Motorists are being warned to avoid eastbound Interstate 70 near Wheat Ridge for a week while the Colorado Department of Transportation conducts what it calls emergency bridge rehabilitation near West 32nd Avenue.
During the week-long project, eastbound drivers should detour from I-70 at West 6th Avenue, then drive to northbound I-25 in order to get back to I-70.
“CDOT works hard to keep our detours on state highways to avoid creating congestion on surface streets,” spokeswoman Amy Ford said Wednesday. “For us, this is the best way to get people back onto I-70.”
Work started Wednesday morning. Initially, the repairs were planned to be part of a larger, $1.9 million bridge rehab project starting in spring of 2015. However, in recent weeks there have been two emergency joint repairs, and on Wednesday at least two potholes formed.
“Given those smaller repairs we decided to accelerate the project,” Ford said. “It’s better to get in there sooner rather than later.”
According to CDOT, the work will require a double lane closure, adding that repairs will continue around the clock to ensure safety and future mobility in the area.
CDOT says this project will also help determine what sort of repairs will be necessary for the westbound portion of the bridge . Work on that side of the structure is scheduled to begin after Thanksgiving.
