The end may be approaching for Wheat Ridge motorists who have had to slowly navigate through seemingly never-ending lane closures and slowdowns on Wadsworth Boulevard for the last three years.
The city recently announced the multi-year improvement project had reached 75% completion in terms of money paid: $40.5 million of the $55.265 million contract. Barring winter weather delays, the major paving portion of the work is to be finished by the end of 2024.
Public Works Director Maria D’Andrea explained where the project stands on the ground and financially in a mid-October interview and email exchanges with the Neighborhood Gazette.
D’Andrea said the 75% completion status is based on what the city has paid the general contractor, Concrete Works of Colorado. The contractor is paid monthly for actual quantities of materials installed and work completed.
“We true up with the contractor and pay the monthly invoice while they are working in the following month,” D”Andrea wrote. “So there’s about a one-month lag between payments and work completed. This is built into the overall timeline.”
Easy drive but delays still possible
Occasional, brief lane closings due to median work are still likely until all work is finished, D’Andrea stated.
“Otherwise, the north-south drive should be pretty easy,” she said.
Winter weather and snowfall could lead to delays, D’Andrea stated, but the project is now on schedule.
“The contractor’s goal is to wrap everything up by the end of 2025, but it could be pushed back to spring of 2026,” she said. “There’s always schedule changes on a project of this size.”
Indeed, the Wadsworth project has already had several such changes.
D’Andrea explained when the project was originally developed, it was to extend from Interstate 70 at the north end to 35th Avenue at the south end. As the city approached construction, they realized there wasn’t enough money to complete construction.
So it was scaled back to run from I-70 to about 41st Avenue. The timeline for completion at that time was the summer of 2024.
The city then received additional federal money which — with added city dollars — allowed the project to include the original length to 35th Avenue. That changed the timeline to the spring of 2026.
Project planning started in 2009, budget changed several times
The city began planning, seeking grants and holding public meetings about the project in 2009. Groundbreaking occurred in October 2021.
Wadsworth, also Colorado Highway 121, was widened to four lanes in 1959. This project expands 1.23 miles of Wadsworth — which includes about 50 businesses — to six lanes to handle traffic demands through 2040. It also includes new vehicle entrances and exits for businesses.
Money from the city’s 2016 voter-approved “Investing 4 the Future” half-cent sales tax increase is paying for the work. It was one of four projects presented to voters with the tax hike. Other money comes from state and federal grants.
The city’s What’s Up website noted the project’s estimated cost was $45 million in 2018.
After adding over $3 million in water quality and sanitary sewer work along with “dramatic increases in both property acquisition and construction costs,” the total project grew to almost $70 million. The city decided to cap the cost at $62 million and eventually ended up with its current budget amount.
Unique intersections new to Wheat Ridge
The project’s main traffic change will be continuous flow intersections at Wadsworth and 38th and 44th avenues.
Instead of turning left from the center lane, vehicles will cross oncoming traffic lanes about a block before each intersection. Motorists then wait on the far left side of the road, behind a raised median, for a signal to turn.
Other than the displaced left turns, the two intersections will have conventional through lanes, northbound and southbound right-turn lanes and raised medians. Signage will help guide drivers through these intersections.
The two intersections will be the last things completed since they require all other elements to be finished first, D’Andrea noted.
An educational effort will also help drivers learn how to navigate the intersections.
“I drove through one in Eagle recently and it was no big deal,” D’Andrea stated.
What’s done, what’s remaining
So far, project accomplishments include:
- All underground private utilities (Xcel Energy, Century Link, etc.) relocated and complete;
- All public utilities (stormwater, water and sanitary sewer) complete;
- Eastbound and westbound dual turn lanes at 44th Avenue complete; and
- The majority of the sidewalk (west side of Wadsworth) complete.
- Major remaining work includes:
- Permanent concrete paving finished by the end of 2024;
- A bicycle/pedestrian trail (east side, from 35th Avenue to the Clear Creek trail) completed by the end of 2024;
- Sound wall panel installation;
- Median construction;
- Traffic signal installation; and
- Landscaping and irrigation.
The project is expected to result in a 52% increase in traffic capacity and average rush hour speeds to increase from 10 to 20 mph, among other benefits.
“Next year, most of the work will focus on traffic signals, signs, median work and the two continuous flow intersections,” D’Andrea said.
