Transportation commission shifts Glenwood Canyon project to 2028 – Garfield County, Colorado
Garfield County moved to a new web address in March. Find us then at garfieldcountyco.gov. Domains like this are more trusted, because only official governments can use them.
A passenger train climbs eastward following the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon.

Transportation Commission shifts Glenwood Canyon project to 2028

Shift reduces overlap between two major regional projects originally planned for summer 2027

CDOT PRESS RELEASE
October 15, 2026

Following extensive regional coordination and a formal recommendation from the Colorado Department of Transportation’s executive and regional teams, the Colorado Transportation Commission has approved $5 million in funding from the Transportation Commission Program Reserve to address inflation and cost escalation associated with the decision to move the I-70 Glenwood Canyon Phase 8 Project from 2027 to 2028.

CDOT leadership made the recommendation to delay the project by one full construction season to avoid overlapping major construction in Glenwood Canyon with the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Modernization Project, which requires a full closure from April 4 to Nov. 19, 2027. Boards of County Commissioners in neighboring Pitkin and Eagle counties submitted letters of support and appreciation for the change during the Transportation Commission’s public comment period.

Because airport travel is expected to shift to Eagle County Regional Airport — or prompt travelers to drive from Denver International Airport to the Roaring Fork Valley — deferring the Glenwood Canyon project is critical to maintaining traffic flow and supporting both the regional and statewide economy.

“When managing complex infrastructure corridors like I-70, strategic timing is everything,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Deferring Phase 8 to 2028 prevents compounding disruptions along this vital highway while the regional airport is under construction—protecting traveler safety, supporting Western Slope businesses, and demonstrating CDOT’s commitment to collaborative regional planning when unplanned disruptions may affect the wider region.”

Background on Glenwood Canyon Phase 8 Project
The I-70 Glenwood Canyon Phase 8 Project is the latest in a series of improvements to repair aging infrastructure and make this vital stretch of I-70 safer. Covering 16.5 miles in Garfield County (between Mile Points 115.5 and 132.0), the project represents a $101.16 million investment, including $1.46 million for design and $99.7 million for construction.

Key improvements include:

  • Smoother, safer roads: Laying a durable new concrete surface along the highway lanes and inside both the No Name and Hanging Lake Tunnels, updated pavement markings, permanent traffic crossovers, and new guardrails.
  • Bridge & structural repairs: Upgrading bridge decks, supporting walls, and highway structures throughout the canyon.
  • Better weather tracking: Upgrading weather stations at three key canyon locations to give drivers and maintenance crews better real-time road conditions.
  • Wildfire and mudslide resilience: Clearing remaining debris from the 2021 Grizzly Creek Fire and subsequent floods out of the Colorado River and building protective barriers — including debris fences, drainage channels, and secure access points — above the Hanging Lake Tunnels to prevent future mudslides from blocking the highway.

CDOT will continue to collaborate closely with Pitkin County, local municipalities, emergency responders, and regional transit agencies throughout ASE closure and beyond. This ongoing partnership will ensure robust traffic management strategies, clear public communication, and minimal disruption for residents, commuters, and visitors throughout the Western Slope.

For more information on the I-70 corridor through Glenwood Canyon, visit the CDOT Glenwood Canyon web page.