Public Invited to Hearing for New Pueblo Freeway

October 2, 2013 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - PUEBLO – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are holding a public hearingtomorrow regarding the Interstate 25 New Pueblo Freeway Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

Citizens are invited to attend the hearing on Thursday, October 3, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rawlings Library, 100 East Abriendo Avenue.  It is being held in the Ryals Special Event Room on the fourth floor. The hearing begins with an open house session with displays set up for viewing and project team members available to answer questions.  An informational presentation takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

A court reporter is documenting the hearing. Citizens are encouraged to attend and provide verbal or written comments on the FEIS.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety on I-25 through Pueblo by replacing deteriorating roadways and bridges, and improving local and regional mobility to meet existing and future travel demands.  Two alternatives were developed through an extensive community-wide public process and input from numerous stakeholders.  Some key improvements include:

  • Widening the highway to three through-lanes in each direction between 29th Street and Indiana Avenue
  • Straightening I-25 through downtown
  • Reconstructing interchanges to improve safety and traffic flow
  • Adding or widening shoulders
  • Constructing trails and bridges to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety

Reconstructing I-25 between Ilex and 1st Streets is the first priority following a Record of Decision (ROD) on the FEIS.

The FEIS has been revised to address new information discovered since the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in November 2011. Public and Agency comments on the DEIS also have been addressed in the FEIS.  It was released for public review and comment on September 13, 2013.

Those unable to attend the public hearing are encouraged to review the FEIS online and submit comments at www.i25pueblo.com through October 15.    A copy of the document also is available for review at several locations or repositories listed on the website.  Comments can be mailed to Joe DeHeart, CDOT, 905 Erie Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81001.

All comments received at the public hearing and during the review period will be addressed and considered in the Record of Decision, scheduled for completion in early 2014.  For more information on the release of the ROD, contact Joe DeHeart at [email protected] or (719) 546-5439.

Please contact Public Involvement Specialist Glenn Ballantyne at (719) 406-5800 or via email at [email protected] if you need transportation to and from the hearing or require accommodations due to a disability.

For media inquiries, please contact Bob Wilson, CDOT’s Communications Manager, at (303)757-9431 or [email protected].

Por favor, contactar a Glenn Ballantyne, el contacto para el proyecto, al (719)543-1766 o al [email protected] si se necesita la traducción al  espanol durante la reunion  transporte a la reunion, o se requiere asistencia por una disabilidad.