7 JANUARY 15-21, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | A month later, Mayor Johnston and an ex- ecutive committee included the two viaduct projects in a proposed Vibrant Denver bond package with a $139 million price tag. Denver City Council ultimately approved the proposed budget for the two viaduct re- placements in August, and voters approved all fi ve Vibrant Denver bond packages in November. Both viaduct reconstruction projects will have to align with a small area plan that will set the foundation for a major redevelopment around Burnham Yard, a 155-year-old former rail depot where the Denver Broncos want to build their new home. Broncos ownership has already an- nounced it will cover the cost of constructing the domed stadium itself. According to the city, the Sixth Avenue viaduct connects a freeway from Mariposa Street to roughly Seminole Street, and sees about 64,000 cars every day, making it one of Denver’s busiest roads. The Vibrant Denver bond is supposed to put $50 million towards rebuilding the viaduct; DOTI considers it one of the most important bridges in the entire metro area. “Failure of the bridge (or even load rating it) would have major consequences for the region,” according to a project description. “Future reconstruction of the 6th Avenue Via- duct requires careful proactive preparation.” The Eighth Avenue viaduct, which con- nects Mariposa and Osage streets, handles a smaller load — about 14,500 cars a day — but will require more money to fi x, according to DOTI, with an $89 million Vibrant Denver project responsible for the eastern half of the bridge. The viaduct was fully closed for a weekend last June for resurfacing; that $1.5 million project made “minor repairs” to “keep it operational in the very near term,” but offi cials say the viaduct still needs a major reconstruction. “Greater investment is required to reduce the city’s risk and enhance transportation connectivity,” according to a project de- scription. “The investment will preserve the ability for 8th Avenue to be an important east-west connection.” Although some Vibrant Denver projects saw a groundbreaking just days after voter approval in November, most of these projects don’t have a detailed timeline. Johnston promised a six-year completion for all Vi- brant Denver projects, however, with 2031 as the latest fi nish date. The small area plan for Burnham Yard is expected by the end of 2026, and the Broncos plan to open their new stadium in time for the 2031 NFL season. Connections Over Cherry Creek Just south of Cap Hill, the city needs to replace two seventy-year-old bridges that cross Cherry Creek and the Cherry Creek Trail along Lincoln Street and East Sixth Avenue. “Both bridges are in poor condition and at the end of their service lives,” according to a city project description. “These structures are critical links for the major arterial roads, serve the Denver Health complex and sup- port emergency response routes.” Along with the Quebec Street bridges, the two Cherry Creek bridges were weight- restricted by Denver Fire in November. The city will use the replacements as a chance to widen sidewalks on the two bridges, improve drainage, make the area safer for pedestrians, and improve access for cyclists, scooters and people with dis- abilities. The existing Lincoln Street bridge provides a narrow on-ramp for cyclists and others coming off the Cherry Creek Trail to street level; the new bridge would give Cherry Creek Trail users passing underneath a wider overhead clearance. In June, DOTI was still searching for the $31 million needed to carry through the project. A month later, Johnston suggested raising $20 million with the Vibrant Bond package to replace the two aging bridges. The city revised that number to $29 million, which is what voters approved in November; the city’s CIP budget covers the rest. According to the city, fi nal designs for Cherry Creek replacements are expected by mid-2026, but there’s no specifi c date yet. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Email the author at [email protected]. The bridge that connects Lincoln Street over the Cherry Creek had to have an emergency repair in 2024 and needs to be replaced for $31 million. THE CIT Y OF DENVER
