1) Central 70 Project—Steadily proceeding toward a park over the highway

This drill is being used for the installation of caissons that support retaining walls and bridges. Nearly 1,100 caissons will be installed in the Central 70 construction project. Photo courtesy of Central 70 Project

To support retaining walls and bridges in the Central 70 construction project, crews are drilling and installing nearly 1,100 caissons, about 600 of which will support the park. The caissons are 65-85 feet tall and weigh 117,450 to 156,600 pounds. Roughly two-thirds of each caisson is underground.

With caissons in place, crews have been installing the horizontal beams that rest on the caissons—100-foot-long girders, each weighing about 150,000 pounds—to support the park that will be built over the highway between Columbine and Clayton streets. As of Nov. 9, 183 girders had been installed on the northern half of the park. The 4-acre park will require 328 girders. Crews will continue placing girders for the southern half of the park through early 2022. Once they are in place, construction of the bridge deck can begin and the park will be complete in early 2023. More info at https://www.codot.gov/projects/i70east/resources/cover_park

Remaining work at I-70 and Quebec will continue, and maintenance of I-70 between Quebec and Chambers, as well as on and off ramps, will require some overnight restrictions through early 2022.

2) What will Colorado get from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act?

A White House fact sheet on what Colorado will get from the recently passed infrastructure bill says, “For decades, infrastructure in Colorado has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Colorado a C- grade on its infrastructure report card.” The following list, pulled from the fact sheet, shows amounts Colorado will receive in each category:

• $3.7 billion for highways over five years
• $916 million to improve public transportation options over five years
• $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five year
• $432 million for infrastructure development for airports over five years
• $57 million to expand the electric vehicle charging network over five years (plus possible future grants from a $2.5 billion fund)
• $688 million for water infrastructure over five years to ensure safe clean drinking water in all communities
• $35 million for wildfire prevention over five years
• At least $100 million for broadband coverage (22% of Coloradans will be eligible for a benefit that will help low-income families afford internet access)
• $16 million to protect against cyberattacks.
• In addition, millions are expected to cap orphaned oil and gas wells, and
• Colorado will benefit from a $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization to reduce energy costs.

Download the fact sheet accompanying this article at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/COLORADO_The-Infrastructure-Investment-and-Jobs-Act-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Thanks to the office of State Senator Steve Fenberg for providing a link to the fact sheet.