If you plan to head into or out of Denver on Interstate 70 for the next two years, the Colorado Department of Transportation wants you to plan ahead and be patient.

Starting Wednesday rock scaling, followed by rock blasting, will begin on the segment of the highway between the bottom of Floyd Hill at U.S. Highway 6 and Idaho Springs.

The work is part of the Floyd Hill reconstruction project and is needed to replace bridges and realign the highway to straighten it to improve sightlines and traffic safety, according to CDOT.

CDOT advises that there is no detour and drivers should plan for extra time to get to their destination.

For the most current information on this work, drivers can sign up for CDOT text alerts by texting ‘floydhill’ to 21000.

Traffic holds can be expected every 60 to 70 minutes, six times a day, Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., during off-peak travel times for rock scaling.

Following the October scaling operations, rock blasting will occur once per day and up to three times per week, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. and noon. Blasting is expected to continue through 2026.

Traffic will be stopped for up to 20 minutes during each traffic hold. But depending on traffic, the delay may be longer, up to 45 minutes, for traffic to clear.

For rock scaling operations, westbound I-70 traffic will be held east of the Hidden Valley interchange (Exit 243). Eastbound I-70 traffic will be held west of the Veterans Memorial Tunnels.

County Road 314, south of I-70 and the Central City Parkway will remain open during scaling operations.

After completion of the rock scaling operation, during rock blasting operations, westbound I-70 traffic will be held as far east as Homestead Road (Exit 247). Eastbound I-70 traffic will be held west of the Veterans Memorial Tunnels. Traffic will also be held on Central City Parkway, County Road 314 and at the U.S. Highway 6 on-ramp to westbound I-70 during rock blasting.

CDOT recommends that travelers plan trips around the scaling and blasting schedules to avoid delays.

Additional information about this project:

• Call the project information line at 720-994-2368 (CDOT).

• Text floydhill to 21000 to sign up for text alerts.

• Email the project team at: [email protected].

• Visit the project website at: codot.gov/projects/i70floydhill.

Know before you go:

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org

• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp

• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts

• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures

• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones:

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.

• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.

• Don’t change lanes unnecessarily.

• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.

• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.

• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.

• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

• Allow ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.

• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public, according to CDOT. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download.