E. 96th Avenue Widening Project
About the Project
The E. 96th Avenue widening project between Chambers Road and Tower Road presents an exciting opportunity to improve connectivity and infrastructure along this important arterial roadway.
Before 2015, E. 96th Avenue did not extend across Second Creek, instead turning south into Buckley Road. That changed in 2015 when the city completed construction of the bridge over Second Creek and the two westbound lanes. With additional new development continuing to occur in the area, the current project is set to complete the full buildout of this essential roadway to four lanes with a dividing median from Tower to Chambers.
Project Details
This project will construct the median and two eastbound lanes from Chambers Road to Tower Road and includes sidewalks, multi-use paths, storm sewer, water lines, traffic signals at Chambers, Landmark, Reunion/Telluride, modifications to the signal at Tower Road, and completion of the bridge over Second Creek.
Current Status and Impacts
Project dates may be adjusted due to weather, material availability, contractor scheduling, or unforeseen conditions. Updates will be provided as the project progresses.
Road & Lane Closures
- Thursday, June 4 (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.): Landmark Drive will be closed for paving work. The closure will allow concrete trucks and other construction equipment to safely access the project area. Traffic will be detoured to Telluride Street, which will remain open throughout the work. A signed detour route will be provided. The schedule is weather dependent.
- Tuesday, June 10 (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.): Landmark Drive will be temporarily closed for the second phase of mainline paving work. The closure is needed to allow concrete trucks and construction equipment to safely access the area. Traffic will be detoured to Telluride Street, which will remain open during construction. A signed detour route will be provided. The schedule is weather dependent and subject to the first concrete pour reaching required strength levels.
- March 23 to early July: The Tower Road intersection will enter Phase 1 traffic control. E. 96th Avenue at Tower Road. Eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane without a dedicated left- or right-turn lane. Westbound traffic will have a dedicated left turn lane with a combination through/right turn lane. Daily lane closures on Tower Road will occur during this phase to support activities such as paving and traffic control adjustments at the end of the phase. Commercial traffic is encouraged to use 104th Avenue and avoid E. 96th Avenue during this configuration.
- Saturday, April 18 to June 6: Rocky Vista High School's contractor, will have the westernmost side of Reunion Parkway closed between E. 96th Avenue and E. 98th Avenue. Traffic will be open for both northbound and southbound directions; however, there will be no parking, and the lane widths will be restricted. This closure is for the school to complete its required improvements related to the new High School
- Tuesday, May 26 through Monday, June 15: Chambers Road will be closed between E. 96th Avenue and E. 98th Avenue to allow crews to reconstruct the north end of the intersection at Chambers Road and E. 96th Avenue. During the closure, eastbound traffic on E. 96th Avenue will be shifted onto the new pavement on the south side of the roadway, while westbound traffic will travel on the north side of the roadway between Nucla Street and Jasper Street. This traffic configuration will maintain a dedicated eastbound left-turn lane at Laredo Street for access into the Fronterra neighborhood while Chambers Road is closed. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes, including E. 104th Avenue, during this closure.
- Monday, June 22, 6 a.m. to Thursday, June 25, 6 a.m. (3-day closure, at the Telluride Street Intersection: The Telluride Street intersection will be closed for 72 hours to reconstruct the pavement at the intersection. A detour will be in place to direct traffic to the Landmark Drive intersection. There will be flaggers at the Landmark Drive intersection between the hours of 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. The intersection will be converted to a 4-way stop during the evenings.
- Monday, June 22 to Tuesday June 23, Intersection closure at Jasper Street: Traffic will be switched to the south side of the intersection to mill and overlay the Jasper Street intersection. For these two days, the Chambers Rd intersection will be closed and the traffic will be switched to the south side of the median at the Laredo Street intersection. This will eliminate a dedicated left turn into the Fronterra Village Intersection for these two days.
- Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday June 25, NIGHT WORK, single lane closure, west of Chambers Rd: This is for the milling and overlay operation west of the Chambers Road intersection. To be able to do the work, a lane of E. 96th Avenue will have to be closed which flaggers will flag one lane traffic on E. 96th. This work will occur at night to reduce the impacts on traffic and for safety for the workers.
Construction Progress
- The underpass at 2nd Creek is now open. With Chambers Road intersection being closed there is no other safe crossing of E. 96th Ave West of Telluride Street. Bicyclists and Pedestrians using the Wildlife Refuge perimeter path should access the path via the underpass at the Second Creek Bridge and CALU Park.
- The Wildlife Refuge Parking Lot at the Chambers Road intersection is back open.
- Chambers Road at E. 96th has been closed for reconstruction and is scheduled to be re-opened on Monday, June 15
- The future eastbound lanes from the west end of the project to Landmark Drive have been paved. The contractor has been working on grading and preparing to pave the roadway between Landmark Drive and Telluride Street.
- Once Xcel energy lowers their gas line that is conflicting with construction at the Tower Road intersection, the contractor will be able to complete the construction of the Tower Road intersection and switch traffic into Phase II.
- Crews continue work on traffic signals at Chambers Road, Landmark Drive and Telluride Street, as well as construction of the raised median and new water mains for the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District.
Public Meetings
Residents are encouraged to engage in Commerce City's quarterly SpeakUp events. Stop by different tables to provide input on projects or programs, learn about city services, and ask questions. If you don’t have specific issues in mind, bring your curiosity and find out what’s new, or chat with a City Council member about what’s happening in your neighborhood.
Next SpeakUp event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Ave. Learn more at c3gov.com/SpeakUp.
Project Documents
Construction Phasing Plan
(PDF, 45MB)
Final Roadway Configuration
(PDF, 12MB)
Roadway Construction Plans:
E. 96th Avenue Final Traffic Study:
E. 96th Avenue Final Traffic Noise Technical Report:
Project Timeline
Construction Start Date: March 2025
Expected Completion: December of 2026
Arsenal Perimeter Trail detour
As of mid-April 2025, a detour is currently in place at the northeast corner of the Arsenal Perimeter Trail, near where E. 96th Avenue formerly intersected with Buckley Road. The detour carries users onto the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, cutting across the northeast corner of the arsenal property between Chambers Road at 96th and Buckley Road north of E. 88th Avenue. The pedestrian underpass at the Second Creek Bridge is back open providing a safe crossing of E. 96th Ave for pedestrians and bicyclists. The pedestrian underpass can be accessed from the south side of E. 96th Ave via Calu Park, see map. Please note that pets are prohibited on refuge property and will not be allowed on the detour route.
The construction of the Arsenal Perimeter trail is being constructed and is expected to open back up this summer. This will allow the detour through the Wildlife Refuge will be removed.
This map shows the temporary closure and detour of the E. 96th Avenue Arsenal Perimeter Trail in Commerce City. The closed section is highlighted in red, running along E. 96th Avenue from just west of Second Creek to Buckley Road. A green dashed line indicates the detour route through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, curving southwest before reconnecting to Buckley Road. The detour is marked with a note: “Trail Detour – No pets / Desvío del sendero – No se admiten mascotas.” Several landmarks are shown, including Sweet Awakening Wellness Center, Buffalo Highlands Fit & Play Park, and residential neighborhoods along E. 96th Avenue.