The New Pueblo Freeway
 The purpose of the New Pueblo Freeway project is to improve safety for north-south travel and to improve local and regional mobility within and through the City of Pueblo to meet existing and future travel demands.
I-25 through Pueblo was built between 1949 and 1959. As a result of its age and the design standards used, this segment of I-25 contains structural and operational deficiencies. Today, these deficiencies are evident through high accident rates, areas of reduced speed, traffic congestion, and poor traffic operations.
Alternatives
Two build alternatives were developed through an extensive community-wide public process that exemplifies Context Sensitive Design. The Alternatives were developed from the Community Vision for the project, input from numerous stakeholders, and thorough qualitative and quantitative evaluation of how well it meets the Vision, goals and criteria for the New Pueblo Freeway.
The two alternatives—the Existing Alignment Alternative and the Modified Alignment Alternative—differ only in the middle one-third of the corridor, where the Modified Alignment (illustrated on back) shifts the interstate east to enable improvements to the local street network along Sante Fe Drive.
Although a preferred alternative has not been identified yet, there is greater public support for the modified I-25 Alignment Alternative.
A summary of its features follows.
- I-25 will be six lanes, three in each direction from Eagleridge south to Pueblo Blvd. South of Pueblo Blvd. the interstate will be four lanes, two in each direction.
- I-25 will be straightened through Downtown and relocated to the east between Abriendo Ave. and Indiana Ave. This realignment allows the extension of Santa Fe Ave south to Minnequa Ave. Standard shoulders and acceleration/deceleration lanes are provided along the corridor.
- Interchanges will be reconstructed and include
- A diamond interchange at SH 50B with one-way frontage roads to 29th St.
- A split diamond interchange between 13th St. (north) and 1st St. (south). Frontage roads will be provided between the ramps at 13th and 1st. Additional exit ramps will be provided in southbound and northbound directions near 6th St.
- A split-diamond interchange between Abriendo Ave. (north) and Northern Ave. (south); one-way frontage roads will connect the ramps.
- A single-point diamond interchange at Indiana Ave.
- A partial cloverleaf interchange at Pueblo Blvd.
- Local roadway improvements are included at Dillon Dr., Santa Fe Ave., Santa Fe Dr. and other locations to enhance mobility and offer local travelers options for north-south travel without driving on I-25.
- Nonmotorized features include
- Sidewalks in many neighborhoods and on bridges crossing I-25, with connections to regional trails, parks and other features.
- A pedestrian bridge over I-25 connecting Mineral Palace Park and the Fountain Creek Trail.Other
- improvements include
- Restoring Mineral Palace Park.
- Reconstructing Benedict Park.
- Enhancing Runyon Field access and parking.
- Noise abatement along segments of I-25.
EIS Schedule
The Draft EIS is scheduled to be published for public review in Fall 2008.
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