Media Viewing Areas for US 6 Bridge Demolition and Closure

February 14, 2014 - Denver Metro Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - Full Closure of US 6 from I-25 to Sheridan Beginning Tonight

DENVER – Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, February 14, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) US 6 Bridges Design-Build Project will implement a full closure of US 6 in both directions from I-25 to Sheridan. CDOT anticipates demolition of the Knox Court bridge and Federal Boulevard bridge to begin between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Opportunities for media will be available at multiple locations.

Crews will work day and night during this closure to take down the Knox Court bridge, remove a portion of the Federal Boulevard bridge and relocate an overhead power line; activities that would each require separate highway closures. Crews will also remove about 7,000 feet of center median barrier and put temporary barrier in place to shift traffic to the south side of the highway. It would take about 20 nights to do this work if it weren’t done during this weekend closure.

Those wishing to view or get footage of the Federal Boulevard bridge or work on US 6 can be stationed at Barnum East Park off of 5th Avenue and Federal Boulevard. Those wishing to get footage of the Knox Court bridge demolition will be able to do so off of 8th Avenue. 8th Avenue will remain open and viewing of this bridge near the BMX bike park will yield excellent footage of the work being done and will maintain a high level of safety for all involved.

Additional weekend work will be done around the clock during this closure and these viewing areas will be ideal for getting footage of the progress throughout the weekend. All work for this closure will be complete by 5 a.m. Monday, February 17.

All major work for this closure will be complete by 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17. At this time, US 6 will reopen in both directions. CDOT will then implement a closure of the northbound I-25 ramp to eastbound 6th avenue. This closure will be in place for approximately six months. The work being done at this time will not affect the southbound I-25 ramp to eastbound 6th Avenue.

"This project will bring not only needed transportation improvements to west Denver, but it offers the opportunity to help connect neighborhoods on both sides of the US 6 corridor," said Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez.

The $98 million project will replace six obsolete bridges on US 6 between Knox Court and I-25, improve traffic movements in the I-25 and US 6 interchange and enhance driver safety by eliminating several traffic weave movements along US 6 between Federal Boulevard and I-25.

“We are very excited to get this project started,” said Kevin Sullivan, CDOT Project Director. “These critical improvements have been a long time in the making and will make the roadways much safer and more efficient for local residents and commuters alike.”

During the closure of US 6, east and westbound through traffic can use US 285, I-70 or C-470, while local traffic can use Alameda or Colfax Avenues as detour routes.

When the highway reopens Monday morning, travel lanes will be narrowed and shifted to the south, so motorists should drive with care. The following closures will also still be in place:

  • The Knox Court bridge over US 6 will be closed for about three months for reconstruction.
  • The Lowell Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound US 6 and the westbound US 6 off-ramp to Lowell will be closed for about three months while this bridge is rebuilt.
  • The Bryant Street on and off-ramps will be closed for about one year to build the collector-distributor roads on both sides of US 6.
  • The Federal Boulevard bridge over US 6 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction and the eastbound US 6 off-ramp to Federal Boulevard will be reduced to one lane.

All construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change. For updated project information, visit http://www.coloradodot.info/projects/US6Bridges, call 720-881-5540 or email [email protected]

The US 6 Bridges Design-Build Project involves improvements along 6thAvenue from approximately Knox Court on the west through the BNSF railroad track bridge just east of I-25.  The project, which was part of the I-25 Valley Highway FEIS completed in 2006, includes building new bridges over Bryant Street, the South Platte River, BNSF railroad tracks, I-25, and over US 6 at Federal Boulevard and Knox Court, as well as improvements to Barnum Parks and a realigned off-ramp from northbound I-25 to westbound US 6. Substantial project completion is planned for August 2015.