After nearly three years of controlled rock blasting and excavation, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-70 Floyd Hill Project has reached a major construction milestone.
Crews have achieved substantial completion of planned rock scaling and blasting operations, marking the end of one of the most complex phases of the Project. Since August 2023, these operations have required daily, weekday traffic holds to safely remove rock and prepare the corridor for future improvements. With this milestone complete, motorists can expect a significant reduction in traffic holds as the Project shifts into its next phase of construction.
Rock blasting was necessary to make room for the future alignment of eastbound and westbound I-70, allowing crews to widen the interstate, rebuild bridges and straighten roadway curves to improve safety and visibility.
Since blasting operations began in the eastern portion of the Project, crews have:
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- Completed 211 controlled rock blasts
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- Removed more than 765,500 tons of rock
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- Excavated the equivalent weight of approximately 30 Statues of Liberty
The work transformed the landscape along Floyd Hill and laid the foundation for many of the long-term improvements motorists will experience when the Project is complete.
What This Means for Travelers
While most large-scale blasting activities are now complete, occasional blasting may still be necessary if crews encounter unexpected rock conditions as construction continues. Any future blasting operations will be communicated in advance whenever possible.
To stay informed about blasting activities, traffic impacts and construction updates, motorists are encouraged to:
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- Sign up for project text alerts by texting floyhill (one word) to 21000
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- Visit COtrip.org before traveling
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- Download the COtrip Planner app for real-time travel information and notifications
Planning ahead remains the best way to avoid delays, especially during peak travel periods.
A Shift from Rock Excavation to Bridge Construction
With major rock excavation complete, the I-70 Floyd Hill Project is entering an exciting new phase.
Motorists are beginning to see the future alignment of I-70 take shape as crews focus on bridge and roadway construction throughout the corridor. New bridge columns and decks are becoming increasingly visible, and work will continue on the innovative cast-in-place segmental bridge known as The Live Lift.
As construction progresses, travelers will begin to see how years of preparation are transforming the eight-mile stretch of the I-70 Mountain Corridor into a safer, more efficient route between Evergreen and eastern Idaho Springs.
Construction on the I-70 Floyd Hill Project began in July 2023. I-70 will be in its new alignment in 2028, with the entire project expected to conclude in 2029.