I-25 in Denver to be shut down for 5 hours for debate

Posted: Oct 2, 2012 2:44 PM by Greg Boyce

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Denver Public Works are reminding motorists to plan ahead for the full closure of Interstate 25 on October 3 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Interstate will be closed for approximately six miles from the Santa Fe Drive (US 85) interchange to the Hampden Avenue (US 285) interchange for the 2012 presidential debate at the University of Denver. All closures, dates and times are subject to change.

While there will be no access to I-25 from University Boulevard, there will be access to the Interstate from the following ramps:

To Northbound I-25 (ramps north of University Boulevard) from:

Washington Street/Emerson Street
Broadway/Lincoln St
Santa Fe Drive

To Southbound I-25 (ramps south of University Boulevard) from:

Colorado Boulevard
Evans Avenue
Yale Avenue
Hampden Avenue

Update: In addition to the I-25 closure, the following routes will also be closed:

University Boulevard will be closed from Evans Avenue to Louisiana Avenue between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3. University is not a recommended route on debate day
Buchtel Boulevard will be closed from Franklin Street to University Boulevard with local eastbound access to High Street beginning at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2
Alternate routes are advised and detours will be in place to provide motorists access to neighborhoods and other areas, but delays can be expected throughout the transportation system

Below is a list of possible detour routes to help motorists plan for the upcoming closure. In addition, detour maps can be found at www.cotrip.org
For southbound I-25 traffic passing through the city:

I-25 to Santa Fe Drive (US 85):

Continue south on Santa Fe Drive to Hampden Avenue and travel east/north on Hampden Avenue to I-25 (posted detour route)
OR
Continue south on Santa Fe Drive to C-470 and travel east to I-25
I-25 to I-70
West on I-70, connect to C-470 and travel south to I-25
OR
East on I-70, connect to I-225 and travel south to I-25

For northbound I-25 traffic passing through the city:

I-25 to Hampden Avenue- Go west to Santa Fe Drive (US 85) and travel north to I-25 (posted detour route)

I-25 to I-225- North on I-225 to I-70, then west to I-270 or I-25
The following arterial streets are recommended if you prefer to travel on other roadways:
For east/west travel:

6th Avenue
Alameda Avenue
Yale Avenue

For north/south travel:

State Highway (SH) 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard)
SH 95 (Sheridan Boulevard)
SH 88 (Federal Boulevard)
Broadway
SH 2 (Colorado Boulevard)
Monaco Parkway

To avoid the entire area, these routes provide additional options:

Southbound I-25 alternate routes
I-76 east to I-270 to I-70 to I-225 (preferred)
I-70 east to I-225 (preferred)
E-470 to I-70 or I-25 (tollway)
Northbound I-25 alternate routes
C-470 west to I-70 (preferred)
I-225 to I-70 (preferred)
E-470 to I-70 or I-25 (tollway)

Also, oversize/overweight vehicles and longer vehicle combinations (LVCs) will be prohibited from travel on the I-25 corridor between I-225 and I-76 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on US 85 (Santa Fe Drive) between I-25 and Hampden Avenue (US 285) and on Hampden Avenue between Santa Fe Drive and I-25 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For the most current highway and road information on debate day, follow @ColoradoDOT and @DenPublicWorks on Twitter, or click here.