High Line Canal Trail Underpass at Yale and Holly Project Website
The High Line Canal trail serves as a major regional trail facility for both recreation and commuting, spanning from southwest to northeast Denver. The trail currently crosses Yale Avenue just west of the E. Yale Avenue / S. Holly Street intersection without a safe connection. With the goal of providing a safer and more convenient travel option, DOTI and prime contractor, Jalisco Inc., are beginning to construct a new trail underpass. Work is anticipated to take place from September 2025 to the fall of 2026.
Construction activities will include building a concrete box underpass with retaining walls and graded concrete trails for better connectivity on the High Line Canal Trail. Additional infrastructure improvements will include enhanced curb & gutter, sidewalk, concrete driveways, storm drainage systems, signing, and striping in the surrounding area. Crews will also repave a section of Yale Avenue between Hudson Street and Holly Street.
Roadway improvements on Yale Avenue are anticipated to take place after the construction of the underpass in late 2026.
High Line Canal Trail Underpass Construction Updates
General working hours will take place 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some weekend work may take place as needed.
The week of November 17, the High Line Canal Trail at the intersection of E Yale Avenue and S Holly Street will be closed as crews start the construction of the underpass. A pedestrian detour route will be in place to navigate around the work zone. Pedestrians will be detoured on an alternate paved path across the canal and onto on S Holly Street/S Holly Place. Crossing E Yale Avenue will remain unchanged. Please see the detour map below for more details. Trail users are encouraged to stay on the established detour path, keep a safe distance from active work areas and respect all on-site directions.
Motorists can expect to see intermittent single-lane and turn-lane closures on A Yale Avenue and S Holly Street/Place. At least one through-lane of travel will remain open. Flaggers will be on-site to help drivers navigate the intersections safely. While the project team does not anticipate significant delays, drivers are encouraged to account for up to 10 minutes of extra travel time. Please be aware of crews and equipment when driving through the work zone. Slow down, leave plenty of room between vehicles and follow all on-site traffic control.
High Line Canal Trail Underpass Construction Area and Trail Detour Map
All roadway impacts will take place between I-25 and S Holly Street.
The trail detour option will be fully paved and graded. Fencing will be put up around the detour path to keep trail users safe and on-course.
HLC Trail & Yale Roadway Improvement Project History
Since 2014, the City and County of Denver (CCD) and Arapahoe County have worked to collaboratively study the area around the intersection to determine which roadway and multimodal improvements are needed. Studies completed in 2014, followed by a preliminary design effort and subsequent study in 2021, determined necessary improvements.
In mid-2022, CCD began efforts to fully design improvements, in close partnership with Arapahoe County. The planned improvements consist of:
- A new underpass for the High Line Canal Trail that will pass under E. Yale Avenue
- Reconstruction of the intersection and signal at E. Yale Avenue and S. Holly Street/S. Holly Place
- Reducing roadway congestion and improving pedestrian crossing safety at the intersection of Yale Avenue and S. Holly Street/S. Holly Place
- Multimodal improvements and enhanced connections throughout the project area
This project is being funded by the Elevate Denver Bond program, Arapahoe County, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). The total budget for design and construction is estimated at $23.9 million, which includes $17.3 million for the High Line Canal Underpass and $6.6 million for Yale Avenue road improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will bicyclists and pedestrians traveling along Yale Avenue or Holly Street/Holly Place access the High Line Canal Trail and new underpass?
Similar to today’s condition, there will be a connection of the trail to the at-grade sidewalk on both the north and south sides of Yale Avenue. This connection will run alongside the trail’s underpass alignment and intersect with the trail approximately 500 feet north and south of the underpass. A bicyclist or pedestrian wishing to use the underpass to cross Yale Avenue would access the trail connection using the at-grade sidewalk just west of the High Line Canal and travel those 500 feet until they reach the intersection with the trail, then start the approach to the underpass on the main trail.
Can another connection to the High Line Canal Trail be made from the neighborhood streets south of Yale Avenue near Holly Hills Elementary? Could a bridge or elevated boardwalk of some type be constructed from the bend in the High Line Canal Trail across the Arapahoe County stormwater property to meet Jersey Place?
This connection concept is included in unfunded plans of the High Line Canal Conservancy. Arapahoe County has considered this connection and believes the connection is unlikely to be funded in the foreseeable future for multiple reasons. The close proximity (less than a quarter of a mile) to the planned trail underpass makes it less of a priority than other trail connections/improvements. Additionally, it would likely create drainage, water quality, and other environmental impacts that may require costly mitigation.
Will the new trail underpass tunnel have lighting?
How will vehicular traffic and trail traffic be detoured during construction?
The details of construction phasing and detour routes will be determined during final design, which is expected to be complete in Spring 2024.