by Public Information
comments open from August 19 until September 7

As the summer winds down, work on the West Corridor continues to progress. By the end of summer, strands of rail will be welded along the guideway for placement at a later date.

Current and Ongoing Activities in Area 1 (Jeffco Government Center to Denver Federal Center):
>> The retaining wall at the Jeffco Government Center expands every day and what was once a hillside now resembles a concrete hedge. When the wall is completely constructed, the final finish will be applied to blend the structure into the existing landscape. You can watch the construction project on the campus of the Jefferson County Government Center live through our Media-on-Demand page. Just click the link at the top of the page.

>> Work is in full throttle on Ulysses Street, with retaining wall construction moving at a rapid pace. A new storm sewer system will also be built under Ulysses and the final activity will be rebuilding Ulysses Street to match back to 6th Avenue.

>> The 6th Avenue westbound off-ramp has been relocated to eastbound Colfax. The new ramp sits under the Colfax light rail bridge. The traffic configuration on Colfax is now final and future traffic impacts should be minimal.

>> There’s light at the end of the tunnel! Crews have excavated about 15 feet of the tunnel under I-70 and the approach walls are in place. Crews continue to work under I-70 to complete the excavation and install the final wall panels for the future light rail tunnel.

>> The concrete deck on the light rail bridge over Indiana Street is being poured in sections. To accommodate equipment and manpower, this will require lane closures on 6th Avenue and Indiana. Watch for updates on the latest closures related to this portion of the project. Eastbound and westbound traffic on 6th Avenue will be detoured off the highway at Indiana, but will be able to cross Indiana and get right back onto 6th Avenue. Once the entire deck is in place, crews will begin installing the emergency sidewalks, curbs and fencing.

>> Preliminary work on the Red Rocks passenger station has begun with electrical and communication conduits in place and stem walls taking shape.

Upcoming Activities
All activities in Area 1 will continue through the summer, as well as grading, slope reconstruction and sub-ballast installation. Construction of the parking garage at Jeffco could begin in early September.

To get the latest information on construction and road closures, connect to the West Corridor Web site.

Information contained in this post adapted from the FasTracks newsletter.

by Jeanie Rossillon, Transportation & Engineering Division Assistant Director
comments open from May 13 until June 1

Jefferson County has identified two curves on Golden Gate Canyon Road for improvements this year. These improvements will increase the safety to those traveling that road and provide an easier way for Jefferson County to maintain the area.

The first curve when entering the canyon from State Highway 93 (curve one), has an existing large rock overhang that is in need of rock bolting and scaling. In addition, a safety buffer will be created by moving the road out to the east and placing Jersey barriers between the vehicles and the safety area. This safety area will be approximately twelve feet wide and will provide an area for rocks to fall. The county will then be able to remove this debris safely without closing the road.

The next curve to the west (curve two) is the next part of the project. At this location there is a pinch point with a rock outcrop right next to the shoulder where several large rocks have dislodged and can move or fall at any time. Currently, there is no shoulder, but this removal project will to provide a safe fall zone between the rock and vehicular traffic.

In addition to this rock removal, the areas around curve one and curve two will receive rock scaling to remove potentially loose rock from falling on the road or the traveling public. The county has hired a professional rock stabilization company who is highly experienced at knowing how and when a rock needs to be removed or supported by anchors.

Construction is expected to cost $250,000 and will be funded through traffic impact fees collected for Golden Gate Canyon Road.

Rock scaling operations on the cliff face sections began on April 26 and were completed on May 7. Rock removal from the interior face of curve two, intended to improve driver sight distances, began on May 11 with the first of three scheduled rock blasts. Overall the project is on schedule and all construction work should be completed by the June 1.

For more information on the Transportation & Engineering department or projects currently being worked on, please see the T&E website.

by Public Information
comments open from April 16 until May 5

Now into April, the West Corridor is seeing milestones being met and construction hitting its highest peak since June 2009.

