To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Bob Goebel, P.E., Director of Public Works
Title
Update/Presentation: I-25 “Gap” Project from Castle Rock to Monument
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The purpose of this item is have a representative from CDOT, Mr. Chuck Attardo, provide Council with an update and status of the I-25 Gap project between Castle Rock and Monument currently underway with CDOT. The current focus of the project is to begin construction later this year with several sequential construction packages. The “Gap” is the 18 mile segment between Monument and Castle Rock that is presently two lanes in each direction. There are currently three options for this “Gap” segment of the South I-25 corridor PEL project from C-470 to Colorado Springs that are being evaluated as part of the Environmental Assessment. First, is a no-build, second is the addition of a third general purpose lane, and third is the addition of a third variable toll express lane. Operationally, these three options have different outcomes and are being evaluated for the best option to address the defined Purpose and Need statement of the project and to meet environmental assessment goals. The following is taken directly from the CDOT web page:
Purpose and Need
“Enhance safety, reduce delays, and improve reliability for travel on I-25 through the 18-mile, four-lane bottleneck (the Gap) between Colorado Springs and the Denver South Region.
Improvements are needed on I-25 to:
• Improve safety and reduce crashes
• Enhance incident management, enforcement, and maintenance, including in inclement weather conditions
• Reduce travel delays
• Improve travel reliability”
More information about the project can be found at:
<https://www.codot.gov/projects/i-25-south-monument-castle-rock-ea>
The Town has representation on the Stakeholder Committee, the Technical Working Group, and the Steering Committee. All are seeking to improve safety and reduce/relieve congestion and travel delays of this important corridor, and promoting/improving current and future access points, including but not limited to the Crystal Valley/Dawson Ridge Interchange to achieve those goals.
CDOT is the sponsoring agency, and the Federal Highway Administration is the authority that will approve the environmental study, NEPA outcomes, and final Record of Decision for the project(s).
Notification and Outreach Efforts
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is working with local jurisdictions and Counties within the corridor. As Castle Rock is centrally located, public outreach meeting locations will included here. The Stakeholder Committee, Steering Committee, and Technical Working group all have representation from jurisdictions. A number of press releases and public open houses, listening sessions, and outreach have occurred to date. The Town’s web page includes a link to CDOT’s web page for ease of information access for residents.
Citizen participation is encouraged to help define the problem areas of this corridor.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
Most recently, the Denver south I-25 corridor received improvements at its north end with the completion of the I-25 Lane Balancing project that added a fourth lane between Ridgegate and C-470. The southern end in Colorado Springs was also widened in the recent past.
In 2016, the Town completed the Castle Rock Parkway interchange along the corridor that has successfully relieved congestion at I-25 and US 85 as a defined element of its Purpose and Need statement.
In 2008, the highway was widened through Castle Rock from two general purpose lanes in each direction to three. This improvement included the reconstruction of several I-25 bridge structures and the reconfiguration and reconstruction of the Plum Creek interchange. The reconstruction of the interchange was supplemented with a $10,000,000 cash funding contribution from the Town as well as our own improvements and extension of Plum Creek Parkway west to Wolfensberger and east to Ridge Road.
In 2004, the Environmental Assessment and Record of Decision (EA and ROD) were approved by CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the Crystal Valley/Dawson Ridge interchange on I-25 approximately two miles south of Plum Creek Parkway. In 2008, the widening of I-25 through Castle Rock accommodated this future interchange.
The Town and County representatives have been strongly encouraging that the Gap project continue to accommodate the future Crystal Valley interchange so that modification to I-25 would not be necessary, nor borne by the Town nor its funding partners when the time comes to construct it. Further, the Town has voiced concern through written comment regarding the transition from the existing south bound three general purpose lanes to the third option of two general purpose lanes and one express lane. CDOT and the consultant are currently providing significant effort in this area of concern to ensure the existing bottle neck is addressed and operations improved and sustained.
More detail regarding the project schedule, delivery method, option selection, funding, and other elements will be provided by CDOT at the meeting.