Two very different transportation projects are moving forward in Colorado and Maine, with one focused on a busy freight corridor and the other on helping moose safely navigate roads.
Colorado Moves I-270 Project Toward Construction
A major I-270 project in the Denver area is moving closer to construction after years of environmental review.
The Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have published the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for improvements along roughly six miles of I-270 between I-25 and I-70 in Adams County, clearing the project for final design and construction, according to CDOT.
The plans include two new general-purpose lanes and one express lane in each direction. The express lane will also accommodate transit.
The project also includes replacing 12 bridges, rebuilding the Vasquez Boulevard interchange, adding a pedestrian overpass and making improvements to ramps at I-76, according to CDOT.
More than 100,000 vehicles use the corridor each day, including a large amount of freight traffic, according to CDOT.
The highway was originally built between 1965 and 1970 and now has aging pavement and bridges, congestion and limited options for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users, according to CDOT.
Construction phasing is expected to begin in fall 2026.
Maine Works to Keep Moose Moving
In Maine, transportation officials are taking a different approach to roadway safety by giving wildlife more room to move.
The state is looking at ways to make it easier for moose to cross roads without coming into contact with vehicles, according to Environment America.
Moose-vehicle crashes are a recurring concern in Maine, particularly because of the size of the animals and the difficulty drivers can have spotting them on the road.
The Prestile Brook Bridge project in Caribou is one example of how the state is addressing the issue. The project includes a wildlife crossing along with a large culvert replacement, slope stabilization and improvements to fish habitat, according to MaineDOT.
The $4.76 million project received funding through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, according to MaineDOT.
The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2027.
The wildlife crossing is designed to give moose and other animals a safer way to move through an area where the roadway currently creates a barrier.
Source: CDOT, Environment America
