Washington Street Corridor

Washington Street: 47th Avenue to 52nd Avenue Safety Improvements

About the Project 

The City and County of Denver and its contractor will begin the Washington Street 47th to 52nd Improvements Project in February 2026. The project will enhance this section of the Washington Street corridor by creating a mixed-use riverfront destination with connections to the South Platte River and the National Western Center. Improvements include full-depth street reconstruction and widening; new travel lanes and on-street parking; multi-use sidewalks; upgraded sewer and storm drainage systems; and new traffic signals, lighting and landscaping. The project is funded by the 2021 Denver bond. 

Washington Corridor Design Map

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Business Access

  • Access to all businesses will be maintained.
  • Signage and wayfinding will be used to manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
  • Material delivery and haul routes will be identified to keep construction traffic off of neighborhood streets.

Parking

  • Construction parking will be in designated areas or within work zones and not on residential streets.

 

RTD Rider Access

  • Due to construction activities, some stops will be temporarily relocated. Signage will be used to support new stop locations and RTD will support changes through their website, app and other communication channels. 
  • RTD customers are encouraged to sign up for Service Alerts for information on detours, delays, stop closures and other issues that may affect their route or station

Work Hours

  • Construction will generally occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some work taking place on weekends.

 

Communication

Keeping residents and businesses informed is a key priority of the construction team. Information will be shared during construction through:
  • Email Newsletter — Sign-up for updates on denvergov.org/DOTI/GES
  • Flyers and Construction Notices — Updates on specific impacts.
  • Telephone Hotline — (720) 865-2806
  • Signage — Detour, closure, lane configuration, access and wayfinding.
  • Community Meetings — Ongoing meetings with a variety of project topics. GES Construction updates are now being streamlined with National Western CAC meetings to limit the amount of meetings for the community.

Construction Impacts

Washington Street Impact Map through April 2026

What to expect:

Starting Wednesday, March 4, traffic on Washington Street between 51st and 52nd Avenue will shift: 

• Northbound lane will be closed.
• Two lanes will remain open using the southbound side of the street.
• Crews will work from east to west in this area.

This is the first phase of construction. This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place through the end of April 2026. 

Construction Activities:
Timeframe: March - April 2026
• Removal of fencing and asphalt
• Installation of storm water lines
• Milling and paving
• Replacement of sidewalks and concrete

 

Traffic Impacts:
Please follow all construction signage to keep drivers and workers safe. Reduce speeds are advised:
• Sidewalk closures: follow detour signs, avoid construction areas and use cation near work zones
• 51st Avenue closed from Washington Street to Emerson Street
• Northbound lane closure on Washington Street from 51st Avenue to 52nd Avenue
• Two lanes of tra!c open using the southbound lane of Washington Street
• RTD bus stop closure, northbound on Washington Street between 51st and 52nd Avenues

RTD Bus Stop Closure
There will be a closure of the northbound RTD bus stop on Washington Street between 51st and 52nd Avenue. Please use the bus stop just north of 52nd Avenue through the end of April, 2026. Please visit the RTD Service Alerts webpage for details. 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Business Access

  • Access to all businesses will be maintained.
  • Signage and wayfinding will be used to manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
  • Material delivery and haul routes will be identified to keep construction traffic off of neighborhood streets.

Parking

  • Construction parking will be in designated areas or within work zones and not on residential streets.

 

RTD Rider Access

  • Due to construction activities, some stops will be temporarily relocated. Signage will be used to support new stop locations and RTD will support changes through their website, app and other communication channels. 
  • RTD customers are encouraged to sign up for Service Alerts for information on detours, delays, stop closures and other issues that may affect their route or station

Work Hours

  • Construction will generally occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some work taking place on weekends.

 

Communication

Keeping residents and businesses informed is a key priority of the construction team. Information will be shared during construction through:
  • Email Newsletter — Sign-up for updates on denvergov.org/DOTI/GES
  • Flyers and Construction Notices — Updates on specific impacts.
  • Telephone Hotline — (720) 865-2806
  • Signage — Detour, closure, lane configuration, access and wayfinding.
  • Community Meetings — Ongoing meetings with a variety of project topics. GES Construction updates are now being streamlined with National Western CAC meetings to limit the amount of meetings for the community.

