The Colorado Department of Transportation announced on Mar. 19 that drivers who exceed the posted speed limit in the Interstate 25 North Express Lanes work zone between Mead and Berthoud will face $75 civil penalties starting April 2, following a month-long warning period.
This enforcement aims to reduce speed-related crashes and improve safety for drivers, roadway workers, law enforcement, and other vulnerable road users. The program uses camera technology to monitor speeds in high-risk corridors such as work zones.
During the warning period that began March 1, more than 4,000 warnings were issued to speeding drivers. Excessive speeds in the corridor have dropped by 90% since then. “The goal isn’t to punish drivers; it’s to prevent crashes before they happen,” said CDOT’s Chief Engineer Keith Stefanik. “Speeding continues to be a contributing factor to crashes and fatalities in Colorado. Safer speeds save lives — it’s that simple.”
Preliminary data shows nine work zone fatalities occurred statewide in 2025—a decrease of about 70% from the previous year—while injuries from work zone crashes fell nearly eight percent compared with the prior year. Despite these improvements, a recent survey found that about seventy percent of Coloradans admitted to speeding on highways.
The I-25 North corridor is now the second area under active enforcement by this program after its launch last July on Colorado Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont, where excessive speeding declined by over eighty percent once fines were introduced. Eight speed cameras have been installed between Mead and Berthoud since late January as part of ongoing construction for new Express Lanes; signage alerts drivers at least three hundred feet before each camera location.
Revenue collected from penalties will primarily fund continued operation of the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program; any excess funds will support infrastructure improvements through the Vulnerable Road User Protection Fund. According to the official website, Shoshana Lew serves as executive director for CDOT, which oversees transportation infrastructure across Colorado including highways, aviation grants, and transit support.
