48th Avenue Bridge Improvement Project

The City and County of Denver has contracted SEMA Construction of Centennial to begin rehabilitation work on the 48th Avenue Viaduct in early April.  The bridge is located in northwest Denver and spans over the rail lines for UPRR, BNSF and RTD. These improvements will extend the life of the bridge, constructed in the late 1970s, that provides an important connection between the Globeville and Sunnyside and Chaffee Park neighborhoods.

Schedule and Timing

Work is scheduled to begin on April 12 and is expected to last until fall of 2021.  By the end of June 2021, work on the project was 40% complete.  Normal working hours will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with occasional work overnight and on weekends. No work on major holidays is expected.

Phases of work that have been completed:

  • Remove existing layer of asphalt
  • Inspect and test concrete beneath the top layer
  • Repair concrete and parts of the bridge structure
  • Repair sidewalk and add new guardrail

Tasks yet to be completed are:

  • Replace expansion joints of the bridge
  • Remove and install a new waterproofing membrane
  • Apply new layers of concrete and asphalt 

Project Map

48th Avenue Bridge Improvement Project location map

Project Photos

Crews conduct repair work on the viaduct’s road surface.


Crews conduct repair work on the viaduct's road surface.

Crews replace concrete on 48th Avenue viaduct.


Crews replace concrete on 48th Avenue Viaduct.

Traffic Impacts

Throughout the project, motorists can expect daily single-lane closures near the bridge, and flaggers will direct traffic through a single open lane over the bridge.

Minor traffic delays are expected.

Project Highlights

Chemicals in deicing agents can take a toll on Colorado’s bridges. These materials work their way inside the concrete and attack the rebar which degrades the entire structure. Crews working on the 48th Avenue Viaduct are installing anodes which are designed to be sacrificial and increase the longevity of the rebar and prevent premature corrosion by targeting the corrosive materials through chemical reactions.

Typically comprised of a zinc alloy, the anodes are anchored to the rebar using steel ties. The zinc attracts the corrosive chloride material from the deicers and degrades as opposed to the rebar in the concrete. Installing anodes extends longevity of the concrete and bridge as long as 25 years. Crews then patch the concrete with a special polymer-blended concrete which prevents shrinkage and cracking in the deck that could turn into potholes.

Contact the Project Team

If you have questions or comments about the project, please contact us by phone or email.

You will receive a response from the public information team within 24 business hours.

Project Hotline: 720-437-8733

Email: 48thAve@PublicInfoTeam.com

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