Glenwood Canyon Interstate-70 Project

Dubbed by some as “the crown jewel of the Interstate system,” the Glenwood Canyon portion of I-70 winds through the sheer cliffs of a rugged and beautiful landscape. Engineer designers worked with the public to address aesthetic and environmental concerns so that the important corridor westward of Denver would not simply be “blasted out of the landscape.” Begun in 1964, construction go-aheads faced various delays, with work completed in 1993. Engineers had to deal with unstable talus slopes, which were pumped full with grout when a solid base for bridges was needed. The highway employs a crack-free pavement with a 100-year design life.