Breaking Ground on ‘New Pueblo Freeway’

Major construction will soon begin on the most dangerous and oldest stretch of I-25 in the state.

Members of the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the city of Pueblo, Pueblo County along with the contractor Flatiron Constructors and HDR, the engineering firm, kicked off a $88 million construction project with a groundbreaking ceremony off of Ilex Street.

Pueblo County Commissioner Liane “Buffie” McFadyen compared the part of the Interstate through Pueblo, built in 1949, to an old Willys Jeep.

“If I told you I had a Willys Jeep from 1949, a 66-year-old Willys Jeep — Wouldn’t you ask me how do I keep it running? Well, there she is. Our version of the 1949 Willys Jeep,” McFadyen said, referencing I-25 behind her.

Over the last 12 years, there have been more 2,200 crashes on I-25 through Pueblo.

The construction project consists of constructing new bridges on I-25 over D Street, the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railroad and Gruma Street. The bridges that cross over Ilex and Bennett streets will be replaced.

“You look at some of these old bridges around here and it’s amazing they’re still standing,” said driver Greg Kaumeyer.

New retaining and sound walls are also in the plans. Additionally, the on and off ramps on City Center Drive will be rebuilt.

“Drivers aren’t as courteous down here so it’s one of those things that you kind of have to force your way in or wait forever,” said Roberto Rangel, a driver.

Stephen Cordts, deputy project manager with Flatiron, said drivers shouldn’t expect to see lane closures on the interstate.

“Really the whole process is building the freeway offline to the east,” Cordts said. “We’ll just switch all the traffic at once onto the new infrastructure.”

Construction is expected to be done by the summer of 2017.