Sixth Avenue Bridge Roll-Out
The West Corridor “signature bridge” will be rolled across 6th Avenue the weekend of Friday, April 23, through Sunday, April 25. This activity will require the complete shutdown of 6th Avenue between Simms/Union and Kipling. The frontage road between Simms/Union and Quail Street will also be shut down through the weekend.

The eastbound on-ramp from Simms/Union will shut down at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23. One eastbound lane will close at 8:00 p.m. and by 10:00 p.m. all lanes of traffic, both eastbound and westbound, will be closed. By midnight, on Saturday, April 24, the frontage road will close, eliminating all traffic through the construction zone.

Early Saturday morning, April 24, the bridge should begin rolling across the highway. It could take as long as 30 hours to completely maneuver across all lanes of traffic. Once the bridge is anchored to the existing structure on the north side, crews will demobilize and reopen 6th Avenue and the frontage road by 5:30 a.m. Monday, April 26.

Due to the unique nature of this event, the West Corridor Public Information team will be hosting a viewing area on Saturday, April 24, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the parking lot located on the northeast corner of Quail and the north 6th Avenue Frontage Road. Community members are invited to stop by to observe this historic event. The easiest access to this location is from Quail Street via Simms/8th Avenue or Colfax.

Current and Ongoing Activities in Area 1 (Jeffco Government Center to Denver Federal Center): Construction is moving quickly on the Jeffco campus.
>> Crews have closed the bike path just south of the complex.
>> Excavation for the large retaining wall north of the bike path has begun and outbound traffic is being detoured to Jefferson County Parkway.
>> Crews have closed the furthest south parking lots and the temporary parking lot on the south side is available for overflow parking.
>> Construction will continue for several months and will include retaining wall construction, a new parking structure, underground utility relocations and the Jeffco Govt. Center light rail station.
>> Wall construction along the east and west sides of Ulysses has begun, requiring the continued closure of Ulysses from 6th Avenue north to Mt. Vernon Road.
>> A full closure of 6th Avenue at Indiana is scheduled in late spring to set the steel girders that will cover the gap over 6th Avenue and Indiana. Prior notification of this closure will be posted for traveling motorists and email notification will be sent to local residents and businesses.

Upcoming Activities
In the coming months, West Corridor crews will begin work on the relocation of the off ramp from 6th Avenue to Colfax.
>> The ramp will move to the west, under the light rail bridge over Colfax.
>> Crews will move into 6th Avenue to set the median caisson for the CDOT sign bridge in early May. This activity will require approximately 10 days of lane closures on eastbound 6th Avenue. Again, prior notification will be provided before these lane closures go into effect.

To get the latest information on construction and road closures, connect to the West Corridor Web site.

Information contained in this post adapted from the FasTracks newsletter.

by Public Information
comments open from April 9 until April 28

West Corridor construction will close traffic lanes on the following roadways:

Monday, April 12 – Friday, April 16
The right hand eastbound lane of 6th Avenue between Indiana and Simms/Union will close from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 12, through Friday, April 16.

Wednesday, April 14 – Thursday, April 15
The off-ramp from westbound 6th Avenue to Union/Simms will be closed from 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, until 1:00 a.m. Thursday, April 15.

Thursday, April 15 – Friday, April 16
The on-ramp from Indiana to westbound 6th Avenue will close from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, and Friday, April 16.

Friday, April 16 – Monday, April 19
Umatilla Street just north of 13th Avenue will close from 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 16m until 8:00 a.m. Monday, April 19. All southbound lanes and the left hand lane of northbound Federal Boulevard will close at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, April 16, and remain closed until Monday, April 19, at 5:30 a.m.

Scheduled dates are subject to change and are weather dependent. While it’s not anticipated to have crews in the area continuously from now until completion of construction, the phasing of future activities will require crews to be moving in and out from now until West Corridor light rail construction is completed in late 2012.

