Closure of Santa Fe Drive to Place Spans for New Pedestrian Bridge

Closure of Santa Fe Drive to Place Spans for New Pedestrian Bridge

Published on June 17, 2026

DENVER - Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) would like the public to be aware of infrastructure improvements happening on Denver's west side to improve travel and safety - one requiring a temporary closure of Santa Fe Drive.

Full Closure of Santa Fe Drive for Installation of Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Spans

Denver will be closing Santa Fe Drive in both directions between Evans Avenue and Florida Avenue for one weekend in July to install the main spans for a new bike and pedestrian bridge at West Jewell Avenue. The closure is needed to keep the traveling public safe. Large cranes will be used to set the two spans in place - each is about 180 feet long and 215,000 pounds. When the bridge is fully completed next year, it will provide pedestrians and people on bikes with a safe, new way to cross over Santa Fe and the BNSF and RTD rail lines at Jewell Avenue and a new connection between neighborhoods to the east and west. The West Jewell Avenue Pedestrian Bridge project was funded by the voter-approved Elevate Denver Bond.

The closure of Santa Fe is currently scheduled for 12 a.m. Saturday, July 11, through 5 a.m. Monday, July 13. Drivers are urged to plan ahead and choose another route during the closure. The alternate weekend is July 18-20, should weather or any other unforeseen conditions require the team to reschedule. Visit the project website for more details and closure updates.

The following detour routes will be in place during the closure:

• Northbound traffic will be detoured east on Evans Avenue, north on Broadway, and then west on Mississippi Avenue to return to northbound Santa Fe Drive.
• Southbound traffic will detour west on Florida Avenue, south on Platte River Drive, and east on Evans Avenue to return to southbound Santa Fe.

On-Ramp Closure: The West Evans Avenue on-ramp to northbound Santa Fe Drive will close at noon on Friday, July 10, to prepare for the full weekend closure, and will remain closed until 5 a.m. on Monday, July 13. Traffic will be detoured to Broadway to access northbound Santa Fe Drive via Mississippi Avenue.

Off-Ramp Closure: The southbound Santa Fe Drive off-ramp to West Evans Avenue will close for the full weekend period and remain closed until September 11 while crews build new sidewalks and perform other concrete work on the southwest corner of the project. Detours will be posted to Florida, Dartmouth or Hampden avenues to bypass the closure.

Transit Information: During the closure period, RTD encourages customers to use the Next Ride app to plan for any travel adjustments from bus routes and rail lines affected by the service changes. Customers also may visit Service Changes.

Nearby Iowa Avenue Underpass to Reopen with new ADA Compliant Sidewalk

In coordination with the temporary closure of Santa Fe Drive on July 11, DOTI will reopen the Iowa Avenue Underpass, where improvements are being made to make it easier and safer for people who walk, bike and roll. Crews are constructing a new ADA-accessible pathway on the north side of Iowa Avenue between Santa Fe Drive and Acoma Street where people travel under the railroad tracks. The Iowa Underpass Improvement Project is also enhancing multimodal safety and connectivity in adjacent neighborhoods by working to eliminate a gap along the D18 bike route, providing a better travel experience. Lighting in the underpass is also being improved. After the underpass opens, artist Ratha Sok will begin installing a colorful mural.

New Alameda Underpass Sidewalk is Complete!

Meanwhile, installation of a new grade-separated, ADA-compliant sidewalk and multiuse path on the north side of West Alameda Avenue between Santa Fe Drive and Cherokee Street is complete! The Alameda Underpass project was funded by the voter-approved Elevate Denver Bond and included work to stabilize deteriorating wall sections and repave the vehicle travel lanes. Still to come are lighting improvements in the underpass to enhance safety and comfort for everyone moving through the area.

• Press release
• Transportation and Infrastructure