CDOT makes changes on I-70 near Ward Road after fatal accident

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will implement safety measures at the construction zone on I-70 near Ward Road in Wheat Ridge, weeks after a tractor-trailer rollover killed three people.

The semi-trailer dumped 22,000 kilograms of blue plastic pipes across the median strip of the highway.

The three killed were traveling in a vehicle. Family members identified them as Ruben Rodriguez, 33, Juliana Rodriguez Plata, 37, and Juliana's mother, Luz Melba Martinez.

On Monday, CDOT announced that the speed limit in the construction zone will be lowered from 60 to 55 mph. It will also put up new signs and install flashing lights to make the signs more visible to drivers.

Check out the video below to see what the road looked like before these changes.

A view of the I-70 construction site in Wheat Ridge, where three people were killed in an accident on August 15.

The full statement from the state Department of Transportation can be found below.

“CDOT's top priority is safety in everything we do. Following the accident, CDOT engineers assessed the site to see if more could be done to improve safety. The site has been set up according to proper safety protocols, but we will continue to lower the speed limit in the site from 60 mph to 55 mph and are working to install new signs by Labor Day weekend. To make the signs more visible, they will include flashing lights. Currently, there is an electronic sign above eastbound I-70 near 20th Street warning motorists of the upcoming lane change and slower speeds.

Drivers will be warned of the upcoming reduction in the speed limit three times by signs. There are currently two warnings.

Speeding is a problem on this and all other roads in the state. We urge motorists to obey speed limits and signs in construction areas and to drive according to conditions, maintain adequate distance from the vehicle in front and drive without distraction.”

Denver7 reached out to CDOT, asking for a face-to-face interview and the opportunity to see some of the new equipment being brought into the site. A spokesperson for the department declined, saying all they could offer was the above statement.

We then asked CDOT what impact the department believes the 5 mph speed reduction will have in the construction zone. Here is their response:

55 mph signs warn drivers that there is a construction zone that requires closer attention and a lower speed. The signs draw attention to the lower speed, which helps encourage drivers to slow down and heed the signs. CDOT will also install a speed radar feedback sign that will alert motorists to how fast they are going and prompt them to slow down to 55 mph. These signs draw attention to speeds in construction zones and give drivers immediate feedback to slow down. It is good for the driver to be aware of their speed.

For newer truck drivers like John Mezzacappa, driving through construction zones like the one on I-70 near Ward Road took some getting used to.

“Not good. Not good,” he said. “It's the ones with the curves.”

He said he was on high alert in these areas.

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“When you turn and the truck is bouncing and there are cars right next to you – you know, I'm afraid that, God forbid, it's going to tip over. You know, you're killing people,” Mezzacappa said.

The construction zone on I-70 near Ward Road has seen a number of accidents. Denver7 requested data from CDOT and learned that there were 165 accidents in the area between the start of construction to replace two aging bridges on I-70 over Ward Road in February 2023 and the day of the fatal rollover accident.

It is important to note, however, that none of these previous accidents resulted in fatalities. Nevertheless, the situation is worrying for truck drivers like Mezzacappa.

“Very nerve-wracking, very nerve-wracking,” he said. “It's not so much about me – it's about the safety of others.”

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Denver7 also reached out to Wheat Ridge Police for an update on the accident investigation.

A spokesman for the agency said it “will likely be weeks before we make a decision on whether or not to file charges in this case. We are working closely with the District Attorney's Office as we gather all the evidence we need to make an informed decision. We know people want answers and we appreciate the public's patience as we carefully investigate what led to the accident.”

What are the effects of reducing speed?

In 1974, the national speed limit of 55 miles per hour was introduced to encourage Americans to conserve fuel. As a result, speeds and traffic fatalities fell by 9,100 compared to 1973, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The national speed limit was repealed by Congress in 1995, and the authority to set speed limits was returned to the states.

According to a 2016 study, each 5 mph increase in a state's speed limit was associated with an 8 percent increase in fatalities on highways and a 4 percent increase on other roads, the NHTSA reported.

“The study estimates that there were 33,000 more traffic fatalities between 1995 and 2013 than would have been expected if state speed limits had not been increased since 1993,” the department's website says.

In construction zones, drivers who do not see workers or believe the speed limit is too low may not obey lower speed limits. As a result, extensive police deployment may be necessary to enforce the new limit, the NHTSA reported.

The costs of a permanent or temporary speed limit reduction are usually minimal and may include new signs, labor costs to install them, and media outreach to publicize the new speed limit.

Here is some background information onI-70 Bridges over Ward Road Project:

In February 2023, the Colorado Department of Transportation began work on the project to replace two aging bridges – both built in the 1960s – on Interstate 70 over Ward Road. Both had reached the end of their service life. This state-funded project is part of CDOT's 10-year plan. Lobato Construction was named as the contractor.

Once completed, it will help more drivers cross the I-70 corridor. The project is scheduled to be completed in October 2024. This project has been divided into four phases:

1. Phase 1: Erect temporary barriers, fill median strips between bridges and divert traffic.
2. Phases 2 and 3: Remove and replace both bridges and make safety improvements.
3. Phase 4: Resurfacing of Ward Road from W. 44th Avenue to the I-70 interchange.

The new bridges will be wider and more durable. They are expected to last approximately 75 years. For the latest information on this project, text “wardbridges” to 888-219-9094.