Colorado Department of Transportation photo. Construction of a new bridge is part of the $66 million I-25 and Arapahoe Road Interchange Improvements Project in the Colorado cities of Centennial and Greenwood Village south of Denver.
Construction of a new bridge is part of the $66 million I-25 and Arapahoe Road Interchange Improvements Project in the Colorado cities of Centennial and Greenwood Village south of Denver. The site is considered one of the busiest parts of Interstate 25.
The project includes construction and reconfiguration of the interchange at I-25 and Arapahoe Road. It also includes improvements to Arapahoe Road between Greenwood Plaza Boulevard and Dayton Street.
The new bridge is considerably wider than the original one. It is 21 ft. (6.4 m) wider for I-25 traffic and 50 ft. (15 m) wider for Arapahoe Road traffic.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is the lead agency in partnership with Greenwood Village, Centennial, Arapahoe County and the Southeast Public Improvement District.
The planned improvements to the I-25 and Arapahoe Road (State Highway 88) interchange complex are designed to reduce congestion and improve traffic operations and safety.
Construction began in May 2016 and should be completed by summer of 2018. The project is currently on schedule.
Funding for the project comes from CDOT's Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships (RAMP) funding program along with federal and local sources.
Along with reconstructing the I-25 bridge over Arapahoe Road, crews will provide improvements to Arapahoe Road. It will continue to have three through lanes in each direction under the bridge, but piers that divided Arapahoe Road traffic are being removed. Instead, there will be a single barrier separating east and west traffic.
Workers will realign the frontage road in the northeast quadrant of the interchange; construct an additional westbound through lane on Arapahoe Road from Clinton Court to Clinton Street on the east side of I-25; construct noise walls along Yosemite Street south of Arapahoe Road to Xanthia Street and along the south side of Arapahoe Road from Uinta Street to Yosemite Street; and construct a continuous acceleration and deceleration lane on Arapahoe Road from the northbound off-ramp to Clinton Street.
A turn lane will be added for drivers switching from westbound Arapahoe Road to the northbound I-25 onramp.
CDOT contracted with David Evans and Associates/Hartwig & Associates architectural team to complete the project design. David Evans and Associates has a Denver office. Hartwig & Associates has an Englewood, Colo., Office.
GC Is Experienced in Colorado Highway Projects
Kraemer North America of Plain, Wis., is a full-service heavy civil contractor for transportation, rail and marine projects and is general contractor for the I-25 project. The work is being done under a construction manager-general contractor (CMGC) contract.
Its previous projects include preconstruction and construction of 2 mi. (3.2 km) of a new four-lane roadway connecting I-25 to the Meadows Subdivision in Castle Rock, Colo., and CDOT's Twin Tunnels Expansion on I-70 in Clear Creek County, Colo.
The project has about 43 subcontractors. Major subcontractors include Slaton Brothers of Centennial, Colo.; Horn Construction of Commerce City, Colo.; Blanco Inc. of Brighten, Colo.; Dynalectric of Lakewood, Colo.; Roadsafe Traffic Systems of Denver and Brannan Sand and Gravel of Denver.
Wall, Utility, Bridge Work Continue
Initial work on the project included building new walls and relocation of utilities on the east side of I-25; construction of new eastbound lanes and wall construction on Arapahoe Road and construction of an additional lane, sidewalks and walls and relocation of utilities on Yosemite Street.
I-25 bridge construction phase 3 including concrete pouring took place in early February. The work required overnight lane closures.
Construction of a noise wall along Arapahoe Road and Yosemite Street also is underway. Retaining wall work is taking place on the south side of Arapahoe Road.
At the same time, crews are shifting the alignment and reconstructing the eastbound lanes of Arapahoe Road. Workers are in the process of relocating utilities.
“About 80 percent of the I-25 bridge work has been completed thus far,” said Bob Wilson, communications manager for CDOT in Denver. “We are currently constructing the final phase of the I-25 bridge.”
New I-25 Southbound Bridge Opens This Spring
As the project ramps up in the spring, crews will shift eastbound Arapahoe Road traffic onto permanent highway alignment. Continued alignment work will require closing various ramps.
Crews also will shift southbound I-25 traffic onto the new bridge and construct a permanent I-25 median barrier, as well as permanent highway lighting. Construction of noise and retaining walls and relocation of utilities will continue.
Heavy Use of Asphalt, Steel
About 92,000 tons (83,461 t) of asphalt will be laid over the course of the project. That number includes temporary detour pavement.
Workers will use about 712,000 lbs. (322,958 kg) of steel for wall and bridge work.
Asphalt and concrete removed from the project site will be recycled.
Heavy equipment on site includes bulldozers, asphalt laying equipment, trucks, rollers, welding machines and cranes.
“We bring in 350- and 400-ton cranes for the I-25 bridge girder and pier cap sets,” Wilson said.
Construction Impacts to Businesses
CDOT has provided outreach to local businesses and told them that customers would retain access and none would have to close.
Project Benefit Neighborhoods, Businesses, Travelers
Two noise walls will be constructed adjacent to Walnut Hills to address traffic noise impacts. Landscaping along Arapahoe Road and Yosemite Street will enhance the physical environment.
Sidewalks will be widened to improve accessibility and pedestrian experience.
Improved traffic flow along Arapahoe Road may minimize traffic diverting into neighborhoods.
Frontage road realignment will improve access to the northeast quadrant of the interchange and provide opportunity for enhanced landscaping.
A new northbound right turn lane on Yosemite Street at the Yosemite Circle intersection will better accommodate truck access into the northwest quadrant of the interchange.
Travel time on Arapahoe Road through the interchange complex is expected to decrease substantially. Adding a turn lane at the bottom of the southbound I-25 off-ramp to Arapahoe Road should prevent traffic from backing up onto the interstate.
Congestion within the interchange is expected to decrease and that should lower accident rates.
Lane Restrictions
Commuters can expect nightly lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on northbound and southbound I-25 between Belleview Avenue and County Line Road. Ramp closures also will be necessary at times.
Lanes will be restricted eastbound and westbound on Arapahoe Road between Dayton Street and Syracuse Way from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for median work.
Overnight impacts will occur for several months.
Ongoing sidewalk closures on the north and south sides of Arapahoe Road are necessary to accommodate lane realignments. One pedestrian access route will be open at all times.—CEG
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