CDOT warns motorists to expect delays as drivers adjust to detours.

The Steele Street on-ramp to westbound Interstate-70 was scheduled to close this morning, November 9, as part of the Colorado Department of Transportation's Central 70 Project. The on-ramp will not re-open until next summer.

Crews will now begin demolition of the ramp and rebuild it into its new final alignment, CDOT said. When completed, the ramp will carry drivers into the new lowered section of I-70.

Know Before You Go! The Steele Street on-ramp to westbound I-70 will be CLOSED starting Monday, Nov. 9 through summer 2021 for construction crews to rebuild this ramp. Please detour to Colorado Boulevard to access westbound I-70 and drive safely! #central70project pic.twitter.com/FRTXb0o6kt

— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) November 7, 2020

Detours will take southbound motorists east on 48th Ave. to southbound Colorado Blvd. and then to westbound I-70. Northbound motorists will go eastbound I-70, exit at Colorado Blvd. and turn left to northbound Colorado Blvd. to westbound I-70. The department said motorists should expect delays as the public adjusts to detours. 

"The Central 70 Project team thanks the public for their patience and asks all motorists to please drive safely," CDOT said in a statement.

The work is weather dependent and subject to change.

The Central 70 Project aims to reconstruct and modernize the stretch of highway between Interstate-25 and Chambers Road, which carries more than 200,000 vehicles each day. The project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70 between Brighton Blvd. and Chambers, add a new express lane in each direction, remove the aging viaduct, lower the road between Brighton and Colorado boulevards, and place a 4-acre park over a portion of the lowered interstate. The entire project is expected to cost $1.2 billion and is expected to be completed in 2022.

Motorists can sign up to receive project updates by texting "Central70" to 77948.