CDOT Closes Longmont's Airport Road Intersection with Highway 119

The move aims to improve safety on one of Colorado's busiest traffic corridors.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced the closure of the southbound lane of Airport Road where it intersects with Highway 119 in Longmont. This busy intersection has seen a high rate of sideswipe and rear-end accidents, with 85% of them resulting in injury. CDOT expects a 25% increase in traffic on Highway 119 by 2040, prompting the decision to eliminate the problematic left turn from Airport Road onto northbound 119.

Why it matters

Highway 119 between Longmont and Boulder is one of Colorado's busiest traffic corridors, with up to 45,000 vehicles using it daily. The dangerous intersection at Airport Road has been a source of many accidents, so CDOT's action aims to improve safety along this critical transportation route as traffic volumes continue to grow.

The details

The closure will convert Airport Road to two northbound lanes only, eliminating the left turn option onto northbound Highway 119. Drivers wishing to access northbound 119 from Airport Road will now likely need to take Nelson Road out to the Ken Pratt Boulevard and Highway 119 intersection instead.

  • CDOT announced the closure in March 2026.
  • Traffic on Highway 119 is expected to increase by 25% by 2040.

The players

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

The state agency responsible for maintaining and improving Colorado's transportation infrastructure.

Highway 119

A major traffic corridor between Longmont and Boulder, seeing up to 45,000 vehicles per day.

Airport Road

A north-south road on the west side of Longmont that previously provided access to northbound Highway 119, resulting in a high rate of accidents.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

CDOT's decision to close the problematic intersection of Airport Road and Highway 119 in Longmont demonstrates the agency's commitment to proactively addressing safety concerns on one of Colorado's busiest transportation routes, as traffic volumes are expected to continue rising in the coming years.