Residents of Grand Junction and the wider Western Slope planning travel to or from the Denver metropolitan area in the coming weekends should be aware of significant closures on Interstate 70. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced two extensive weekend closures on the stretch of I-70 that passes over Kipling Street, situated where Wheat Ridge and Arvada meet. These closures are being implemented to facilitate critical bridge repairs and are expected to result in slight delays for motorists.
The first of these closures is designated for the westbound lanes of I-70. It is scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 18, and is projected to remain in effect until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22. This initial phase of repairs could span a duration of up to 83 hours, requiring travelers heading west out of Denver to account for potential disruptions over the entire weekend and into the early part of the week.
Immediately following the completion of work on the westbound side, a second closure will be enacted for the eastbound lanes of I-70. This period of construction is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 25, and is expected to conclude by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29. Similar to the westbound closure, this repair window for eastbound I-70 could also extend for up to 83 hours. These comprehensive closures are vital for completing necessary structural repairs on the bridge components that support both directions of traffic.
CDOT has detailed a specific traffic management plan designed to guide motorists through the construction zones without implementing extensive, distant detours. Instead, drivers will be directed to utilize the existing on-ramps and off-ramps at Kipling Street to navigate around the immediate segment of I-70 undergoing repairs. This means that while interstate traffic will still be able to pass through the area, the specific entrance and exit ramps directly connecting I-70 to Kipling Street will be temporarily closed during the construction periods. Furthermore, Kipling Street itself will be shut down in both directions directly at the I-70 bridge for the duration of these weekend work windows.
Beyond the direct I-70 and Kipling Street impacts, CDOT has also indicated that other local roads within the surrounding area will experience some degree of impact due to the ongoing construction activities. Travelers are advised to anticipate these changes and allow for additional travel time when passing through this corridor on the specified dates. The long duration of these closures, up to 83 hours each, underscores the complex and critical nature of the bridge repairs, aiming to ensure the long-term integrity and safety of I-70 for all who use it, including those commuting from or through the Western Slope.