Overview

I-70 improvement alternatives were initially developed based on input from the public and interested agencies and included transportation solutions that had been considered as part of previous studies in the project area. Through successively more detailed screening, alternatives were refined and evaluated using project goals and objectives. The goals and objectives were established through close coordination with government agencies and the public, and they are based on the project purpose and need. Alternatives found to be unreasonable or ineffective were eliminated from consideration. The screening process is documented in the "Alternative Analysis and Screening Process Technical Report", which will be available to the public upon release of the Draft EIS (DEIS).

Alternatives Still Under Consideration

The highway alternatives still under consideration in the DEIS have been chosen from an extensive list of alternatives suggested by the public, government agencies, and previous studies. Analysis indicates these final alternatives would have fewer adverse effects on the environment and the community, and are more effective at addressing congestion while improving safety, access and mobility than the alternatives eliminated from further consideration.

• Alternative 1 (previously named Alternative A) - Adding new general purpose lanes on existing I-70 alignment along length of corridor. Please click to view a detailed map of this alternative.

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• Alternative 3 (previously named Alternative B) - Adding a combination of general purpose lanes and tolled express lanes on existing I-70 alignment, with tolled express lanes added from east of Colorado Boulevard to Chambers Road, and general purpose lanes added west of Colorado Boulevard and east of Chambers Road. Please click to view a detailed map of this alternative.

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• Alternative 4 (previously named Alternative C) - New alignment beginning at Brighton Boulevard and extending northeast toward new interchange with I-270 near Vasquez Boulevard, then following existing I-270 alignment southeast to existing interchange with I-70. New general purpose lanes added to I-70 along entire length within project area. Please click to view a detailed map of this alternative.

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• Alternative 6 (previously named Alternative D) - As with Alternative 4, re-routing I-70 on new alignment beginning at Brighton Boulevard and along portion of I-270. General purpose lanes added from I-25 to Vasquez Boulevard on realignment, and from Chambers Road to Tower Road on existing alignment. Tolled express lanes added from west of Vasquez Boulevard to Chambers Road. Please click to view a detailed map of this alternative.

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Different options are being evaluated within the alternatives. These options include widening I-70 to either the north or south between Brighton Boulevard and Quebec Street on the existing alignment alternative, and two options for connecting the realignment alternatives to existing I-70 near Brighton Boulevard.

A No-Action Alternative is also being evaluated in the EIS.

Eliminated Alternatives

Several highway alternatives have been eliminated from consideration, either through the screening analysis, or after additional engineering and technical analysis. Examples of eliminated alternatives include:

Alternative:	Reason(s) eliminated:
Tunnel	Creates additional safety concerns, has substantially higher construction and operations and maintenance costs, may be a higher security risk, affects the same amount of properties, and has the potential for disturbing or encountering soils or waters that may have elevated concentrations of heavy metals. Click to view the Reasons for Eliminating Tunnel Alternative between Brighton Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard memo.
Below grade	Takes three more years to construct and requires closing access to I-70 at Brighton Boulevard, Steele Street, and Colorado Boulevard during construction. Also requires extensive pumping systems and modifications to the existing groundwater table.
Add level to viaduct	Limits the ability to access the upper level from arterial streets that connect to I-70. Also requires complex construction techniques that result in unreasonable costs as compared to other alternatives. The newly constructed viaduct was not designed for another level.
Enclose I-70 with a roof	Requires complex construction techniques that would result in unreasonable additional costs to provide a cover as compared to other alternatives.
Put I-70 at grade	Inability to provide access to community across new alignment, and need to keep the alignment separated from the existing railroad tracks.
Triple level section of I-70 (below ground)	Limits the ability to access the lower levels from arterial streets that connect to I-70. Also requires unreasonable and complex construction techniques that would include large amounts of excavation causing significantly more impacts to adjacent properties. This alternative would involve unreasonable additional costs to put two levels of the highway below ground as compared to other alternatives.
I-70 above and below with 46th Avenue at ground level	Environmental effects of constructing new alignment through South Platte River, and inability to provide connection back to I-25/I-70 interchange.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes	Lower forecasted usage in the special use lanes than tolled express lanes. Also, tolled express lanes are felt to better justify cost and potential effects.

  MORE INFO: Click here to view the Alternative Analysis and Screening Process.

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