CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — The first shovels of dirt were turned over Thursday on the I-70 Mountain Express Lane Project.
The project widens a 12-mile segment of Westbound I-70 from the Veterans Memorial Tunnels to Empire Junction by adding a toll lane. The goal is to improve congestion during peak travel times.
"We need action now, which is why adding this additional lane going westbound, complimenting the eastbound one," said Gov. Jared Polis "They won't be running all the time, but it will be running during those pal times to help disperse that traffic and we should see significant reduction."
The project should be finished by late 2020,w ith toll testing through the spring of 2021. After that the lane will open.
Until then there will be some lane closures for construction, so drivers are reminded to slow down and expect delays.
