Washington, D.C. – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed an announcement that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will receive a $60.7 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to make improvements to Vail Pass on I-70. In March, Bennet, U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R), and U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse (D) sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao requesting full consideration of CDOT’s application.
“I-70 and Vail Pass in particular serve as an important gateway to outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, and skiing, and as a vital connector for trucks and freight movement,” said Bennet. “I’m glad DOT has awarded CDOT this grant to make important safety upgrades and reduce the number of closures of West Vail Pass due to inclement weather and vehicle crashes. This $60.7 million grant is welcome news for Eagle and Summit Counties, and all who travel on I-70 to access outdoor recreation and our mountain communities.”
The DOT grant will provide $60.7 million of the $140 million total project cost. This phase of the project will improve safety and decrease the number of closures by adding 5 miles of auxiliary lane, reconstructing two curves to improve substandard geometry, installing signage to assist with safety, upgrading a truck escape ramp, and installing wildfire mitigation safety measures.