Safer left turns coming to Commerce City intersections
Published on July 24, 2025
As part of a broader effort to improve transportation safety citywide, Commerce City is changing how drivers make left turns at five key intersections.
Beginning Friday, July 25, 2025, at E. 81st Avenue and Tower Road, left turns will only be allowed on a green arrow. This change eliminates the need for drivers to judge gaps in oncoming traffic, simplifying decisions and improving safety.
Although these updates were already in the works as part of a comprehensive plan, staff prioritized them to create safer driving conditions based on a review of crash history and engineering judgment.
Four more intersections will make the same switch in the next few weeks:
- Tower Road at E. 83rd Avenue
- Tower Road at E. 88th Avenue
- E. 104th Avenue at Highway 2
- E. 104th Avenue at Chambers Road
More intersections will change in the future, based on safety planning, crash data, and engineering judgment. Crews will make the signal changes during off-peak hours to minimize potential traffic impacts, including short-term left turn lane closures and flashing red signals.
The intersections will get new signage. Look for “LEFT TURN ON GREEN ARROW ONLY” signs posted by the traffic signal and in the median.
These changes are part of Commerce City’s draft Safety Action Plan, which staff began drafting with a consultant in 2024. The plan will address transportation safety issues for walking, biking, driving, and using transit and identify targeted improvements for high-risk areas with the most frequent or severe accidents. City Council will review the final plan for adoption in September.