More than a dozen projects are on Wheat Ridge Public Works Director Maria D’Andrea’s to-do list this year, including the seemingly never-ending Wadsworth Boulevard improvement and expansion project. The list also includes potential roundabouts, a bus terminal and a 10- to 20-foot-tall city welcome sign.
Here is most of D’Andrea’s list, edited for clarity and brevity:
44th Avenue and Eldridge Street & 44th and Talbot Street Traffic Studies: The existing traffic signal at 44th and Eldridge needs to be replaced and the city will begin a traffic study this year to determine if a roundabout is a viable alternate.
Likewise, a traffic study at 44th and Tabor will help determine if a traffic signal is warranted. A roundabout will also be evaluated, but D’Andrea noted there may not be enough room.
Clear Creek Area Bus Terminal: A three-bay bus terminal near Clear Creek Crossing and 40th Avenue will allow RTD bus routes 28, 32 and 38 to transfer passengers.
Currently, only Route 38 serves the Clear Creek area. Construction is expected to begin late this year or early 2026.
Ward Road Station Area Pedestrian Bridge & Trail: A trail from the Interstate 70 North Frontage Road to the south side of the rail tracks, west of Tabor Street. It will connect to a pedestrian bridge to be built over the rail tracks and link to the RTD rail station south of Ridge Road.
The design is being completed along with right-of-way acquisition, both of which will last the rest of 2025. Construction is planned for 2026-27.
Youngfield Bridge Scour Repair: Work was expected to wrap up by the end of January to replace and install protection, including large rocks and cobble around the bridge piers in Clear Creek.
Youngfield Avenue Aesthetic Improvements: Landscaping, irrigation, retaining walls and a large city welcome sign on the slope along I-70, on the west side of Youngfield.
“There were a lot of weeds and trash in the area so we want to add a (10- to 20-foot tall stone city welcome sign), plant some native trees and plants,” D’Andrea said.
Since this is Colorado Department of Transportation right-of-way, permits are needed from them to perform this work. D’Andrea also wrote that plans are nearly complete and the city anticipates seeking construction bids within the next few months. Construction would begin in mid-2025 and be completed in 2026.
32nd Avenue Bike Lanes: Installing bike lanes from approximately Clear Creek Drive (west of I-70) to Wright Court (east of I-70). This project would extend the existing bike lanes from Wright to the western city boundary. Construction is anticipated this spring or summer.
38th Avenue West Corridor Improvements (Youngfield to Kipling streets): An initial analysis of this 1.5-mile corridor was done with public outreach to determine a preferred direction of on-street bike lanes with separate sidewalks on either side. Final design is to be developed this year and early 2026.
38th Avenue Refresh (Wadsworth to Harlan Street): The focus of this project is to refine past designs from the 38th Avenue Corridor Plan as the starting point for a final design that could be constructed in the next 2-3 years.
Minimal changes, if any, would be made to the street width. A design consultant team will conduct a traffic analysis and develop a preliminary design. Work will begin later this year and wrap up in 2026.
Recreation Center Culvert Repair: Erosion has occurred along the sides of the culvert that carries water under the recreation center driveway, south of the building entrance.
D’Andrea noted repairs to correct this are anticipated to begin in February or March and last for a couple of months. Access to the center will be affected during construction.
Wadsworth Boulevard Improvement Project: This lengthy project remains on schedule, with completioBy spring of 2026 and active construction done by late 2025.
“They have done well in the fall and so far this winter, so paving is substantially complete,” D’Andrea added.
Wadsworth Path: A multi-use path along the west side of Wadsworth from 32nd to 35th avenues will be built. No timeline was provided.
Stormwater Master Plan & Rate Study: This plan may require the formation of a stormwater utility and associated fee, D’Andrea wrote. Once the plan is complete, the city will conduct a rate study to determine an appropriate fee to charge for storm sewer repairs.
