NORTHGLENN —City construction crews are more than halfway done with road widening, safety improvement work and trail installation that has snared traffic along 112th Avenue since last spring. But portions of that corridor will be back under construction next year as soon as station development for the Regional Transportation District’s North Metro Rail Line starts picking up steam.
Northglenn began rebuilding and widening 112th Avenue from Washington Street all the way out to the railroad tracks east of Irma Drive in April. Work for that $5.27 million project is anticipated to wrap up by the end of this year.
As part of the reconstruction, a new pedestrian crosswalk system was installed at Larson Drive and 112th Avenue. The system was put in place after two eighth-grade students .
“The completion of this project is going to relieve some of the traffic on 120th Avenue. Whenever there’s a problem on 120th, everyone takes 112th to make their way across,” said Joe Brown, Ward 2 councilman for Northglenn. “It’s going to be a smoother ride, and it’s also going to make it safer for the kids to get across the street to (Northglenn) Middle School.”
Another feature for pedestrians will be a new trail on the north side of 112th Avenue from Washington Street to just west of the old Union Pacific train tracks.
But soon after the entire roadway reopens, sections at York Street and 112th Avenue will go under construction to begin work on RTD’s 112th Avenue commuter rail station. The only station in Northglenn will be the penultimate northern stop to be built during the first phase of the 18.5-mile commuter rail line that will run from Denver to Colorado 7.
RTD has enough funding to build about 12.5 miles of the line by 2018 (from Denver to 124th Avenue in Eastlake). The final 6 miles to 162nd Avenue and Colorado 7 .
“Above-grading work has begun at the 112th Avenue Station, but the actual aesthetics of the station will not be constructed until late 2016 or early 2017,” said Kathy Berumen, spokeswoman for Regional Rail Partners, the company building the commuter rail line. “Currently, only the 112th Station and the 124th Station have work in progress.”
in 2013 to build the line from Denver Union Station to 124th Avenue for $343.3 million. RTD is funding the work by issuing $480 million in certificates of participation.
Six of eight planned stations will be built in the first phase — 48th and Brighton Boulevard at the National Western Center; 72nd Avenue, Commerce City; 88th Avenue, Thornton; 104th Avenue, Thornton; 112th Avenue, Northglenn; and 124th Avenue, Eastlake. Regional Rail Partners will build the line from north to south.
Several at-grade — or road-level — track crossings are planned for the line: Riverside Cemetery, Steele Street, 72nd Avenue, Thornton Parkway, 100th Avenue, 112th Avenue and 124th Avenue.
Regional Rail Partners has so far completed the removal of 82,842 feet of Union Pacific track and is getting reading to start road work. Berumen said impacts will begin as early as next month.
“There are several construction operations that will impact traffic in some way or another, including all bridges and grade crossings,” Berumen said. “The biggest impacts to commuters will be the construction of the Skyway Bridge over (Interstate) 270 requiring lane closures and a full closure to set bridge girders, the bridges over 46th Avenue, 88th Avenue, 104th Avenue and 120th Avenue where crews will have to close the roadway to set girders across.”
Currently, construction is taking place at the Skyway Bridge, the 120th Avenue Bridge and the Marion Street Bridge. Crews are also working on utility relocation. Demolition of properties RTD has acquired are underway, and grading and compacting at the 112th and 124th station areas has begun.
“This will prepare the area for platform wall construction in the coming months,” Berumen said.
Northglenn and Thornton will hold an open house for the North Metro Line station planned for 112th Avenue and York Street next month.
The goal of the meeting is to obtain input about the existing area and what improvements are desired around the station. Some topics include land uses, pedestrian and bicycle access and housing types.
“By working closely with the public, technical experts, our neighbors in Thornton, RTD and other regional partners, we aim to develop a plan for a vibrant, walkable area that integrates well with the existing community,” said Travis Reynolds, project manager and planning manager for the city of Northglenn. “We are eager to receive input from residents .”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or @Mmitchelldp
North metro line open house
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12
Where: Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Blvd., Thornton
Note: Spanish translation will be available
