Large grant given for I-25 'gap' project

An announcement was made Tuesday that El Paso County will receive funding for the I-25 "gap" expansion project.

"The Gap" is the 18-mile stretch of highway between Monument and Castle Rock. The project to widen that part of the interstate could start this summer.

A $65 million grant for the county was announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

"Sens. Bennet, Gardner and the rest of the Congressional Delegation stepped up to ensure that Colorado received awards for two critical transportation projects," said Mike Lewis, executive director for the Colorado Department of Transportation in a statement. "The public has made transportation a priority, and through robust partnerships with local jurisdictions and other stakeholders, we will save lives and increase travel reliability by delivering these projects. The administration clearly sees the commitment of Coloradans to their transportation system and the innovative methods by which we are delivering critical projects."

Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) also released a statement Tuesday.

"It's undeniable that our district needed this grant in order to improve the I-25 gap," Lamborn's statement reads. "The USDOT's announcement is a huge win for our entire region. As I've worked with the Trump administration over the last several months, my number one priority has been to secure this extremely important opportunity. I will continue working with this Administration to secure federal funding for Colorado's Fifth Congressional District."

Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) also released statements.

“I’m thrilled to announce Colorado will receive $90 million for critical infrastructure projects in our state," Gardner said. "Coloradans who commute on South I-25 every day or utilize I-70 to travel to the Western Slope and experience the beautiful public lands Colorado has to offer are all too familiar with the unbearable traffic on Colorado highways. These projects will help alleviate congestion on South I-25 and I-70 and help improve the lives of every Coloradan who travels our roads.”

"Colorado's infrastructure requires significant investment to keep pace with the enormous growth of new residents and tourists,” Bennet said. “These grants will help make improvements to the critical links Coloradans use every day to reach the high country and southern Colorado."

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