DENVER— The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) starts work on Monday, November 12, 2001, on the first phase of construction to replace the I-25 bridge over Broadway. With a structurally deficient rating of 23 (out of 100), the bridge is rated the worst on the state highway system.          Recognizing that there is still a tremendous financial need to complete the bridge and other transportation needs in the area, CDOT credits Colorado’s unified congressional delegation and more specifically, Senators Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Wayne Allard for securing nearly $8 million of federal discretionary funds to start construction.          The project, which is not part of the T-REX project, will build approximately one third of the framework on the south side of I-25 and the existing bridge. It will involve little impact to traffic on I-25. There will be initial impacts to traffic on Broadway though. The right lane of Broadway under and just south of the bridge will be closed for a period of four to six weeks while the roadway is widened to accommodate the construction. Once the widening is complete, crews will be working in the center lanes of Broadway (at the same location) to build the new pier. Traffic exiting onto Broadway from southbound I-25 will be limited to right turns for the duration of the project.          Southeast Corridor Constructors, the same contractor that was awarded the T-REX project, was the low bidder and was awarded the $8 million project. They expect to complete this phase by October 2002. Any additional federal dollars will go to the design of future phases.          “We’re very pleased to see this first project get underway.” said Tom Norton, CDOT executive director. “It’s a first step, but there are larger needs surrounding the Broadway, Santa Fe and Alameda interchange complex and we’re working to find a way to address and fund them.”          CDOT will begin an Environmental Impact Statement to look at ways to improve the safety and capacity of I-25 from Broadway to 6th Avenue in early 2002. That study is expected to take several years to complete.