For complete up-to-date information on upcoming construction activities, access the Construction Information Page for the West Corridor on the FasTracks Web site. For questions or additional construction information please contact Kathy Berumen, Denver Transit Construction group at 303-626-6762.

And don't forget about the parking closures at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility due to the construction starting on campus. Read the full press release. for all of the details.

by Public Information
comments open from March 25 until April 13

West Corridor Crews will be closing lanes on Union Boulevard between 4th and 6th Avenues beginning on Monday, March 29, 2010 to begin the construction of the Union light rail tunnel.

This activity is scheduled to finish in May 2010 and will require nighttime closures, Sunday through Friday during the hours of 8:00 p.m. – 5:30 a.m. to minimize the impact on the traveling public. There will also be some full weekend closures during this activity. No lane closures during weekday business hours are expected.

We appreciate your cooperation during this activity and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Scheduled dates are subject to change and are weather dependent. While it’s not anticipated to have crews in the area continuously from now until completion of construction, the phasing of future activities will require crews to be moving in and out from now until West Corridor light rail construction is completed in late 2012.

For complete up-to-date information on upcoming construction activities, access the Construction Information Page for the West Corridor on the FasTracks Web site. For questions or additional construction information please contact Kathy Berumen, Denver Transit Construction group at 303-626-6762.

And don't forget about the parking closures at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility due to the construction starting on-campus. Read the full press release. for all of the details.

by Public Information
comments open from March 15 until April 4

The eastbound 6th Avenue on-ramp at Indiana Street will be closed during night time hours on Tuesday, March 16, Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 18 to allow West Corridor crews to set forms on the south side of the Indiana Bridge. The closures will be in effect each night beginning at 9:00 p.m. and reopening the following morning at 5:30 a.m. This activity is scheduled during night time hours to minimize impacts on the traveling public. Motorists can access 6th Avenue via the south Frontage Road or Colfax Avenue during these closures.

We appreciate your cooperation during this activity and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Scheduled dates are subject to change and are weather dependent. While it’s not anticipated to have crews in the area continuously from now until completion of construction, the phasing of future activities will require crews to be moving in and out from now until West Corridor light rail construction is completed in late 2012.

For complete up-to-date information on upcoming construction activities, access the Construction Information Page for the West Corridor on the FasTracks Web site. For questions or additional construction information please contact Kathy Berumen, Denver Transit Construction group at 303-626-6762.

And don't forget about the parking closures at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility due to the construction starting on-campus. Read the full press release for all of the details.

by Public Information
comments open from March 12 until March 31

Starting Monday, light rail construction will impact parking at the Administration and Courts Facility.

RTD FasTracks West Corridor construction will begin in earnest this Saturday, March 13, at the Jefferson County Government Center. By Monday morning March 15, the new parking lot between the Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Offices will open and the “overflow” parking lots on the southwest side of the campus will close.

Temporary signs will be posted directing the public. Overflow public parking will be directed to the new lot. Drivers of county vehicles have been asked to park in the new lot. Employees of the Administration and Courts Facility are encouraged to park their personal vehicles in the new lot as well.

The pedestrian walkways in this area also will be closed. Pedestrians should keep to the northeast side of the road, away from construction.

To ensure the safety of employees and visitors, West Corridor crews will install fencing to delineate between the construction zone and the Jefferson County Government Center campus. Construction will last for about 18 months.

Because bad weather and the availability of materials can affect construction schedules, the dates noted in this announcement could change.

by Public Information
comments open from March 1 until March 20

With the weather cooperating, West Corridor construction is moving forward rapidly. Bridge construction is on track and crews are in the first stages of welding rail for trackway.

Current and Ongoing Activities in Area 1 (Jeffco Government Center to Denver Federal Center): Construction in Area 1 is maintaining a steady pace.
>> The drainage culvert at Ulysses will be completed this month and crews plan to move into street and wall construction.
>> Construction of retaining walls along 6th Avenue, west of Union, continues.
>> Deck work on the Colfax Bridge is ongoing, requiring intermittent lane closures on Colfax.
>> Crews will be moving back onto I-70 this week to remove the traffic control devices, replace them with guardrail and restore the area to its prior condition.
>> Work on the northwest side of the Indiana Bridge will pause while construction continues on the southeast side.
>> A new traffic signal is in place at the intersection of Arbutus and the 6th Avenue Frontage Road, near Red Rocks Community College.
>> While not visible to the public, work on the foundations for the Overhead Catenary System (the poles that will hold the wires to power the light rail) have begun in Area 1.

Upcoming Activities
In early March, West Corridor crews plan to begin work on the tunnel under Union. This work will be done during nighttime hours to minimize traffic impacts.
>> Crews expect to begin relocation of the CDOT sign over eastbound 6th Avenue in March. This activity will close the left-hand lanes of 6th Avenue in both directions.
>> Work on the retaining walls at the Jefferson County Government Center could begin in March. The existing bike path, south of the Government Center, will close for this activity and pedestrians and bikers will be redirected down Johnson Road to Fossil Trace Golf Course.

To get the latest information on construction and road closures, connect to the West Corridor Web site.

by Todd Leopold, Administrative Services Director
comments open from February 26 to March 17

If you have visited or driven by the Jefferson County Government Campus recently you may have noticed a great deal of construction along 6th Avenue. This is part of the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) West Corridor light rail project, which is anticipated to begin operation in 2013.

The light rail line will begin service downtown, have stops along 13th Avenue, the Federal Center, and 6th Avenue, and ultimately, have an end-of-line station on the campus of the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility.

However, a great deal of construction remains and some of the biggest efforts are soon coming to the county campus. Initial work, which begins March 2010, includes major dirt work to make room for the three-story parking garage and end of line station. This will result in the county having to relocate some existing surface-area parking spaces to another parking lot on campus while construction continues over the next 18-24 months.

The county will be making every effort to provide adequate parking and signage around the campus for citizens who may be conducting business at the Administration and Courts Facility during this time. Watch for additional updates on the progress of the light rail station as it continues.

by Public Information
comments open from December 20 until January 8

Denver Transit Construction Group, the RTD construction contractor building the West Corridor light rail project, will be setting girders on the north side of the 6th Avenue Bridge on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, from 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

This activity will require a complete closure of the frontage road north of 6th Avenue between Simms and Quail. DTCG is hoping to accomplish this in one day, but it may require a short closure of the same area on Wednesday morning, December 23, to complete the girder set. Breeze Ski Rental will have access.

For complete up-to-date information on upcoming construction activities, access the Construction Information Page for the West Corridor on the FasTracks Web site. For questions or additional construction information please contact Kathy Berumen, Denver Transit Construction group at 303-626-6762.

by Public Information
comments open from December 4 until December 23

Denver Transit Construction Group, RTD’s contractor for the FasTracks West Corridor construction project, will be closing all lanes of traffic on Colfax Avenue between Quaker and 6th Avenue at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, so crews can set the girders on the Colfax Light Rail Bridge. Colfax will reopen on Monday, December 7, at 5:30 a.m.

Colfax westbound will close at Quaker Street and Colfax eastbound will close at 6th Avenue. Westbound traffic should detour on Indiana, south to 6th Avenue, west on 6th Avenue back to Colfax . Eastbound traffic can follow 6th Avenue to Indiana, north on Indiana back to Colfax.
Be advised that all construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change. There are more closures tentatively scheduled for later this fall and will be confirmed as tunnel work progresses.

FasTracks is RTD’s voter-approved transit program to expand rail and bus service throughout the RTD service area. FasTracks will build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county District. The FasTracks investment initiative is projected to create more than 10,000 jobs during the height of construction, and will pump billions of dollars into the regional economy.

For complete up-to-date information on upcoming construction activities, access the Construction Information Page for the West Corridor on the FasTracks Web site. For questions or additional construction information please contact Kathy Berumen, Denver Transit Construction group at 303-626-6762.

by Public Information
comments open from November 12 until December 1

Denver Transit Construction Group, RTD’s contractor for the FasTracks West Corridor construction project, will close various lanes of Interstate 70 periodically overnight and on weekends over the next several months to accommodate light rail tunnel construction under I-70.

The scheduled closures are:

• Friday, November 13 – Monday, November 16, 2009
>>All westbound lanes of traffic on I-70 between the 6th Avenue and Colfax Avenue exits will be closed for the weekend.
>>The closure will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, with all lanes reopening at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, November 16.

A detour route will be in place to move motorists from westbound I-70 as follows:
>> Westbound at Colfax Avenue to 6th Avenue
>> West on 6th Avenue to Johnson Road
>> South at Johnson Road onto C-470 southbound
>> Back to I-70 westbound

Be advised that all construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change. There are more closures tentatively scheduled for later this fall and will be confirmed as tunnel work progresses.

FasTracks is RTD’s voter-approved transit program to expand rail and bus service throughout the RTD service area. FasTracks will build 122 miles of commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver Union Station and redirect bus service to better connect the eight-county District. The FasTracks investment initiative is projected to create more than 10,000 jobs during the height of construction, and will pump billions of dollars into the regional economy.

For complete up-to-date information on upcoming construction activities, access the Construction Information Page for the West Corridor on the FasTracks Web site, or call 299-2000 for pre-recorded information 24 hours a day. To speak to someone about construction activities, please call 720-989-8099.

by Tim Carl, Development & Transportation Director
comments open from October 6 until October 25

Last time I posted on the Jeffco blog (see “You Need to Know What You’re Getting”), I mentioned how important our customers are to us. We pride ourselves on getting information to those that need it quickly and without confusion.

Starting January 1, 2010, Highways & Transportation will change its name to Transportation & Engineering. This new name change reflects a sincere desire to identify the specific function and activities in this unique division. As a customer, you will find all the same services. We just want to make sure you know what we do and who to contact.

Highways & Transportation has always been a source for service needs - from fixing a broken traffic light to installing a new guardrail along a county road to alerting you to road improvements taking place in your area. However, a difference exists between Highways & Transportation and what we do in our Road & Bridge Division, like providing snow removal and road repairs. We feel this name change will make that distinction more evident.

Transportation design, engineering and transportation planning remain key components of the Transportation & Engineering division. That has not changed and will continue into the future. Engineering has always been a part of this division, but at times, folks haven’t necessarily realized that we offer engineering services related to drainage, traffic, floodplains and road design. Throughout the coming months we intend to promote this new change and recognize that our effort remains clear: we always want to provide the best service possible!

by Jefferson County Public Information
comments open from September 18 until October 7

The features of the West Chatfield project, for which Jefferson County contracted design services from Merrick & Company, are intended to significantly increase vehicle capacity at this busy intersection so drivers spend less time waiting. Phase I plans are to widen the intersection of West Chatfield Avenue and South Wadsworth Boulevard. Merrick’s engineers are currently designing Phase II Chatfield improvements west of Wadsworth.

Need More Information?
More information, project plans and what's happening next month can be found on the Highways & Transportion Web site.

by Brent Soderlin, Design Engineer, Jefferson County Highways & Transportion
comments open from September 9 until September 28

Since the ribbon cutting ceremony and opening last week, there is a new way to get in to the Jefferson County campus. Jefferson County Parkway has been extended to the east to intersect with Johnson Road, just behind the County Jail. Drivers can avoid traffic jams at peak times at the roundabout by using this new parkway extension. Unlike the current access by the roundabout, both right AND left turns are possible from the new Jefferson County Parkway Extension on to Johnson Road. I encourage everyone to check out the new intersection the next time you come to work or have other business here at Jefferson County.