The Colorado Department of Transportation will host a public open house on Monday discussing the Interstate 25 Speer Boulevard and 23rd Avenue Bridge and Interchange Project.

From 4 to 7 p.m., members of the public will be able to ask questions to members of the project team and receive written information about proposed alternative improvements to the safety and traffic flow of the area, according to a news release from CDOT. 

The open house will take place in the ground floor auditorium at 2829 W Howard Place in Denver, according to the release. Free parking will be available in lots M1 and M2 north and east of the building; bike racks will also be available at the main entrance.

The project, aiming to replace the aging bridges at Speer Boulevard and 23rd Avenue over I-25 in Denver, is currently in its study phase, the release says. During the meeting, CDOT will present a recommended proposed action for improvements to the intersection, including a 23rd Avenue braid and Speer Boulevard diverging diamond interchange.

The braid alternative would balance the need to improve safety for everyone using it while maintaining access to nearby neighborhoods, businesses and other community resources, according to the release. It would do so by:

• Increasing the distance to merge on and off I-25 and improve the northbound ramp connections.
• Adding sidewalks, bike lanes and a new traffic signal at the northbound I-25 ramps for safer crossings across 23rd Avenue.

The Speer Boulevard diverging diamond alternative would aim to ease traffic flow and increase safety, and it includes protected crossings and the removal of left-hand turns in the area, according to the release.

A braid interchange eliminates the danger of vehicles merging onto and off an interstate in the same lane by having exiting and entering traffic cross over or under each other, according to CDOT’s website. A diverging diamond directs vehicles to the left side of a bridge, allowing them direct access to freeway ramps without having to cross oncoming traffic.

In addition to the open house, the project is currently in its open public comment period, according to the release. Members of the public can go to the I-25 Speer and 23rd Bridge & Interchange Project website for more information and provide input until Sept. 5.

Anyone who requires special accommodations for the open house, such as Spanish language, ASL interpretation or ADA accommodations is asked to contact the project team at speer.23rd.bridges@gmail.com.