Colorado Highway 402 and Interstate 25 interchange. Google Earth screen shot.The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says crews have begun work on the first phase of the Interstate 25 North Express Lanes Johnstown to Fort Collins project, which will rebuild the Highway 402 and I-25 interchange, according to Denver 7 NBC.
The $350 million expansion project will add toll lanes in each direction between Johnstown and Fort Collins.
“That interchange is getting completely changed,” CDOT spokesperson Jared Fiel told the news agency. “I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s the worst darn spot in all of Colorado. Any time around rush hour, you’re going to be cycling though four or five lights to get through there.”
The first phase of the I-25 widening project requires traffic to be shifted to the northbound lanes while temporary infrastructure is built on the southbound side. Phase two will shift traffic to the southbound lanes while work is done on the northbound side. The phase three, the final phase, will shift traffic back to the northbound lanes to complete work on the southbound side.
Two transportation propositions on the November ballot will determine if all of CDOT’s plans move forward.
