THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — Wednesday night, the Colorado Department of Transportation held an open media town hall as it looks to make a stretch of Interstate 25 safer.
As part of the “study phase,” CDOT is exploring ways to improve a five-mile stretch of the highway, from US 36 to 104th Avenue.
CDOT has noted a steady increase in congestion crashes since 2012 — mainly rear-end collisions that are typically associated with congestion. The agency said buses serving Thornton Park-n-Ride are causing safety and operational issues as they weave off off ramps to access the I-25 north Express Lanes.
Additionally, CDOT expects traffic volumes, supported by increasing population and employment, to exceed capacity by 2050.
CDOT suggests facilitating traffic by:
- Shoulder breadth and Express Lane buffer
- Add a northbound climbing lane for trucks between Interstate 270 and 104th Street
- Add auxiliary lanes to improve traffic flow between intersections from 84th Street to Thornton Parkway
- Add a fourth general-purpose lane heading south between 84th and 104th Streets
- Replace the 88th Avenue Bridge with a bridge that has the space necessary to accommodate multimedia features
- Realignment of the River Creek Trail and replacement of the Thornton Park-n-Ride pedestrian tunnel and bike lane
- Remove I-25 bus ramps at Thornton Park-n-Ride
The study and design phase will continue until late fall of 2026. More information can be found on the project hotline at 720-378-8859 or Project page here.