Why Interstate 70 Will Be Closed For The Entire Weekend

Interstate 70 will be closed for the weekend as the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) makes a "historic traffic shift" in Denver, reports 9NEWS.

The "Mile High Shift" will close eastbound and westbound I-70 between Washington Street and I-270 from Friday, May 21 at 10:00 P.M. to Monday, May 24 at 5:00 A.M.

During the closure, CDOT will move all six lanes of Interstate 70 traffic from the viaduct to the future lanes of I-70 in the lowered section of the project.

"The Mile High Shift will allow crews to then safely demolish the structurally deficient 57-year-old viaduct and build the future eastbound lanes of I-70," said CDOT.

While working on the Central 70 Project, CDOT announced that crews found seven fossils, including a camel, were found between October 16 and 19, 2020. They also found a tooth that dates back to the Ice Age. They plan to donate them to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

The Central 70 Project broke ground in 2018 and will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 70, remove a 56-year-old viaduct, add one new Express Lane in each direction, and lower the interstate between Brighton Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, reports 9NEWS.

Here's how traffic will be impacted this weekend:

• Westbound I-70 traffic: Head west on I-270, to westbound I-76, continue south onto I-25, exit onto westbound I-70.
• Eastbound I-70 traffic: Head north on I-25, take eastbound I-76, continue east on I-270, exit onto eastbound I-70.

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