First closure of its kind in 5 years: Wheat Ridge police adjust for I-70 shutdown at Kipling, tell me about this news in (https://www.9news.com/article/traffic/first-closure-of-its-kind-in-5-years-wheat-ridge-police-adjust-for-i-70-shutdown-at-kipling/73-00360b4f-68c9-4d31-a49a-c8946b9f4d93)
19-09-2026
This news report covers a major traffic disruption in Colorado:
What is happening: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has initiated the first of two extended, full closures of Interstate 70 at Kipling Street in Wheat Ridge. The westbound lanes are closed from Friday night through Tuesday at 6 a.m. (shut down for up to 83 hours) to allow crews to complete repairs on the bridges over Kipling Street. This marks the first time in five years that CDOT has shut down an entire direction of I-70 for construction. A second closure covering eastbound I-70 will take place the following weekend.
Impact on Wheat Ridge Police:
Lost patrol routes: CDOT is prohibiting all trafficincluding emergency response vehiclesfrom driving beneath the Kipling Street bridge during construction. Because the department’s jurisdiction extends north of I-70, officers must take detours to reach certain service calls.
Advance planning: Wheat Ridge Police public information officer Alex Rose noted the department spent months coordinating with CDOT and local partner agencies to map alternate, fast routes.
Neighborhood enforcement: Police anticipate increased traffic congestion and a rise in calls as frustrated drivers cut through residential streets. As a result, extra enforcement is planned in neighborhoods to manage speeding and erratic driving.
Detours for Drivers: Traffic is being rerouted using West 44th Avenue, Ward Road, West 58th Avenue/Ralston Road, and Wadsworth Boulevard. During the westbound shutdown, the Wadsworth Boulevard on-ramps to westbound I-70 are also closed, with traffic detoured along West 44th Avenue to Ward Road.
Pre-closure Enforcement: Leading up to the shutdown, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office ran targeted speed enforcement operations on C-470, I-70, US 285, and Highway 93, resulting in 105 speeding citations (all 15 to 39 mph over the limit), several reckless driving charges, two impounded vehicles, and one warrant arrest.