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 IDAHO SPRINGS, COLO. — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is encouraging the public to participate in a Sept. 27 meeting regarding proposed improvements to immediately address safety issues and improve traffic flow at the Twin Tunnels east of Idaho Springs, one of the most critical congestion bottlenecks on the Interstate 70 (I-70) Mountain Corridor. CDOT proposes widening the interstate to three eastbound lanes between Idaho Springs and the base of Floyd Hill, enlarging the eastbound bore of the tunnels and addressing safety issues on the eastbound highway curves between the tunnels and Floyd Hill.

The Twin Tunnels Environmental Assessment (EA) will define the proposed improvements, provide information on impacts to environmental and community resources, and determine appropriate mitigation to minimize any impacts. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is expected to issue a decision by the fall of 2012. If the project receives the federally required approvals, construction would begin in the spring of 2013, and will be open to traffic by the end of 2013. During this construction period, eastbound interstate traffic would be rerouted around the Twin Tunnels.

“While other problem areas exist, CDOT — with limited resources — has made Twin Tunnels a priority as one of the first projects on the corridor, because it is one of the most congested areas, with high crash rates, where we can provide immediate relief for eastbound traffic,” said Jim Bemelen, corridor manager for the I-70 Mountain Corridor. “It’s not going to solve all the problems on the corridor but will go a long way to improving safety and reducing travel delays at this location.”

CDOT estimates the project will cost approximately $60 million, Bemelen said.

Twin Tunnels is the first proposed project in the corridor since the FHWA issued its Record of Decision for the I-70 Mountain Corridor Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) in June.

A Project Leadership Team (PLT) including representatives from Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, CDOT, and FHWA will oversee the Twin Tunnels EA. A multi-discipline technical team comprised of transportation experts and local stakeholders has been formed to advise the analysis in the EA. Membership of the PLT, the technical team, and other information regarding the Twin Tunnels EA is available on the project website at www.coloradodot.info/projects/i-70mountaincorridor/interstate-70-twin-tunnels.