The Town of Bennett along with Love’s Travel Stops (Love’s) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) celebrated an innovative new partnership, that will add 114 new full use truck parking spots along the Colorado Front Range, at a groundbreaking ceremony on September 28, 2022.
The Town of Bennett is excited to be a part of this innovative partnership to address the need for safe and secure truck parking along the Colorado Front Range. The Town is supporting Love’s addition of approximately 114 new full use truck parking spots to the current facility and simultaneously working with CDOT on the design of an expanded and improved State Highway 79 bridge that connects I-70 to the Town. By helping facilitate this partnership, the design of the new bridge is years ahead of schedule and both CDOT and the Town will have a ”shovel ready” project they can seek funding for. Construction on the new bridge will begin once sufficient funding is identified and secured.
“The Town of Bennett is growing very rapidly,” said Town Administrator Trish Stiles, “having our primary access point with I-70 upgraded sooner than later will allow the Town to continue to thrive and provide safer access for everyone."
Truck and freight safety is of key importance to CDOT, and having the additional safe parking along one of the state’s key freight corridor was a main concern for all parties involved.
"The Love’s truck parking facility is an important component of our transportation system, providing a safe environment for truckers when the highway is closed due to adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “With commercial vehicles representing up to 35% of all the traffic on I-70 between Denver and the Kansas border, facilities such as this one can help solve some of our most immediate transportation challenges and serve as a model for future public/private partnerships.”
This partnership could not have been formed without the support of the other organizations.