Rep. Neguse Announces $100 Million for I-70 Improvement Project

Statement

Today, Congressman Joe Neguse announced the Colorado Department of Transportation and Clear Creek County are the recipients of a $100,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation INFRA grants program. Funding will go toward improving the I-70 Mountain Corridor. The INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) program awards grants for multimodal freight and highway projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.

"I-70 and our mountain transportation corridor is a critical part of Colorado infrastructure. This roadway is an economic driver and a gateway to recreation and tourism opportunities for our state, which is why this significant funding is such a game-changer. This $100 million investment will fund much-needed investments in the safety and reliability of the I-70 corridor, protecting Coloradans and visitors for generations to come," said Congressman Neguse.

More specifically, funding is set to improve eight miles of the I-70 Mountain Corridor -- from west of Evergreen to eastern Idaho Springs -- add a third westbound travel lane, construct a frontage road connection, add a new ramp from US 6 to eastbound I-70, and improve design speed and sight distance on horizontal curves. The project also improves the Clear Creek Greenway multimodal trail and implements environmental mitigation efforts, including installing wildlife crossings and fencing, and restoring nearby creek and riparian areas. It will also install electric vehicle infrastructure and shuttle parking to support transit operations in the corridor.

Representative Neguse has been instrumental in securing funding for Colorado's transportation infrastructure. In June of 2020, Rep. Neguse secured $60,700,000 for Vail Pass improvements on I-70 after writing to the Secretary of Transportation requesting the funds. He also played a key role in the swift passage and enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a historic piece of legislation that invests in the economy, rebuilds crumbling roads and bridges, and ensures American communities can compete in the 21st Century.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is set to provide Colorado with:

$3.7 billion for highway projects, $716 million in FY 2022;
$225 million for bridge replacement and repairs, $45 million in FY 2022; and
$917 million to improve public transportation, $54 million in FY 2022.

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