The Colorado Department of Transportation announced on April 10 that it will start construction on the I-70 Exit 203 Interchange Project in Frisco beginning Monday, April 20. The project, led by contractor Zak Dirt, is expected to continue through October 2027 with a winter shutdown from November 2026 to April 2027.
The improvements are intended to reduce congestion and enhance safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians traveling through this busy corridor. The reconfiguration of Colorado Highway 9 (CO 9), Lusher Court, and Dillon Dam Road aims to improve traffic flow while adding new bicycle and pedestrian connections. A major component is a frontage road bypass under CO 9 that will link Dillon Dam Road with Lusher Court.
“Breaking ground on the Exit 203 project marks a major milestone for the I-70 Mountain Corridor, the primary thoroughfare to our popular mountain communities,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT. “This project has been in development for nearly five years. As a top priority for the Intermountain Transportation Planning Region (IMTPR) and a collaborative partnership with Summit County and the Town of Frisco, these improvements are vital to addressing increasing congestion. By enhancing multimodal access through regional services like Bustang and county-wide offerings like the Summit Stage, we are ensuring a safer, more efficient interchange for our local residents and the millions of visitors who travel through this gateway.”
Construction will proceed in six phases starting with temporary traffic shifts on CO 9 and I-70 ramps. Initial work includes building an underpass bridge between CO 9 and Dillon Dam Road as well as widening ramps and upgrading utilities. No full closures are planned during the first season; daytime work will run Monday through Saturday from morning until evening hours while nighttime lane closures may occur for specific operations.
CDOT recently launched an online resource page offering year-round driving information along with real-time road conditions specific to the I-70 Mountain Corridor. This page also highlights other projects such as West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lane Project and Floyd Hill upgrades.
According to the official website, CDOT works to improve quality of life across Colorado by providing integrated transportation solutions focused on safety, efficiency, multimodal access, environmental standards enhancement according to its mission. Lew serves as executive director as indicated by CDOT, overseeing transportation infrastructure statewide as outlined by CDOT. The department builds highways while supporting aviation grants according to its official site.
As per its website CDOT operates within highway maintenance as well as support for transit initiatives statewide.
