Case Study: Delay Due to Unexpected Archaeological Finds on I-70 Mountain Expansion (Colorado, 2017)
Project Overview
• Name: I-70 Mountain Corridor Expansion
• Location: Colorado
• Year: 2017
• Project Size: $400 million
• Scope: Road widening and safety improvements through mountainous terrain
• Lead Agencies/Contractors: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) /
Category of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Environmental / Archaeological
• Project Delay
Summary of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
Construction was halted for several months following discovery of significant archaeological artifacts requiring careful excavation and regulatory review.
Root Cause Analysis
- Insufficient Pre-Construction Surveys: Archaeological investigations were limited prior to construction start.
- Regulatory Compliance: Federal laws required stopping work for artifact protection.
- Coordination Delays: Archaeologists and contractors had limited prior integration in planning.
- Scheduling Inflexibility: Project timeline did not account for potential archaeological work.
Impacts Due to the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
- Delay of 4 months.
- Increased costs due to archaeological investigations and work stoppages.
- Rescheduling impacts on subsequent construction phases.
Corrective Actions Taken
- Expanded archaeological surveys for future projects before ground-breaking.
- Integrated archaeologists into early planning and scheduling.
- Developed contingency plans for unanticipated finds.
- Improved training for site personnel to recognize potential artifacts.
Lessons Learned
- Thorough cultural resource surveys reduce construction interruptions.
- Early involvement of archaeologists improves coordination.
- Project schedules must include contingencies for environmental and cultural compliance.
Audit & Prevention: Project Control Questions to Ask on Future Projects to Help Control the Situation
- Are archaeological and cultural resource assessments complete and up-to-date?
- Is there a plan to quickly address unexpected findings?
- Are personnel trained to recognize and report artifacts?