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The project, part of CDOT’s comprehensive plan to improve travel in the I-70 Mountain Corridor, will upgrade 13-miles of Eastbound I-70 within CDOT’s existing right of way. The upgrades will create the I-70 Mountain Express Lane; a wide shoulder that – only during peak travel periods – will operate as a third travel lane. The I-70 Mountain Express Lane will be dynamically priced to keep traffic moving. Prices will lower when CDOT wants to encourage drivers to use the lane and rise as the lane reaches capacity. Click here for more information on how express lanes operate.
Utilizing the shoulder to create an express lane within the existing I-70 right-of-way during peak periods instead of adding a full lane has several benefits:
Project Benefits
- Dynamic toll pricing keeps traffic moving: prices lower to encourage drivers to use the lane and rise as the lane reaches capacity
- Reduces travel time by nearly half from the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels to the top of Floyd Hill, resulting in an average 30-minute time savings
- Provides drivers with the choice of a new more reliable travel lane
- Avoids overbuilding I-70, by using the shoulder as a third lane, during peak hours
- Enhances recent Twin Tunnels (Veterans Memorial Tunnels) improvements
- Allows for faster speeds in all lanes, thus decreasing overall travel time
How will the I-70 Mountain Express Lane Work?
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Today |
Fall 2015: Express Lane Closed |
Fall 2015: Express Lane Open |
