Typical morning rush hour congestion on southbound I-225 at I-25. State officials say a re-striping project may ease this notorious gridlock pattern.
  • I225Traffic

AURORA | Traffic delays could be cut by half during rush hours southbound on I-225, thanks to a restriping project near the Denver Tech Center area.

Instead of building an additional lane – which could cost nearly $65 million – the re-striping project will cost somewhere around $1 million and take substantially less time, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

While just less than a mile of shoulder will be converted into a lane between Yosemite Street and I-25, CDOT believes the impact could be significant, as back-ups can extend more than three miles with the current set-up.

The project will last around a month, likely in October, and occur mostly overnight. CDOT recommends drivers watch for narrow lanes and off-ramp closures.

CDOT is also aiming to remove weaving from DTC Blvd. On-ramp traffic will be restricted from accessing I-25 southbound. The change will be noted by signage.

CDOT says the project is a pilot, and officials will monitor the effectiveness after the re-striping is completed, as it’s anticipated the project may cause more traffic elsewhere along a driver’s commute.

“With better traffic flow on I-225 southbound, traffic will enter I-25 northbound more quickly, which may slightly increase congestion on I-25 northbound,” according to a CDOT presentation on the project. “I-25 southbound is not expected to be impacted. Drivers should watch for slightly narrower lanes on I-225 southbound where the shoulder will be converted to a lane.”

Kara Mason covers local, state and national government and politics for The Sentinel. Reach her at 303-750-7555 or kmason@SentinelColorado.com.