"Extra funding might lead to long-sought I-25 roadwork," The Gazette

September 26, 2011 11:48 AM

John Schroyer
The Gazette

Millions of dollars will pour into El Paso County transportation projects early next year, likely including a $36 million widening of Interstate 25 north of Colorado Springs along with resurfacing of I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and South Circle Drive.

That was the outcome of a meeting last week of the state Transportation Commission in Denver. The 11-member commission, which found itself recently with $215 million in extra funding, took a look at four possible spending plans.

The commission is leaning toward one plan that would contribute $31 million to the I-25 widening project. The other $5 million needed for the project would have to come from the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments.

Les Gruen, the commissioner who represents El Paso County, said his colleagues expressed “overwhelming support” for the favored plan, especially the $31 million to add two lanes to I-25 north of the city.

Both state and local officials have wanted to fund that project for years, he said.

“The key point is finally, after all these years, a little bit of money became available,” Gruen said. “The big challenge we’ve always had is how to fund it, because it’s so darn expensive.”

El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark, who chairs the PPACG, predicted that the organization’s board easily would approve the needed $5 million.

The $36 million would pay for only one-fifth of  a planned expansion of I-25, which eventually would add one northbound lane and one southbound lane from Woodmen Road to the Douglas County border.

The project is expected to cost about $200 million, said Tom Wrona, head engineer for the area.

Wrona calls the shots for CDOT Region 2, which includes El Paso and Pueblo counties, along with the rest of southeastern Colorado. He said once the money is allocated, the department will advertise the job to contractors, and work could begin as early as next summer.

The $36 million would add lanes to a four-mile stretch of I-25 from Woodmen Road to Interquest Parkway, said Wrona. The rest of the project, to the Douglas County line, would include a $100 million interchange at Powers Boulevard and I-25. Still, Wrona said the $36 million project is a good start.

“Probably, we’ll get the greatest benefit out of the first project,” Wrona said.

The federal government pitched in $102 million of the $215 million the commission is working with, said CDOT Chief Financial Officer Ben Stein. The rest came from various state and local sources, he said.

One plan of the four will be selected at the commission’s Oct. 20 meeting.

Even if the commission chooses one of the other three plans, none of which include $31 million for the I-25 widening, Region 2 still would receive at least $18.2 million for “surface treatment” work.

Some of that work would include resurfacing I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Circle Drive.

Each of the four plans commissioners are considering would dedicate $60 million to widening the eastbound tunnel of I-70, to the west of Idaho Springs, a minimum of $30.3 million for “Regional Priorities” and “Strategic Projects,” and at least $90 million to surface treatment.

The latter two would be divided among regions across the state.