Construction Impacts

Washington Street Impact Map through April 2026

What to expect:

Starting Wednesday, March 4, traffic on Washington Street between 51st and 52nd Avenue will shift: 

• Northbound lane will be closed.
• Two lanes will remain open using the southbound side of the street.
• Crews will work from east to west in this area.

This is the first phase of construction. This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place through the end of April 2026. 

Construction Activities:
Timeframe: March - April 2026
• Removal of fencing and asphalt
• Installation of storm water lines
• Milling and paving
• Replacement of sidewalks and concrete

 

Traffic Impacts:
Please follow all construction signage to keep drivers and workers safe. Reduce speeds are advised:
• Sidewalk closures: follow detour signs, avoid construction areas and use cation near work zones
• 51st Avenue closed from Washington Street to Emerson Street
• Northbound lane closure on Washington Street from 51st Avenue to 52nd Avenue
• Two lanes of tra!c open using the southbound lane of Washington Street
• RTD bus stop closure, northbound on Washington Street between 51st and 52nd Avenues

RTD Bus Stop Closure
There will be a closure of the northbound RTD bus stop on Washington Street between 51st and 52nd Avenue. Please use the bus stop just north of 52nd Avenue through the end of April, 2026. Please visit the RTD Service Alerts webpage for details. 

 

 

Timeline 

Construction will begin in February 2026.

Study Archive

Vision: The area is transformed into a mixed-use riverfront destination area that capitalizes on its adjacency to the South Platte River, a revitalized Washington Street, reinvented greenspace, and direct connections across the river to the National Western Center.

Goal Statement: Make Washington Street an attractive corridor that creates a positive sense of place, attracts private reinvestment, and better accommodates all transportation modes.

Washington Street Study, 2018(PDF, 6MB)

Study Goals

Washington Street was identified in the Globeville Neighborhood Plan as “an attractive corridor that creates a positive sense of place, attracts private reinvestment, and better accommodates all transportation modes.” The Washington Street Study will refine and progress this vision of Washington Street into an implementable conceptual design.

Challenges along Washington Street include the existing right of way width of 60 feet and the inconsistency and poor condition of the curb, gutter and sidewalk to provide definition and separation between vehicular travel and pedestrian space. Intersection capacity, multi-modal connectivity and water quality infrastructure needs are additional challenges along the street.

Multimodal connections for the Washington Street corridor as well as the adjacent corridors will also be considered to integrate the street into a larger surrounding context.

Study Map & Limits

The study limits start at the South Platte River and extend north to the City and County of Denver municipal boundary limits near 52nd Avenue. The analysis, planning and conceptual design will address the changing land uses and the future vision for the corridor as a mixed use street, as previously identified in the Globeville neighborhood Plan.

Washington Study Map

Public Meeting Archive

Public Meeting #1 — May 3, 2017

Public Meeting #2 — August 15, 2017

Public Meeting #3 — October 24, 2017

Community Working Group Materials

October 2017 Community Working Group Meeting #5

August 2017 Community Working Group Meeting #4

June 2017 Community Working Group Meeting #3

March 2017 Community Working Group Meeting #2

February 2017 Community Working Group Meeting #1

October 27, 2016

Presentation to National Western Center Executive Oversight Committee, National Western Center Citizens Advisory Committee

Info Sheets

Study information - English(PDF, 340KB)

Estudio information - español(PDF, 344KB)

Archive Plans

Globeville Neighborhood Plan(PDF, 19MB)

National Western Center(PDF, 33MB)

Project Status

Construction will begin in February 2026. 

Community Meetings

Community Meeting #2
February 23, 2023
Project Angel Heart

Community Meeting #1
October 20, 2022
Project Angel Heart

Contacts

Project Manager

Mark Gonzales, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

Mark.Gonzales@denvergov.org

Get Email Updates

The Globeville, Elyria and Swansea (GES) Program of Projects (PoP) Coordination team provides clear, coordinated communication about construction activity in the area.

To learn more about upcoming community meetings and stay informed on construction progress and local impacts, sign up for the GES PoP newsletter below.

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