also include wider shoulder lanes that will improve safety for all motorists as well as allow
for future expansion to 3 lanes each direction.
During this phase of construction, the on ramp from northbound Tower Road to eastbound I-70 and the on ramp from
northbound E-470 to I-70 will not have dedicated acceleration lanes. Please use caution in these areas and be aware
of surrounding traffic. Motorists traveling in this area are encouraged to allow for extra time to get to their destinations
and to use caution. By removing and replacing the bridge in two segments traffic flow can continue on this stretch of
road with lane reductions.
Speed limits in the area have been reduced from 75 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour, this is an active construction
area on a busy stretch of roadway please go Slow In The Cone Zone.
City of Aurora road construction updates
Weekly construction updates for city of Aurora projects are posted on the city’s website weather permitting. For more
information, call the Street Division at 303-326-8200.
CDOT road construction updates
View the weekly construction update from the Colorado Department of Transportation.