CDOT Hopes To Start I-25 Widening Project In 2 Years
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP/CBS4) — Colorado officials hope to start widening a congested stretch of Interstate 25 between Monument and Castle Rock in 2019.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said Friday that the five-year project can begin in two years -- if the state can find up to $400 million for construction.
"In Colorado we have a lot of interstate that's still in its original configuration, but the traffic now is so bad between these two places we've just got to move forward now," said Shailen Bhatt, CDOT's executive director.
CDOT says it has devoted $15 million in cost savings from a C-470 Express Lanes project to speed up planning for the I-25 project.
"We'd have to go to a vote of the people but the vote would say, 'Hey, citizens of Colorado, do you want to vote for a revenue stream for CDOT so we can widen I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs?'" said Bhatt.
The 17-mile stretch of highway has two lanes in each direction. Officials plan to add at least one lane both ways.
The commitment of money is always the tough part but city leaders believe it's critical to growth, safety and development.
"Without these improvements, we risk the safety and time of the people who travel and work on this corridor each day," said Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers.
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