The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor Kraemer North America will close North 71st Street at the intersection with CO 119/Diagonal Highway for two days as part of ongoing improvements to the corridor. The closure is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15, and Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., affecting all modes of transportation between Monarch Road (south of the business park) and CO 119.
Access to the business park on 71st Street will remain open during the closure. Southbound travelers on 71st Street are advised to use Monarch Road to reach southbound CO 119. Businesses can access their properties via Monarch Road, north of 71st Street at CO 119/Diagonal Highway.
The closure is necessary for crews to install light poles as part of the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Improvements Project. CDOT asks drivers and other travelers to exercise caution in the work zone and follow posted detour signs. Work schedules may change depending on conditions.
According to CDOT projections, vehicular traffic along Diagonal Highway between Boulder and Longmont is expected to increase by about a quarter by the year 2040. This anticipated growth could lead to more congestion, delays, emissions from vehicles, and potentially more crashes.
The CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project aims to improve safety throughout the corridor while enhancing mobility for all types of transportation users. The project seeks to make transit travel faster and more reliable while integrating with other multimodal projects in the area so that community members can safely use their preferred mode of transportation.
Project goals include improving overall safety in the corridor, increasing capacity for moving people through the area, optimizing intersection efficiency, reducing transit travel times while boosting ridership, improving operational efficiency across the corridor, and expanding opportunities for bicycle commuting with better connections for cyclists and pedestrians.
Specific planned improvements involve new signage and striping at pedestrian crossings at signalized intersections; adjustments in signal timing at key locations such as Jay Road, 63rd Street, Colorado Highway 52, Niwot Road, and Airport Road; construction of a commuter bikeway with local connections between northbound and southbound lanes; underpasses or overpasses at major intersections; reconfiguration of the CO 52 intersection for improved safety and accommodation of new Bus Rapid Transit stations; creation of a Diagonal Bikeway between travel lanes; and changes at Airport Road intended to reduce crashes while improving traffic flow.
During construction activities on CO 119/Diagonal Highway itself, current configurations will largely remain but there will be lane shifts or closures as needed. Notice will be provided ahead of any major closures or detours during this period. Lane widths may be reduced along with speed limits—travelers are urged to observe posted speed limit signs.
Kraemer North America serves as general contractor for this project.
“Improve safety in the whole corridor
Maximize the number of people able to move through the corridor
Maximize intersection operational efficiency
Improve transit travel times and increase ridership
Maximize corridor-wide operational efficiency
Increase opportunities for bicycle commuting and connectivity to the bicycle and pedestrian network”
For further information or updates about this project—including weekly email notifications—community members can visit codot.gov/projects/co119-mobility or contact project staff by phone or email.
