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

  1. Expanded archaeological surveys for future projects before ground-breaking.
  2. Integrated archaeologists into early planning and scheduling.
  3. Developed contingency plans for unanticipated finds.
  4. 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?
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