money More I-25 closures are expected this week, but we have some good news about Kechter Road
There have been repeated closures of Interstate 25 in recent weeks as part of the North I-25 Express Lanes project, and this week will see more.
Crews will be installing a new overhead message board requiring a nightly closure of I- 25, according to a Colorado Department of Transportation news release.
The closing of northbound I-25 between Colorado Highway 392 and Harmony Road will take place 9 p.m. Tuesday through 5 a.m. Wednesday and 9 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday.
Northbound drivers will be directed to exit at Colorado 392 (Exit 262), turn right and continue east to Weld County Road 17/Colorado Highway 257 in Windsor. Drivers will then turn left and go north on Colorado 257 to Harmony Road, turn left and continue west to the northbound I-25 on-ramp.
Southbound lanes will not be impacted.
Crews in that stretch of the North I-25 Express Lanes project also are tearing up the old northbound lanes and bridges of I-25 in preparation of building the new southbound lanes and bridge.
The new northbound lanes in that stretch opened to traffic in December.
North I-25 Express Lanes project: Why does it seem to be taking so long?
Kechter Road on schedule to reopen in early May
CDOT said Kechter Road is expected to reopen on schedule in early May.
The road, which connects Larimer County Road 5 on the east side of the interstate to southeast Fort Collins, has been closed since Oct. 1. The closure has caused increased traffic congestion in the vicinity of I-25 and Harmony Road to the north.
Crews poured the bridge's concrete deck March 19 and are working on the bridge as well as roundabout to the west of the bridge at Kechter Road's intersection with the west I-25 frontage road.
The project includes installing a longer bridge to accommodate a widened I-25 underneath, the roundabout and new sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks and bike lanes in each direction.
The $750 million North I-25 Express Lanes project started in September 2018 and is expected be finished by the end of 2023.
When complete, the nearly 19-mile project from Fort Collins to Berthoud will add express lanes and inside and outside shoulders in both directions. It also will have replaced 17 aging bridges, reconfigured several interchanges and added public transportation, cycling and walking options.
Harmony Road/I-25 interchange: More development coming to the area
North I-25 Express Lanes project information
More information about this project is available at:
Website: www.codot.gov/projects/north-i-25/johnstown-to-fort-collins
Project hotline: 720-593-1996
Email: northi25expresslanes@gmail.com
Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to know about upcoming I-25 closures, Kechter Road construction
