Government council moves forward with I-25 improvements in Pueblo

Reconstruction is going to happen on a part of I-25 that a group of government officials in Pueblo said is dangerous.

The Pueblo Area Council of Governments moved forward Thursday to spend more than $8 million to repair I-25 from 1st Street to Ilex Street.

The money is split between city, county and local governments.

County Commissioner Liane “Buffie” McFadyen said this portion of I-25 is the oldest stretch of interstate highway in Colorado.

She said the interstate can be hard to get on during rush hour or when there is traffic, plus repairs need to be made on I-25 since there are cracks and even pieces of concrete falling off.

The group hopes work can be done on I-25 by early 2016. McFayden said even though work could cause delays on the interstate, it will be worth it in the end.

“We will have to be a very patient group of people in Pueblo, but very exciting because of all the safety improvements will save lives,” she said.

The money would also go toward rehabilitating bridges on Indiana Avenue, Northern Avenue, Mesa Avenue, I-25 over Santa Fe Drive and Santa Fe Drive over the Arkansas River.