Colorado transportation officials are proposing to invest more than $300 million across multiple transportation projects on the Western Slope over the next decade.

The Colorado Transportation Commission reviewed the state’s draft 10-year plan for Region 3, which includes Grand, Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Garfield counties, among others, during its meeting last month.

Major roadways in Region 3 include Interstate 70, U.S. Highway 40, U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 550, CDOT Region 3 Director Jason Smith told the commission, which is made up of 11 regional representatives who are appointed by the governor.

During the first four years, the draft plan allocates $132 million to the region, with an additional $198 million contemplated for the final six years of the plan, covering the period from 2027 through 2036.

“All CDOT regions are actively working to ensure balanced resource allocation across their diverse communities, while simultaneously addressing the state’s most pressing infrastructure requirements,” the memo states.

The funds allocated to Region 3 represent about 15% of the total $900 million that is expected to be available statewide for “strategic funding” during that decade-long period, according to a memorandum Smith and other CDOT officials wrote to the commission.

Transportation officials expect to present the draft 10-year plan to the public for review and comment in February. The Transportation Commission is currently slated to vote on adopting the plan in March.

Here’s a look at some of the Region 3 projects included in the draft plan:

I-70 interchange improvements in Garfield County

A proposed project would focus on I-70 interchange improvements in Garfield County. The draft plan allocates $7 million for this project in the first four years and an additional $16 million in the final six years. The project would focus on the interchanges at Exit 97 to Silt and Exit 105 to New Castle and may include ramp improvements as well as signing and striping improvements.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough money to hit all the interchanges,” Smith said. “So we’re being strategic here, trying to figure out what we can do. We’ve identified two interchanges that we feel are probably the worst ones. They back up traffic onto I-70 during rush hours.”

I-70 critical asset improvements in Garfield and Eagle counties

Another project would focus on repairing critical assets along I-70 in Garfield and Eagle counties, including replacing guardrails and paving with concrete throughout the Glenwood Canyon.

Some guardrails in this area are over 30 years old and are “deteriorating faster than we can keep up with,” Smith said. About half of Glenwood Canyon is also currently paved with asphalt that CDOT plans to replace with concrete pavement, which is “more durable and will last longer,” he said.

Under the draft plan, CDOT would allocate $11 million in the first four years and another $23 million in the subsequent six years to these improvements.

I-70 West Vail Pass Safety Improvements

The draft 10-year plan also contemplates continuing to fund safety improvements along I-70 at West Vail Pass.

The safety improvements would include adding a lane in the uphill, eastbound direction and a deceleration lane in the downhill, westbound direction, according to the draft plan. It would also include enhanced runaway truck ramps, wildlife underpasses and fencing.

The draft plan outlines $50 million in funding for these improvements in the first four years and $27 million in the subsequent six years.

U.S. Highway 40 Red Dirt Hill in Grand County

The draft 10-year plan also includes funding to continue the U.S. Highway 40 Red Dirt Hill improvements in Grand County.

The draft plan outlines about $10 million in funding for this project in the first four years, which would also be supplemented with regional funding. The improvements would include adding acceleration and deceleration lanes and widening shoulders in an area with a high crash rate.

“If you know where the YMCA intersection is in Grand County, it’s improving that intersection,” Smith said.

U.S. Highway 40 passing lanes between Craig and Steamboat

The draft 10-year plan includes funding for new passing lanes on U.S. Highway 40 between Craig and Steamboat, including $6.8 million in the first four years and $10 million in subsequent years.

Smith said this section of highway is a major commuter route that sees “a higher number of head-on crashes or bad passes.” Five locations have been identified where adding mile-long passing lanes would improve safety.

“Unfortunately, we won’t get all of them done with the funding we’ve identified,” Smith said. “We’ll try to stretch it out and do as many locations as possible.”

U.S. Highway 40 Fraser safety improvements

The draft 10-year plan includes $20 million between 2031 and 2036 for safety improvements on U.S. Highway 40 in Fraser. The improvements between Rendezvous Road and County Road 72 would include intersection upgrades, pedestrian safety upgrades and connectivity upgrades.