Colorado DOT has decided to proceed with a DBFOM procurement for its underfunded I-70 East express lanes project in Denver based on Macquarie Capital’s prediction of large design-build savings on availability payment P3s.

CDOT is counting on $270 million in innovation savings from P3 delivery to build a $1.4-billion project with $1.17 billion in public funds, says Ben Stein, Director of CDOT’s Office of Major Project Development. That’s a 16.5% capital cost savings, “and we’re expecting to get more than that,” he says, which will allow CDOT to add scope.