COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Construction on the section of Interstate 25 between Woodmen Road and Monument is slated to begin on March 1.

"CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is very excited about this project," said project coordinator Dan Hunt. "It's been needed for a long time now. The plan is to widen the road. It's an 11 mile project from Woodmen to Monument. We're gonna have 3 lanes in each direction."

By Dec. 31, the contractor is scheduled to be finished with lane expansion. However, due to the cold weather the final paving may not be finished until July 4, 2014.

"Well we looked at it pretty hard and we're doing some double shifts," said contractor Mike McDonald. "And we phased it such where we can work at two places simultaneous, which will allow us to expedite schedule."

Four bridges will be expanded in the construction zone. While the project corridor is 11 miles long in one direction, there are 75 total lane miles. At it's peak, 200 people will be working on the expansion.

Four existing lanes will not be closed during the peak travel times of 8:30 a.m., to 5:30 p.m.

"We're allowed to take one lane at night, but need to maintain two lanes during the day," said McDonald.

Local businesses are expected to take in $30 million for labor, materials and equipment, during the length of the expansion.