Painful road closures and delays in and around CO 119

In addition to road closures associated with the ongoing CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project that is set to continue for at least the next three years, a road closure on 95th Street between Lookout Road and Valmont Road will continue until December. That means more traffic is diverted to 75th Street and 63rd Street, which also has lane closures due to a waterline replacement.

Soon to be closed as well is 71st Street, which also provides access to CO 119. The 71st Street closure will begin on Oct. 28.

In addition to these road closures, the shortened signal light settings limit traffic from entering CO 119, which is causing additional delays.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) website provides information regarding road closures and also information on the related CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project.

However, the road closure weekly updates do not appear to be timely on the CDOT website. The information for this week, Oct. 20 - 27 has not yet been posted as of 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21.

The most recent information from the website from Oct. 19 states:

"Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, crews will close 71st Street to all modes of transportation at CO 119/Diagonal Highway. This seven-month closure will last through May 2025.

Motorists using 71st Street to get to CO 119/Diagonal Highway will follow posted detour signs for alternate access:

• Those traveling northbound on 71st Street should continue west on Monarch Road for access to northbound CO 119.

• Those traveling southbound on 71st Street should continue east on Monarch Road for access to southbound CO 119.

Businesses can access their properties by using Monarch Road, north of 71st Street. This closure is required for crews to safely tie in new southbound CO 119/Diagonal Highway to the existing CO 119 infrastructure.

"Niwot Road between northbound and southbound CO 119/Diagonal Highway will close to all modes of transportation overnight from 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29.

• Eastbound Niwot Road traffic will take southbound CO 119 to eastbound Colorado Highway 52 to northbound 79th Street.

• Westbound Niwot Road traffic will take northbound CO 119 to Airport Road back to southbound CO 119.

This closure is required for crews to shift traffic to the north on Niwot Road and move it into phase one for constructing the underpass."

IBM Drive Closure Construction Impacts

IBM Drive, from Colorado Highway 119 to IBM E. Loop Road, is closed, and will remain closed to all modes of transportation and travel until the end of 2025.

For alternate access to the business park near IBM Drive, all travelers should follow posted detour signs. Continue traveling southwest on CO 119 and exit at 63rd Street, head north on 63rd Street, turn east to Monarch Road and into the business parking lot.

More information is available on the project website. If your usual travel route will be impacted by construction, remember to use Colorado's public transportation services for or carpool for easier access to and from your final destination.

In addition, RTD closed the Niwot Park-n-Ride and permanently closed the north- and southbound CO 119 bus stops at CO 52 on Sept. 29. Please refer to the RTD press release for more closure details.