DENVER -- A "ceremonial" groundbreaking for the T-REX construction project was held Monday as the planned construction project begins its final countdown to construction next month.

While the groundbreaking takes place today, actual construction won't begin until Sunday, Oct. 14, at 10:30 p.m., according to T-REX officials.

The Downing Street and Emerson Street off-ramps from northbound I-25 and the Washington Street on-ramp to northbound I-25 will be closed on that date and will remain closed until sometime in 2005 (see map, below).

Also, North Buchtel Boulevard will be reduced from the existing three lanes to one lane, as crews begin utility, drainage and re-alignment work.

"The closure of the three I-25 ramps in T-REX North (I-25 from Broadway to Yale Avenue) will facilitate the construction work that will move the alignment of North Buchtel further north to accommodate the eventual excavation needed to expand I-25," said Karen Morales, T-REX contractor spokesperson. "The strategic long-term closure of these ramps has been requested by the City and County of Denver to help minimize the potential for cut-through traffic in the surrounding neighborhoods and to reduce use of Buchtel during construction. The ramps also will be rebuilt during the closure."

Once the ramps are closed, motorists traveling northbound on I-25 will need to exit at either University Boulevard or Lincoln Street, or continue on to other downtown exits further north on I-25.

For additional information on upcoming construction activities, the public can access the most recent T-REX Weekly Construction Report and the T-REX Daily Construction Update on the Web at www.trexproject.com, under the "Construction Schedule and Information" section, or call (303) 786-TREX for information 24 hours a day.