Construction begins with embankment and dirt work this fall; crews to start bridge work in spring 2027
Statewide – Today, Governor Polis, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, local officials and contractor partner Kiewit Corporation broke ground on the I-270 Corridor Improvements to improve safety on this busy corridor. These improvements to Interstate 270, span east to west between Adams County and north Denver, and will improve safety, travel time reliability, freight operations and multimodal connectivity on a congested interstate that carries more traffic than it was designed for. Construction will begin this fall with earthwork, followed by major bridge construction in spring 2027. The project is expected to conclude in 2033.
“Every day, Coloradans count on I-270 to get to work, get home and keep goods moving. These improvements will make I-270 safer, more reliable, and faster for travelers, and will create good-paying jobs. By completing this work in phases, we’re working to ensure this important highway gets the upgrades it needs while keeping traffic moving for the Coloradans who depend on I-270,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“I-270 is a road that serves many roles at once. It carries commuters to and through Adams County, it carries significant freight, and it is badly in need of investment so that it can do its job safely,” said Shoshana Lew, CDOT executive director. “With more than 100,000 vehicles depending on it daily, I-270 is a short highway with an outsized role, linking I-25, I-70 and I-76, moving workers to jobs, freight to market and families across the north-metro area.”
“Colorado's I-270 Corridor Improvements Project is a great Freedom to Drive project that the Trump Administration is working to get built as soon as possible," said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. "The project will benefit Colorado by relieving congestion and improving freight movement, including the transport of fuel critical to the state's economy. We're excited to get shovels in the ground for this investment that will make travel safer and reduce commuting times on the corridor."
“Even when a project falls outside Adams County’s direct authority, we have a responsibility to advocate for the people who call our county home. This project is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we build strong partnerships across jurisdictional boundaries, bring residents’ priorities to the table and work together toward solutions,” said Commissioner Julie Duran Mullica, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners. “These improvements are a long time coming, and we’ll continue advocating for our residents and working with our partners to ensure the needs of the community remain at the heart of this project.”
“I grew up in Adams County, and I know how important these highways are to the people who live and work here,” said State Senator Kyle Mullica, Senate District 25. “Some of Colorado’s most critical transportation corridors run right through our county, and the investments we make here benefit the entire state. What excites me most about the I-270 improvement project is what it means for families. Less time stuck in traffic means more time at home, making it to your kids’ practices and games, and getting where you need to go safely. At the end of the day, that’s what this is really about. Making life a little easier and safer for the people who call Adams County home and for everyone who travels through our community.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to be part of this important infrastructure project for Commerce City and the surrounding region,” said Commerce City Mayor Steve Douglas. “The I-270 Corridor Improvements represent a significant investment that will benefit our residents, businesses, and future generations. I-270 is a major corridor connecting through Commerce City, and these improvements will strengthen regional connectivity, enhance safety, and expand multimodal transportation opportunities for years to come.”
"The trucking industry welcomes this important project on a critical freight route in our state, which today ranks among the country's top 50 worst freight bottlenecks,” said Colorado Motor Carriers Association President Greg Fulton. “This project will improve travel and safety for the trucking industry and all other users on this vital corridor."
The I-270 Corridor Improvements project will:
- Replace 12 aging bridges built in the 1960s.
- Add one new tolled Express Lane in each direction of I-270, free for buses, motorcycles and carpools of three or more, alongside two general-purpose lanes.
- Rebuild the Vasquez Boulevard interchange.
- Improve ramps at I-76, York Street and Quebec Street to reduce merging and weaving crashes.
- Add a continuous auxiliary lane on I-270 between Vasquez Boulevard and York Street.
- Widen shoulders and adds emergency turnarounds so crashes and breakdowns can be cleared more quickly and safely.
- Build a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I-270 between East 56th Avenue and Quebec Street.
- Add new sidewalks, multi-use paths and safer crossings at Brighton Boulevard, East 56th Avenue, York Street, Vasquez Boulevard and South Sandcreek Drive.
- Improve connections to the South Platte River and Sand Creek trails.
- Add four new RTD bus stops near the Quebec Street interchange.
- Add air quality monitoring and reporting, water quality ponds and wetlands mitigation.
Construction will occur in three phases:
- Phase 1 (October 2026 to early 2030) - Crews will complete earthwork on the northern edge of westbound I-270 between 60th Avenue and the South Platte River Trail, then begin the replacement of eight bridges in the most critical need in spring 2027. These I-270 bridges are located at the South Platte River, Burlington Ditch, Brighton Boulevard/Union Pacific and BNSF Railroads, and 60th Avenue/BNSF Railroad. This phase will also include reconstruction of mainline I-270 from the South Platte River to the start of the Vasquez Boulevard ramps.
- Phase 2 (Early 2030 through 2033) - Crews will reconstruct remaining mainline I-270, the Vasquez Boulevard/I-270 interchange, and York Street and 56th Avenue bridges.
- Phase 3 (Early 2030 through 2033) - Crews will reconstruct the Vasquez Boulevard bridge over Sand Creek, improve Sandcreek Drive/I-270 frontage road and build a new bicycle and pedestrian I-270 overpass at South Sandcreek Drive.
During early Phase 1 construction, from late October 2026 to spring 2027, motorists can anticipate overnight, single-lane closures along I-270 for crews to set up the work zone, daytime flagging operations on Brighton Boulevard north of I-270 with increased truck traffic, and shoulder closures along westbound I-270 between the South Platte River and 60th Avenue. No daytime impacts are anticipated on I-270 in this phase.
“We’re excited to get started on a project that will replace bridges at the end of their service life, widen shoulders and fix dangerous merges to reduce crashes and injuries, and build an Express Lane in both directions of I-270 to deliver peak travel time savings,” said Jessica Myklebust, CDOT Region 1 transportation director. “But this project is more than just steel and asphalt. It comes with commitments shaped by the neighborhoods along the corridor, resulting in a community-first mentality as we deliver this important project. As we begin construction on this critical corridor, we ask motorists to be slow for the cone zone to keep our workers and the traveling public safe.”
After six years of planning, listening and partnering with local stakeholders, the state made nine commitments to the local community which will act as the compass throughout construction.
About the project: The I-270 Corridor Improvements project will reconstruct Interstate 270, which spans east to west between Adams County and North Denver. Built in 1965, I-270 is the only interstate in Colorado that has never received an upgrade. With more than 100,000 vehicles traveling I-270 daily, the I-270 Corridor Improvements project will improve safety, travel time reliability, freight operations and multimodal connectivity on a congested interstate that carries more traffic than it was designed for. The project will be built in three phases and will construct two general-purpose lanes and one new express lane that accommodates transit in each direction, replace 12 aging bridges, rebuild the Vasquez Boulevard Interchange, add a new pedestrian overpass bridge and improve the on and off-ramp movements at I-76. The first phase of the project is anticipated to conclude in 2030, with the other two phases anticipated to conclude in 2033.