Greedenlo

Soon, the Front Range is just going to be one mega-city. From Greeley to Pueblo.

I-25 to grow sideways in northern Colorado

Last year, the first phase of the project widened I-25 by one lane in both directions from state Highways 7 to 52.

CDOT Executive Director Tom Norton says the next step is to "improve another five miles of I-25 in each direction from Longmont into the Denver metro area."

Construction from state Highways 52 to 119 is expected to wrap up in 2008.

Right now, the northern corridor carries more than 70,000 vehicles a day and, according to CDOT, that number is expected to double by 2030.

"We are dedicated to making this corridor safer and more efficient," said Norton.

However, CDOT says drivers should not expect this project to be a cure all.

"We know; we've learned you can't pave your way out of congestion," said RTD Director Karla Harding.

In addition to constructing more lanes, CDOT is also looking at alternatives to decrease the flow of traffic along the north I-25 corridor. Those include, installing commuter rail along US 287 and adding tolled Express Lanes for Bus Rapid Service in the median.