Multiple I-25 Projects Will Tie Up Interstate This Weekend
DENVER (CBS4) - "Keep calm and close I-25."
That's the advice -- handed out to motorists on key chains -- the Colorado Department of Transportation is doling out this weekend as major construction will snarl Interstate 25.
"Our main message to people is: stay off I-25 this weekend, especially in the central Denver area," said Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Amy Ford.
Multiple construction projects along the interstate will result in full closures in both directions starting Friday, and CDOT is advising motorists to find alternative routes.
Crews are building a fourth lane on northbound I-25 from Santa Fe Drive to Sixth Avenue to alleviate traffic problems.
Major construction on the project will take place Friday through Monday and will close the interstate in two locations.
"This won't fix everything. We're still going to see traffic buildups during peak periods. Our hopes are that on Saturdays and Sundays and lunch hours, we don't have what we're seeing right now," said CDOT spokesman Tony Divito.
All lanes of I-25 will close from Santa Fe to 6th Avenue at 10 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday. The second phase begins at 10 p.m. Saturday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Another project, the I-25 North Express Lanes Project, will close one southbound lane between 84th Avenue and the Thornton Parkway beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday until 5:30 a.m. on Monday. The on-ramp to southbound I-25 at 84th will be closed.
"What you will see there is a lot of lane closures associated with that work over the weekend as well," said Ford.
Crews will also be working on a long stretch of I-25 from Monument to Colorado Springs during the same time frame.
Local detour routes for the full I-25 closure include the following:
Northbound I-25 will detour to northbound Santa Fe Drive, continue north to 8th Avenue, west on 8th Avenue to Kalamath Street, and south on Kalamath Street to westbound US 6 to reconnect with northbound I-25.
Southbound I-25 will detour west on US 6 to Federal Boulevard, south on Federal Boulevard to 5th Avenue to merge onto eastbound US 6, and east on US 6 to reconnect with southbound I-25. There could also be delays along eastbound US 6 near I-25 with additional traffic following this detour route.
Northbound Santa Fe Drive: In conjunction with this closure, northbound Santa Fe Drive will close just south of I-25 over the weekend, with traffic detoured on Mississippi Avenue to northbound Broadway and eventually Lincoln Street. Access to businesses along Santa Fe Drive will be available via Alameda Avenue. Detour signage will guide commuters through the area.
