Floyd Hill Construction on I-70: What Drivers Need to Know About Accident Risks and Potential Liability

The I-70 Mountain Corridor carries considerable recreational, personal, and commercial traffic every day. As traffic volume grows, roads and highways that once carried cars and trucks efficiently struggle to keep pace. This can lead to unnecessary accidents as more drivers use roads that are not designed to accommodate as many vehicles.

This explains why in 2023 the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and state authorities launched the Floyd Hill Construction Project. This road improvement project aims to improve traffic safety and flow along a key stretch of the I-70 Mountain Corridor west of Denver.

What Goals Does the Floyd Hill Project Hope to Achieve?

One of the Floyd Hill Project’s chief goals is to reduce traffic congestion and gridlock in the project area. To achieve this and other overarching goals, the Project features the following:

1. Lane additions: A third, full-time tolled Express Lane travel lane carrying westbound traffic will be added from Homestead Road to Idaho Springs, including through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels. An additional eastbound extended auxiliary lane will also help heavy commercial vehicles maintain speed.
2. Realignment: Vertical and horizontal curves along the Project’s route will be straightened and realigned to improve line-of-sight issues, giving drivers a better view of the road and any hazards ahead of them.
3. Bridge replacement: Several bridges and overpasses within the Project’s boundaries have sustained heavy wear and tear over the years and will be replaced as part of the Floyd Hill Construction Project.
4. Interchanges, Ramps, and Roundabouts: On-ramps, such as the left-merge on-ramp leading from U.S. 6 to I-70W, will be relocated or reconfigured, and several intersections along U.S. 40 will receive roundabouts to help with traffic flow and movement.
5. Completion of frontage road: A two-mile stretch of frontage road will be added to connect U.S. 6 to the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchange.

Finally, the Project aims to achieve the above goals while also mitigating impacts to the environment and local wildlife.

Where is the Floyd Hill Construction Project Located?

The Floyd Hill Construction Project encompasses an eight-mile stretch of the I-70 Mountain Corridor. The project’s western end is Exit 248/County Road 65, west of Evergreen, and its eastern end is near eastern Idaho Springs, at Exit 241/Colorado Boulevard.

Major interchanges and highways impacted by the Floyd Hill project include the Hidden Valley, U.S. 6, U.S. 40, and Central City Parkway. The project will also impact the communities of Evergreen, Central City, and Idaho Springs, not only through construction noise but also through increased traffic from motorists seeking to avoid construction zones.

What Hazards Can Motorists Expect Around Floyd Hill?

Construction zones present motorists with various hazards, and one as expansive and long-lasting as the Floyd Hill Construction Project is no exception. Some of these dangers include:

• Changing traffic patterns: Temporary traffic lanes can shift in size and configuration as work on the Floyd Hill project continues. Even familiar driving routes can change, requiring all motorists to remain alert to temporary signage and traffic control instructions while the project continues.
• Compressed lanes and tight shoulders: Active traffic lanes in construction zones frequently feature compressed widths and narrow or nonexistent shoulders. This means even minor drifting or momentary inattentiveness can lead to a crash
• Heavy machinery: Heavy construction machinery like excavators and dump trucks may unexpectedly enter active lanes meant for regular traffic, causing collisions. Additionally, these machines may track loose rock and aggregate into active lanes, potentially compromising the road surface’s traction
• Reduced speed limits: Speed limits in active construction zones can be as low as 45 miles per hour. Inattentive or reckless drivers may miss or ignore these limits and collide with slower-moving traffic ahead of them.

Rock blasting is also a particular hazard of the Floyd Hill Project, and traffic can be delayed for 20 minutes or more during daytime hours. On- and off-ramps and lanes may be closed during overnight hours. Delays like this increase the risk of rear-end collisions from motorists who carelessly approach these traffic hold areas.

What Is the Project’s Anticipated Timeline?

The Floyd Hill Construction Project is massive. Work began in July 2023 and proceeded in three primary phases: East, Central, and West sections. The westbound lane improvements are expected to be completed in late 2027/2028.

Project managers hope to fully complete the Floyd Hill Project by 2029. However, unanticipated delays, including those caused by weather, can push this timeline back.

Who Is Responsible for Traffic Collisions?

Colorado operates under an “at-fault” car accident system, meaning the person who causes a wreck is generally responsible for paying compensation to those hurt in the crash. A simple accident claim succeeds when there is evidence that:

• The at-fault individual violated a legal duty of care that required them to act in a certain way;
• That violation, or “breach,” directly led to the collision or set in motion the events that caused the crash
• One or more individuals were injured in some way by the crash.

In construction zones like the Floyd Hill Project area, identifying who was “at fault” is often the most important – and complicated – task. There may be multiple people who share some responsibility, including:

• Another driver: The operator of another car or truck can be responsible if they violated a traffic law, drove while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or exercised poor judgment behind the wheel.
• The driver’s employer or other company: Trucking companies may be responsible for their drivers’ careless actions that lead to truck crashes. This category can include not just the company the driver is hauling for, but also cargo companies whose trailers are in disrepair or loaded carelessly.
• State authorities and contractors: Recovering compensation when a construction worker or contractor is at fault can be especially challenging, given the state’s Tort Claims Act requirements. These include filing notice of your claim to the appropriate state entity within 182 days of the accident and providing required information about you, the accident, and the compensation you are seeking.
• Others: The Floyd Hill Project is a heavily traveled area of I-70 with several communities along its route. Any person who commits a negligent act that leads to a crash can be held liable for damages, even if they were not driving.

A skilled Denver car and truck accident lawyer can obtain and review police reports, available video evidence, and other records to identify who is likely responsible. Your attorney can also ensure your claim is filed within Colorado’s two- to three-year statute of limitations, depending on the circumstances.

Finally, a skilled and experienced Denver truck crash lawyer will work with your doctors, employers, and others to ensure your past and future expenses are documented and supported. This helps ensure you recover the compensation you need to be made whole.

Reach Out to the Law Office of Steve Roberts Today for Floyd Hill Accidents

If you or a loved one are injured in any accident within the Floyd Hill Construction Project, contact the Law Office of Steve Roberts as soon as possible. When you retain our services, we will do the heavy lifting of compiling evidence and reports, speaking with witnesses, and submitting required legal filings.

You can reach us through our online form or by calling us at 720.515.7058.