Info | Mead I-25 / WCR 38 Interchange

Welcome to the project information page for the I-25 & WCR 38 Interchange Study. The Town of Mead, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Weld County, is studying a new, full-access interchange on Interstate 25 at Weld County Road 38. This project will establish a critical new connection in a rapidly growing region, enhancing safety, managing future congestion, and improving access for residents, businesses, and emergency services.

This website is your central hub for information. Here you can learn why the project is needed, explore the interchange alternatives being considered, review key documents, and provide your valuable feedback to the project team.

Why Here? Why Now? Solving Today's and Tomorrow's Challenges

This project is driven by four key needs identified in the official Project Purpose and Need Statement:

Manage Congestion: With Weld County's population projected to grow by 64% by 2050, the existing interchanges at CO 56 and WCR 34 cannot handle the demand. Without this project, traffic at these locations is expected to increase by over 400%, resulting in gridlock-level congestion (Level of Service "F") and hazardous backups onto I-25.
Improve Access & Emergency Response: A five-mile gap currently exists between interchanges, making I-25 a major barrier. When the WCR 34 bridge was temporarily closed for three months in 2022, emergency response times east of I-25 doubled. A new interchange is vital for providing reliable and redundant access for fire, police, and medical services.
Enhance Safety: The WCR 38 corridor and this segment of I-25 have a high potential for crash reduction. Congestion is a major contributing factor to crashes in the area, particularly rear-end collisions.
Connect Our Community: The project will provide a safe and convenient way for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross I-25, connecting to planned regional trails and promoting multimodal travel, a key goal of the Town of Mead's Trails Master Plan.

The Evaluation Process: Finding the Right Solution

The project team followed a multi-level screening process required by CDOT to identify the best possible interchange design. An initial list of 11 alternatives was evaluated in a Level 1 Screening to eliminate designs with fatal flaws. The remaining nine alternatives then underwent a more detailed Level 2 Screening, which has resulted in three final alternatives being carried forward for detailed study and public input.

The Final Three Alternatives Under Consideration:

Standard Diamond: A traditional and familiar interchange design. — **Standard Diamond:** A traditional and familiar interchange design.

Folded Diamond: Similar to a standard diamond, but with a smaller footprint to reduce impacts — **Folded Diamond:** Similar to a standard diamond, but with a smaller footprint to reduce impacts

Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI): An innovative design that improves safety and traffic flow by eliminating left turns across opposing traffic. — **Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI):** An innovative design that improves safety and traffic flow by eliminating left turns across opposing traffic.

Project Schedule

We Want to Hear From You!

Public involvement is a critical part of this process. Your feedback will help us select the best interchange for our community's future. Please use the tools on this page to share your thoughts on the alternatives, ask questions, and sign up for project updates.

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