CDOT’s I-70B East of Third Street Improvements are rebuilding Pitkin Avenue and Ute Avenue between Third and Sixth streets in Grand Junction. The project is scheduled to run from February 2026 to February 2027, with lane reductions, temporary pedestrian and bicycle detours, and business access expected to continue during construction.
1. What is being built on Ute and Pitkin?
The work is the Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-70B East of Third Street Improvements, also identified as Phase 7 of improvements along the I-70 Business corridor. It covers Pitkin Avenue (I-70B) and Ute Avenue (I-70Z) between Third and Sixth streets in Grand Junction. CDOT names Native Sun Construction Inc. as the prime contractor. This is separate from the City of Grand Junction’s 2024 Ute and Pitkin waterline replacement project.
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CDOT’s scope includes roadway reconstruction, concrete sidewalks designed for pedestrian mobility and ADA accessibility, drainage improvements, utility upgrades, new traffic signals, and landscaping. The 2025 final design boards show three 11-foot lanes on Ute and Pitkin, sidewalks 6 to 8 feet wide, landscaped buffers 2 to 11 feet wide, and new concrete pavement. These are design specifications, not confirmation that construction is complete.
2. How much does the project cost, and when is it expected to finish?
CDOT lists a construction cost of $13.8 million and a schedule from February 2026 to February 2027. In its January 28, 2026 announcement, the agency described completion as expected in early 2027. Treat these as the current agency schedule, not a guarantee; consult CDOT’s project page for any later changes.
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3. Why is CDOT doing this work?
CDOT says the improvements were identified in a 2008 Environmental Assessment to address congestion, improve access to businesses, and upgrade travel options for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Ute and Pitkin segment is one phase in a broader sequence of improvements along the I-70 Business corridor.
4. How will construction affect driving and local access?
CDOT advises drivers to expect Ute, Pitkin, Fourth, and Fifth streets to be reduced to one lane for most of the project. Additional temporary closures may affect Fourth and Fifth streets. The agency lists a 10-foot width restriction on Ute and Pitkin and a 25 mph work-zone speed. It also advises allowing up to 10 extra minutes of travel time.
Business access points are expected to remain open during business hours, but work zones and temporary closures may affect how customers reach them. For a specific destination, check current advisories and contact the business if access is unclear.
5. What should pedestrians, cyclists, and travelers check?
Sidewalk replacement means pedestrians and cyclists should expect detours. The project-wide guidance does not specify every detour route or day-by-day closure, and conditions can change from week to week. Check CDOT’s current project advisory and COtrip for live road conditions before traveling. For the dated agency guidance, see CDOT’s January 28, 2026 announcement; for project details and updates, use CDOT’s I-70B East of Third Street project page.
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