The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor Zak Dirt will begin the I-70 Exit 203 Interchange Project in Frisco on Monday, April 20, 2026. Designed to improve safety, mobility, and traffic flow, construction is scheduled to continue through October 2027, with a planned winter shutdown from November 2026 to April 2027.
Current Conditions and Project Scope
The Exit 203 Interchange Project reconfigures Colorado Highway 9 (CO 9), Lusher Court, and Dillon Dam Road to reduce congestion, enhance safety and add bicycle and pedestrian connections. A key feature is a new frontage road bypass under Highway 9, which will link Dillon Dam Road and Lusher Court to relieve traffic near the interchange. Additionally, the project will introduce multi-use paths along the frontage road and across I-70, connecting to existing trail networks.
The interchange currently faces heavy peak-hour congestion. This project boosts safety and mobility by upgrading the westbound ramp, the I-70 bridge, and the eastbound ramps, while optimizing the adjacent intersection for better overall flow. Construction will proceed in six phases, beginning with temporary traffic shifts and lane reconfigurations on CO 9 and the I-70 ramps. Initial work focuses on constructing the underpass bridge, widening the I-70 ramps, and upgrading stormwater systems and utilities between CO 9 and Dillon Dam Road.
Traffic Impacts
Beginning Monday, April 20, 2026, motorists will encounter road work I-70 and Highway 9. Traffic impacts will include:
- No full closures: No full closures are expected during the first season of construction. During the day time hours, two lanes of travel will remain open.
- Daytime work: Work will occur Monday through Saturday from 7:00am to 7:00pm, with occasional Sunday road work as needed. No closures planned on weekends.
- Nighttime lane closures: Other than a short-term daytime detour on Dillon Dam Road for a sewer installation in early May, Highway 9 and I-70 lane closures will be limited to nighttime hours to reduce impacts. Night traffic shifts are planned on I-70 and CO 9 from 7:00pm to 7:00am for barrier placement and striping operations.
- Traffic switch: A temporary traffic switch for the I-70 ramps and CO 9 will occur during the first phase of construction. A “traffic switch” is a temporary change in lane configuration through a work zone, using barriers to guide vehicles into new travel paths. For example, if work closes the right lane, traffic may shift to the left and center lanes to maintain two lanes. These changes are usually smooth but may feel unfamiliar, so drivers should stay alert and slow down.
- Traveler safety: CDOT encourages motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to plan for potential construction-related delays and to follow all posted traffic switches and safety signage.
Project Information and Sign Up for Project Updates
- In addition to information found on the Exit 203 project page, CDOT recently launched a dedicated resource page for motorists traveling the I-70 Mountain Corridor. This one-stop source provides year-round driving information, real-time road conditions, and safety tips. It also highlights major corridor improvements, such as Exit 203 project, I-70 West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lane Project and Floyd Hill — while centralizing the best tools from COtrip.org.
- Call the project team at: 970-817-8647
- Email the project team: PublicInfoCO@gmail.com
- Sign up for project updates at: subscription.cotrip.org