End of North I-25 Express Lanes expansion project finally in sight

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·2 min read
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Lane-constricting concrete barriers are being removed, overhead signage posts are going up and most on- and off-ramps and concrete lanes are poured, meaning the end of the five-year, $750 million North I-25 Express Lanes project is in sight.

"Ninety percent of the total project is complete and we are still on track to have the project substantially complete by mid-December," said Jared Fiel, Colorado Department of Transportation's Northeast Region spokesperson.

The end can't some soon enough for drivers navigating the roughly 19 miles of Interstate 25 from the Berthoud exit to just past the Prospect Road exit in Fort Collins. Construction kicked off in September 2018.

Fiel said the final alignment of the new three-lane design (two general purpose and one toll lane in both directions) is largely in place, bridges are complete and mobility hubs are nearly complete. What remains are stretches of concrete lanes to be poured and tying in the remaining ramps to the interstate.

"People can start seeing and feeling how wide and open the new alignment will be," Fiel said. "Some stretches are basically done but we are waiting to open the new lanes all at once."

He said the current project widened I-25 enough for a future fourth lane in each direction.

Construction crews work on lanes of the North I-25 Express Lanes project north of Prospect Road in Fort Collins on Monday. The Colorado Department of Transportation says the 19-mile project is 90% complete.
Construction crews work on lanes of the North I-25 Express Lanes project north of Prospect Road in Fort Collins on Monday. The Colorado Department of Transportation says the 19-mile project is 90% complete.

When mobility hubs and tolling will begin

Fiel said the mobility hubs — one near Loveland and one near Berthoud — are planning to be operational by late spring or early summer of 2024.

He said a delay in receiving tolling equipment due to supply issues will push back when tolling is expected to start. Originally, toll testing was to begin in March of 2024, but Fiel said testing now is expected to start in the summer of 2024.

An express lanes sign and electronic message board have been erected above Interstate 25 just north of Kechter Road near Fort Collins, as seen on Monday. The signs are part of the North I-25 Express Lanes project.
An express lanes sign and electronic message board have been erected above Interstate 25 just north of Kechter Road near Fort Collins, as seen on Monday. The signs are part of the North I-25 Express Lanes project.

More construction slated farther south on I-25

Fiel said starting at the end of this year, work will begin on the stretch of I-25 from Colorado Highway 56 (Berthoud) to Colorado Highway 66 (Longmont-Mead area).

That stretch will mirror the section from Berthoud to Fort Collins with two general purpose lanes and one toll lane in each direction.

The project is scheduled to take three years to complete.

Fiel said the long-term goal is to eventually have two general purpose lanes and one toll lane in each direction from Fort Collins to Denver.

"We know people talk about the perpetual construction on I-25," Fiel said. "But thanks to everyone coming together and with local funding we were able to do one big project. That allowed us to open the segment from Berthoud to Fort Collins 14 years sooner than planned and Berthoud to Mead seven years faster than planned."

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Tired of the North I-25 Express Lanes construction? End is in sight