CDOT Projects in the Wheat Ridge Area

CO 72 (Ward Rd) Frontage Road to Indiana Street Resurfacing

Cost: $8.1 Million

Contractor: Brannan Sand & Gravel

Timeline: August 2022 to Spring 2023

Description: Brannan Sand & Gravel will begin resurfacing Colorado Highway 72, between the intersection of I-70 to Indiana St. This portion of CO 72 is Ward Road and along W 64th Avenue. Work also includes median additions, signal replacement, signal head upgrades, signal detection additions, curb ramp upgrades, guardrail improvements, signing, and striping. Most work, including installation of raised medians, will occur in the Arvada section of Ward Road. 59 curb ramps will be replaced between 44th Ave and Indiana St to achieve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. 

CO 72 Frontage Road to Indiana Street Resurfacing — Colorado Department of Transportation (codot.gov)

I-70 over 32^nd Avenue Bridge Replacement 

Cost: $9.3 million

Contractor:  Kraemer North America

Timeline: February 2022 to November 2023

Description: Work includes replacing two bridges and making safety improvements to support increased traffic on the I-70 corridor. The project will be performed in five phases. Phase 2 to Phase 4 involve constructing the median portion of the new westbound I-70 bridge and installing detour pavement, removing, and replacing both westbound and eastbound I-70 bridges, constructing permanent roadways, and finalizing bridge overlays. The contractor is currently in the 3^rd phase During the month of December, crews will finish constructing abutments, sleeper slabs and approaches and add rail for the new westbound I-70 bridge. Final asphalt overlay, striping and landscaping will be completed in Phase 5.

I-70 over 32nd Avenue Bridge Replacement — Colorado Department of Transportation (codot.gov)

I-70 & Harlan Street Bridge Replacement & Interchange Safety Improvements

Cost: $18.6 Million

Contractor: ACC Built

Timeline: August 2022 to August 2024

Description:  This project will replace the I-70 bridge over Harlan Street which was originally built in 1967. With close proximity to Interstate 76, US 287 (Federal Boulevard) and CO 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard), this bridge experiences the highest daily traffic volumes in this corridor. Due to its age, heavy usage, and the seasonal weather, this bridge experiences frequent deck and concrete cracking. 

As a part of this project, additional safety improvements will be made to the Harlan Street, 48th Avenue, and westbound I-70 ramp intersection. These improvements were determined during a traffic study CDOT completed in 2021. This traffic study was a continuation from a 2015 safety study completed by CDOT, which identified the north intersection of the North Harlan Street and I-70 interchange as a safety concern location. This location experienced a higher-than-expected incidence of crashes during the study period of 2009 and 2014. The prevailing crash pattern and type was broadside crashes, which are statistically a more severe type of crash. Engineering improvements to the intersection can help reduce the number of crashes, specifically broadside crashes. 

Traffic Updates from CDOT