The five teams now vying for a controversial rebuild of in northeast Denver include familiar names linked to many other key road projects in the metro area.
That only makes sense since the $1.2 billion I-70 East Project will be the biggest road-construction undertaking in state history, say Colorado highway officials, and it’s bound to draw attention.
“These are companies that have worldwide experience, that have done some major projects both here and abroad,” said Amy Ford, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The offered “Statements of Qualifications” that they hope will prompt CDOT to pick them for the I-70 proposal. A statement of qualification is a summary of a team’s experience in the industry and with similar efforts such as the I-70 project.
CDOT will review each company’s qualifications and provide executive summaries for public review. A shortlist of preferred companies will be asked to respond to a “Request for Proposals” with the goal of selecting one by the end of 2016.
The project needs federal approval, although CDOT hopes to start construction in 2017.
Critics say the I-70 rebuild is too expensive and will be damaging to surrounding neighborhoods and the environment.
Opponents will get a chance to sound off on the I-70 plan on Monday when the will vote on contributing money to the project.
The project calls for adding a tolled, express lane in each direction of I-70 from Interstate 25 to Interstate 225, removing the 50-year-old viaduct between Brighton and Colorado boulevards and lowering the interstate along that stretch. Crews also would build a 4-acre cover over a portion of the lowered interstate and next to Swansea Elementary School.
“I-70 East is one of the state’s most critical highway segments, and we are seeking the best of the best to partner with CDOT,” said Tony DeVito, CDOT’s project director. “From the response, … we are on the right track to reaching that goal.”
The five companies are 5280 Connectors, Denver Mobility Partners, Front Range Mobility Group, I-70 Mile High Partners and Kiewit/Meridiam Partners.
Among the participating company members are — which is overseeing the management of a tolled U.S. 36 — and Kiewit, which designed and built the project on south I-25.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or twitter.com/montewhaley
