Business, government leaders look to road money from $1T bill

FORT COLLINS — Colorado will get about $3.7 billion for roads and infrastructure after President Joseph Biden signed a $1 trillion dollar funding package Monday.

A press release said business and government groups will push for using some of the state’s money for “funding and construction of the north Interstate 25 corridor” including finishing express lanes on I-25.

Fort Collins Area  Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Ann Hutchison said Colorado’s interstates carry one-fourth of the state’s vehicle traffic “but the North I-25 corridor is [more than] $660 million short” of necessary funding. She said full funding would also tackle “the important air quality concerns caused by unnecessary congestion” on the roadway.

Weld County Commissioner Scott James called I-25 “the backbone and lifeblood” of Northern Colorado, and a connector highway in all directions beyond the state.

James also chairs the North I-25 Coalition and is on Colorado’s Transportation Advisory Council. He said the coalition urges the state to use federal funds to finish the I-25 express lanes work.

Sandra Hagen Solin with the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance called I-25 “the spine of Colorado’s Front Range, the essential freight corridor linking interstate commerce.” She said new state money should go to the express lanes project.

The press release noted that Northern Colorado businesses and local governments founded and continue the North I-25 Coalition’s work, including municipalities, chambers of commerce and several economic development groups.

Northern Colorado voters this month approved several transportation and infrastructure measures. And in October, a transportation roundtable of business and government leaders discussed the need for I-25 funding and air quality efforts.

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