CDOT holding public open house Thursday on I-70 West Vail Pass improvements

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is holding a public open house in Vail Thursday on its Environmental Assessment of improvements to operations along Interstate State 70 on West Vail Pass.

Here’s a press release from CDOT on the meeting, which will be held Thursday, Feb. 22 at Vail’s Donovan Pavilion:

Public Open House scheduled this Thursday for West Vail Pass safety improvements

VAIL/EAGLE COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently began an Environmental Assessment (EA) study to improve safety and operations on I-70’s West Vail Pass. This study will investigate existing and future transportation conditions, develop and analyze potential improvements, and identify a preferred alternative to move into preliminary design.

A public open house is planned:

When: Thursday, February 22, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Donovan Pavilion, 1600 S. Frontage Road West, Vail.

Members of the public are invited to attend to learn about the project, provide suggestions regarding necessary improvements, and talk with members of the project team. No formal presentation is planned. Public and stakeholder input and involvement is essential during this planning effort, and community member input will inform decision-making throughout this project.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

An eastbound and westbound auxiliary lane from the East Vail exit to the Vail Pass rest area on I-70 was recommended in a broad-scale study of the I-70 mountain corridor in 2011. The EA will study the benefits and impacts of these additional lanes and other safety and operational improvements on West Vail Pass. Final design and construction will follow as funding becomes available.

For those unable to attend the meeting in person, the meeting’s graphic displays will be made available on the project web page beginning February 22. Comments can be submitted anytime via an online comment form. To view the graphics, submit comments, or to join the project mailing list, visit www.codot.gov/projects/I-70-West-Vail-Auxiliary-Lanes.

STUDY INFORMATION: For more information on the I-70 West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lanes project, visit www.codot.gov/projects/I-70-West-Vail-Auxiliary-Lanes.