If temperatures are getting warmer, it must mean construction season is here.

And that’s exactly what is about to happen as the Colorado Department of Transportation prepares to repave 6.4 miles of Interstate 70 from the Chief Hosa exit west to Floyd Hill. Paving will be done primarily at night starting on the east end, and before that work starts in mid-June, crews are replacing guard rails along that section of highway.

“This is the most heavily traveled part of the corridor,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew at a media conference on May 6.

She noted that about 61,000 vehicles travel the area each day, with 13,000 of them at night.

“Motorists will see better driving conditions along this corridor, but it will take construction to make that happen," Lew said.

CDOT’s Mike Kellerman explained that crews will use what he called the “mill and fill” method to move quickly through the repaving.

“We work to figure out how to get the work done while getting people to the mountains,” he said.

Lew noted that while CDOT hopes to start the $700 million I-70 reconfiguration project at Floyd Hill next year, the highway still needs to be repaved now. As part of the large project, this fall, CDOT will begin the ancillary projects such as building wildlife crossings at Genesee and Empire along with roundabouts along U.S. 40 at Homestead Road and County Road 65 at the top of Floyd Hill.

As part of this summer’s I-70 construction, CDOT will install variable speed-limit signs and truck downhill-warning systems on the eastbound side of the highway. According to Lew, the signs will keep traffic moving but have it slow when conditions warrant it.

In addition, tolls are expected to begin this summer for the westbound Mountain Express Lane.

CDOT officials reminded drivers to pay attention while driving, especially in work zones, to keep everyone especially the crews safe.