Work will begin on Sunday to remove and replace all cameras, bulletin boards, lane-use signs and fiber optics in the Interstate 70 Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel, a project expected to last through the summer of 2024.
The direction of nighttime traffic will have to alternate from Sunday to Thursday, with complete closure of one tunnel bore at a time. Work will begin at 10 p.m. and last until 5 a.m
When one tunnel bore is closed, traffic on Interstate 70 in both directions will be stopped at the tunnel entrance. Traffic one direction at a time is routed through the open bore.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said traffic stops are expected to last 20 minutes. The delay is expected to be minimal as the work will be carried out overnight.
The project from CDOT and contractor Sturgeon Electric will upgrade the cameras and signs in the tunnel that CDOT’s Traffic Center uses to monitor the safety and health of travelers traveling through the Eisenhower Tunnel. The equipment is deployed 24/7 to monitor the tunnel and warn the traveling public of any delays.
Closures to the bores are necessary because the cameras and signs cannot be removed and replaced while traffic passes underneath. The work is being coordinated with other infrastructure upgrades at the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Work begins on I-70 westbound in the Eisenhower bore. There are no nightly full closures on Friday or Saturday nights or public holidays.
For more information about the project, people can contact the project team: codot.gov/projects/ejmt-infrastructure-repairs; information hotline: 970-704-8066; project email: ejmtunnelprojects@gmail.com.