RTD Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project – Colfax Alignment Impacts

RTD has announced impacts due to the upcoming Downtown Rail Reconstruction project that will be done on Colfax Avenue and around the Colfax at Auraria Station.

Work to replace the light rail track along Colfax Avenue is scheduled to begin Sunday, June 7, and continue into Q1 2027. Work to replace the high block at the Colfax at Auraria station near 10th Street is scheduled to begin in Q4 2026 and continue through Q1 2027.

What to Expect

• Full intersection closures with crews working around-the-clock in the 7th Street intersection, followed by the 9th Street intersection a few weeks later, to expedite work. Each intersection will take about seven to 10 days to complete, and only one intersection will be closed at a time.
• Partial closures of 7th and 9th streets to vehicles and pedestrians. Detours will be in place during intersection work.
  • 7th Street Closure – Starting Sunday, June 7
    • 7th street will be closed to vehicle traffic between Colfax and Curtis.
    • Detours and alternate access (see detour map below):  
      • Access to Seventh Street from eastbound Colfax Avenue will be maintained via Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway.  
      • Access to Seventh Street from westbound Colfax Avenue will be maintained via Federal Boulevard, Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway.
      • Pedestrians will be able to enter campus on the east side of the intersection, but pedestrian access on the west side will be limited.
  • 9th Street Closure – Starting as soon as July 6
    • 9th Street will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from Colfax to Champa/9th Street cul-de-sac.
    • Pedestrians will be detoured to 7th Street via walking paths on campus near the Bear Creek building.
    • Emergency access will be maintained from Speer, via St Francis Way, through the current A&P construction site during this closure.
• Single lane closures along westbound Colfax Avenue, and northbound and southbound Speer Boulevard while the track is reconstructed
• Single lane closure along westbound Colfax Avenue during station reconstruction
• Throughout the duration of this work, intermittent lane closures and momentary intersection closures may be required to stage and transport materials. Flaggers and traffic control will be in place to assist traffic around these brief closures.

Service Impacts

• Service disruption on RTD’s D, H, and L Lines, and temporary closure of the Colfax at Auraria station. Full details on RTD’s June service changes can be found HERE.
• The other RTD stations near campus, the Auraria West Station, Ball Arena, and Mile High Stations, will remain operational during the work.
• Bus Route 16 and Route ART will provide alternate service to the Colfax at Auraria Station and Theatre District Convention Center Station. Frequencies have been expanded to every 30 minutes for the ART route. Bus stops near the project will remain open and operational during the reconstruction work.
• The Campus Accessibility Shuttle (CAS) cannot operate to the following stops due to not being able to navigate back into campus utilizing approved routes:
  • Science
  • Cherry Creek
  • Library/Media
  • Central Classroom
  • Early Learning Center

Schedule and Work Hours

• Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• All construction activities are schedule- and weather-dependent and subject to change

If you have a question about the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, please contact RTD at the email or phone number below:

Project email: RailProject@RTD-Denver.com
Project Information Line: 720-902-8817

A project overview is available at rtd-denver.com/railproject, and RTD will continue to regularly post status updates and information on that page.