Colorado secures $112 million for transportation improvement projects

Upgrades to Colorado’s transportation networks are taking shape across the state thanks to a surge in federal funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation is investing nearly $112 million across 11 projects in Colorado, marking a significant influx of federal infrastructure funding to improve transportation safety and connectivity throughout the state.

The funding, made possible through various DOT grant programs, leverages historic investments from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. These programs look to rebuild infrastructure with a focus on sustainability and improved safety measures.

Across the country, states are looking to modernize aging infrastructure and adapt to changing transportation needs. With the help of federal funds, Colorado has a chance to improve both rural and urban mobility. The projects span from critical highway safety improvements to multimodal connectivity.

The largest single investment is a $40.5 million grant awarded to Otero County for the US 50 SHIFT Project. This initiative will install twelve passing lanes across five segments of the US 50 High Plains Freight Corridor between Pueblo and the Kansas state line, addressing critical safety needs on this major route.

The City of Greeley secured $29.4 million to convert two intersections along US 34 into grade-separated interchanges. The project, known as MERGE (Mobility Enhancements for Regional Growth and Equity), includes a shared-use underpass supporting regional trail connectivity and providing access to transit stations.

“This funding will bring needed improvements to regional connectivity,” said Greely Mayor John Gates.

Mesa County received $21.4 million for the Orchard Avenue Safety and Connectivity Project, which will construct ADA-compliant sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes and bridge replacements along approximately 1.75 miles of rural Orchard Avenue. The improvements aim to enhance safety and accessibility in this growing area.

Several smaller but strategic planning grants were also awarded, including $2 million to transform the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport into a regional mobility hub and $1.6 million for Commerce City to study multimodal connections along East 60th Avenue.

The investment package includes funding for crucial railroad crossing elimination studies, with Denver receiving $1.2 million to evaluate six at-grade railroad crossings on BNSF infrastructure. The City of Fort Collins secured more than $765,000 for planning grade separation at the Vine and Timberline intersection, aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety in the area.

Photo courtesy Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons