CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

As construction ramps up on the West Corridor, there will be a number of impacts to the surrounding area. DTCG will be diligent in addressing issues quickly, but we want to remind you to keep track of details if you have any concerns. If there is an incident, keep track of the date, time, names or descriptions of people involved and any other details you can think of. This will assist in resolution of the incident.

Lakewood Dry Gulch
Work on the storm sewer improvements in and around the Lakewood Dry Gulch continues and the construction area now extends east of Perry Street onto 12th Avenue. Crews are preparing to set the second “pump around” to divert water from the work area. This pump-around will be on the east end of the gulch and will help keep water flow to a minimum as DTCG continues to realign the oxbow channel. Reconstruction of Knox Court is underway and Knox Court is closed to vehicular traffic through June. Work on Knox will include construction of a concrete box culvert under the street.
Kipling Walls
Construction of the Kipling MSE walls is progressing rapidly and the entire area has experienced a major shift in grade and appearance. Once a gully, the east and west bound approaches to the bridge now sit up as high as 30’ into the air. To see the construction progress on the MSE walls, click here.  Construction on the Pikeview pedestrian tunnel is nearly completed but the tunnel itself will remain closed throughout construction. Once light rail is open, this tunnel will allow pedestrians and bicycles to cross under the light rail tracks.
Right-of-Way Fencing
Fencing around the RTD newly acquired properties has begun at Sheridan Blvd. Fences will remain in place until the buildings are released for demolition. Fencing around the properties near Shoshone has also started and properties near 14th and Wadsworth will follow shortly.
Union Boulevard
The realignment of the agricultural ditch on the south side of 6th Avenue continues. Crews are boring a path for the ditch under Union Blvd. The work area has been blocked off on the west side of Union. Once crews cross Union, construction will move into the Cold Spring parking lot. Eight parking spaces in the Cold Spring lot will be cordoned off for construction purposes. Advance notice of their closure will be signed.
Denver Federal Center
Denver Transit Construction Group is installing a new security fence north/south along the west side of the Denver Federal Center. This fence puts DTCG’s work area outside of the confines of Homeland Security enabling them to set up a storage and staging area for future work that will take place in the area.
Utility Relocations
Qwest, Comcast and Xcel Energy continue their relocation activities along the light rail line.

DBE TRUCKING CONSORTIUM

One of the goals of Denver Transit Construction Group and RTD is to assist in the development of local Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). Local and federal jurisdictions initiated DBE programs to ensure nondiscrimination in the award of contracts within the construction, highway and transit industries. The goals of such programs are to remedy past and current discrimination against disadvantaged business enterprises and to ensure a “level playing field” in which DBE’s can compete fairly. To be eligible for most federal, state and local DBE programs persons must own 51% or more of a small business, establish that they are disadvantaged within the meaning of regulations, and prove they control their business.

In an effort to utilize several local DBE companies during the construction of the West Corridor, Denver Transit Construction Group has organized a 100% DBE Trucking Consortium. DTCG will create a “pool” of companies that will be dispatched to haul materials such as aggregate base, asphalt, concrete and materials to job sites. Companies will be required to follow strict guidelines and maintain their vehicles according to standards already established.

Coordination and supervision of the program, as well as truck dispatching, will fall under the realm of DTCG’s newest employee, Tom Holfert. Tom has vast knowledge of the trucking industry. His experience includes supervision of multiple crews and trucking operations for several high profile projects.

The initial meeting of the trucking consortium was held on Thursday, May 7 and more than forty DBE companies attended. DTCG is optimistic that this number will grow over the life of the West Corridor construction project.
 

PERMANENT STREET CLOSURES

During the past several months, we’ve been updating you on the permanent street closures that will happen to minimize the at-grade crossings of the light rail tracks along the 13th Avenue corridor. As early as June 2009, Nelson, Holland, Vance and Otis streets will permanently close to through traffic. While Brentwood, Ammons, Allison and Marshall have also been slated to close, their closure isn’t expected until later in the year. As always, signage will be placed in advance of these closures.

HOW CAN I GET (OR STAY) INVOLVED?

One of the best ways to get the latest information on the West Corridor is to ensure we have your e-mail address. Our periodic e-mails will provide you with information essential to being an active participant. As full construction gets underway, it will be important to keep all members of the community informed on construction activities. Tell your friends and neighbors to sign up on our e-mail list to receive up-to-date information, and if your e-mail changes, please notify us.

Don’t forget to visit our Web site, where you’ll find all the latest information about the West Corridor.