Crews are set to return on April 20 for the last construction season of the I-70 West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lane Project, according to an April 13 announcement from the Colorado Department of Transportation. The project, which began in 2021, is focused on improving safety and traffic flow along a ten-mile stretch of Interstate 70 between the East Vail Interchange and the Vail Pass Rest Area.
The completion of this project is expected to bring significant improvements for motorists and local communities who rely on this key corridor. The upgrades include new bridges, wildlife crossings, avalanche mitigation systems, and enhanced road surfaces aimed at reducing crashes and closures.
“As we enter the final season of this critical project, our focus is on a safe and successful project completion,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. “From new bridges and pavement to wildlife crossings and avalanche and rockfall mitigation, every element of this work will make Vail Pass more resilient, reduce crashes and closures, and provide a more reliable and enjoyable trip for everyone traveling the I-70 Mountain Corridor.”
According to the official website, Lew holds her position as executive director for CDOT. The department oversees transportation infrastructure across Colorado including interstates like I-70 according to its official website. CDOT builds highways as well as supports aviation and transit through grants according to its official website. It operates in highway maintenance while aiming for integrated solutions that improve quality of life statewide according to its official website.
This year’s work will focus on paving operations, completing six wildlife underpasses with fencing designed to reduce vehicle collisions with animals between mile points 185–190. Installation continues on an avalanche mitigation system at “The Narrows” (MP 186), which is intended to minimize extended interstate closures due to avalanches by allowing safe monitoring by CDOT staff. Roadwork also includes resurfacing westbound lanes with new pavement.
Traffic impacts are expected throughout construction: daily single-lane closures may occur along both directions; head-to-head traffic alignments will be used during some phases; rock-scaling activities could require periodic traffic holds; helicopter operations are planned from mid-June through early September but should only result in a few full-day holds; night work may increase later in summer. Motorists can stay informed via COtrip.org or by signing up for text alerts.
Major milestones already achieved include two new bridges at MP 185.2 built with improved curve geometry designed for long-term use; a dedicated eastbound auxiliary lane now separates slow-moving commercial vehicles from passenger cars over nearly three miles; reconstruction has been completed on almost two miles of recreation path alongside enhancements such as drainage systems protecting Gore Creek.
The broader impact extends beyond just travelers—by improving resilience against natural hazards like avalanches while providing safer passageways for both people and wildlife—and reflects CDOT’s goal toward effective multi-modal transportation that enhances environmental standards as stated by CDOT.
