The Colorado Department of Transportation started construction on a project to install 66 new traffic cameras across the state, many of them in remote mountain areas where real-time highway views help drivers navigate changing conditions.

Work began March 30 at locations in south-central Colorado, including the intersection of U.S. Highway 24 and U.S. 285 at Antero Junction, U.S. 24 near Manitou Springs and Cascade Canyon, and Colorado Highway 67 near Cripple Creek, according to a news release. Most construction will take place off the roadway, so drivers should experience minimal disruption.

The $1 million project is contracted to Lighthouse Transportation Group, LLC, a Colorado-based traffic signal and intelligent transportation systems contractor certified by CDOT. The work is scheduled to run through October 2027, with the new cameras expected to go live by fall 2027. A project map showing planned sites is available on the CDOT website.

The new cameras will help replace some of the roughly 90 operational units removed in July 2025 when the contract with LiveView Technologies, headquartered in Sandy, Utah, expired. The department said the transition to a fully state-owned and state-managed network will address longstanding performance issues with previously contracted coverage.

Public feedback helped identify where travelers most often use the cameras. CDOT continues evaluating additional locations for similar improvements as part of its longer-term network modernization, according to the release.

In areas where coverage is critical, the department installed solar-powered cameras on existing infrastructure and placed cameras on portable trailers at priority spots. These installations provide temporary, cost-effective and resilient coverage while permanent installations continue across the state, according to CDOT.

In a statement, Hannah Matthews, spokesperson for LiveView Technologies, told The Denver Gazette: “LVT is proud of the service we provided to the State of Colorado. While early reports suggested performance issues, CDOT updated its official statement to clarify that the contract ended due to ‘cost and contract limitations’ as the state transitions to a state-owned system.”

“Regarding service allegations, any challenges were tied to extreme geographical limitations, such as remote canyons with limited cellular coverage,” Matthews said. “In addition, extreme weather conditions were rough on aging equipment.”

Department officials said that the new state-owned network will deliver long-term reliability, cost savings and greater operational control. Drivers can continue to access the existing camera feeds through COtrip.org, where roughly 1,000 cameras remain operational on interstates and major corridors.