Historically, the High Line Canal Trail left pedestrians and people on bikes at Colorado Boulevard and Hampden Avenue, a busy intersection that was intimidating to cross on foot or on a bike. This project built two underpasses to reroute the trail under Colorado and Hampden to create a safer, more convenient connection for people walking and riding bikes. In addition, between the two underpasses, Denver added a new, 10-foot wide multi-use trail along the north side of Hampden.
High Line Canal Underpasses at Colorado and Hampden Now Complete! The trail is now open and fully operational The City and County of Denver, through its Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, has completed its High Line Canal Underpass Project at the Hampden Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. This new connection offers users a safer alternative to the previous trail which had pedestrians crossing at the busy intersection of Hampden Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. This project includes public art along the trail by Denver local, Michael Buckley, titled "We Are Future Strata". As you walk or pedal the High Line Canal Trail, you will pass a cluster of three 50,000 pound granite boulders that are painted with brightly colored stripes depicting strata. We Are Future Strata is symbolic of a post-human future where the man-made environment has become strata in stone. Comparing a geologic time scale with a human time scale reminds us of the temporary nature of existence. As Mary Oliver asked in “The Summer Day”, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do / With your one wild and precious life?”
Project Area
*Current status* Construction begins
Proposed alignments: High Line Canal Trail at East Hampden Avenue
Typical cross section looking east (with retaining walls)
Typical cross section looking east (at grade)
Construction began in May 2020 and the project was completed in June 2021.
S Colorado Boulevard and Magna Carta Park(PDF, 7MB) S Colorado Boulevard and Wellshire Golf Course(PDF, 7MB)
February 28, 2017
May 15, 2019
John LaSala, Project Manager Department of Transportation and Infrastructure John.LaSala@denvergov.org