WHAT LIES BENEATH US

While preparing the area just west of 6th Avenue and Union Street for construction, Denver Transit Construction Group and the Colorado Department of Transportation unearthed what appeared to be plant fossils. Representatives from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science were brought in to explore the area and found fossil leaves in rock layers deposited between 64 and 66 million years ago. These layers grew during the early Paleocene epoch, just after dinosaur extinction. In that time of Earth’s history, mammals were just beginning to dominate the landscape. The fossil leaves were from ancient palm trees, ferns and flowering plants deposited on a river bank and then buried with sand and mud, which eventually turned to stone. There were also some fossilized tree stumps found in the same area.

“One of the truly incredible things about our area is that we can collect fossils that have a Denver street address,” said Dr. Ian Miller, curator of paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

“Museum visitors find it amazing that discoveries like this happen right here under the footprint of the city. From a scientific perspective, this discovery adds to our knowledge about the evolution of life and the events that took place at the end of the time of the dinosaurs, their extinction and then radiation of the mammals following that extinction.” Miller was assisted on the dig Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 by several volunteers from the museum’s Paleontology Certification Program.

While in some instances, historical finds like this could delay a construction project, there will be no delay in the West Corridor construction schedule. Since none of the fossils were new species, the museum was able to gather quality specimens within a few days.
 

WEST CORRIDOR GIVES BACK

On September 19, the West Corridor team and Habitat for Humanity partnered to retrieve the salvageable refrigerators and stoves from the apartment buildings located on Sheridan between 10th and 12th Avenues. Once removed, the appliances were donated to Humanity outlet stores in Wheat Ridge and Denver. Profits from the outlet stores go toward Habitat’s mission of building homes for those less fortunate.

Several volunteers from DTCG, RTD and Habitat donated a Saturday morning to clear appliances from 96 units. Habitat was able to utilize about 80% of the appliances on the property. The rest of the appliances were unusable as complete units, but working parts were donated as well.

Community partnerships will be an ongoing commitment throughout construction of the West Corridor. As we reported last month, construction crews worked with students from the School of Mines on a special project. Earlier this year, the team worked with the Lakewood community by donating tree mulch to corridor residents. DTCG and RTD will continue to look for opportunities to stay involved in the communities we are working in and welcome any suggestions you may have.
 

WEST CORRIDOR AESTHETICS

The personality of the West Corridor is beginning to show as the bridges start taking shape along the project. These designs, which were developed by the West Corridor team, are based on a compilation of hundreds of community comments that were received as part of the Urban Design Committee (UDC) process. The UDC was comprised of interested citizens who looked at many aesthetic possibilities for the West Corridor during their tenure. Unfortunately, a number of their ideas were eliminated through cost containment exercises. However, the grasses and W designs remain on the project and give the West Corridor a distinct identity.

As the project progresses, keep a lookout for identifying signs of this special corridor. We’ll keep you posted as additional aesthetics are seen in the station construction in the upcoming years. To view other aesthetic photos, click here.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – AREA 1 (Jeffco Government Center to Denver Federal Center)

Current and Ongoing Activities
Area 1 continues to progress rapidly. The temporary parking lot at the Jefferson County Government Center has been paved and work continues to restore the lighting. Crews are preparing to place girders on the light rail bridge over Colfax Avenue in November. The structure over 6th Avenue and Indiana is rising into the skyline, as falsework (the temporary structure to support the bridge span) is apparent on the north side of 6th Avenue. While construction on this bridge seems to be moving quickly, due to its size, the bridge will not be completed until spring of 2011. Utility upgrades and wall construction are ongoing along the south side of 6th Avenue between Indiana and Union. Work on the I-70 tunnel is progressing as scheduled and eastbound I-70 between the C-470 exit and the Colfax Avenue exit will close to all traffic the weekend of October 23 through the 25th. The full closure of eastbound traffic on I-70 will begin on Friday, October 23rd at 8:00 p.m. and continue through Monday, October 26th at 5:30 a.m. Detour routes are in place and Advance Message Boards will warn motorists of the closure. To stay up to date on road closures, click here.

Upcoming Activities
Crews will move to the westbound lanes of I-70 on October 27th with nightly lane closures, Sunday through Friday, until the complete closure of westbound traffic the weekend of November 13th through November 16th. The tunnel under Union is still in the planning stages, but construction there could begin in late November. Construction of this tunnel will follow the same method of construction as the tunnel under I-70.
 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AREA 2 (East of the Denver Federal Center to Sheridan)

Current and Ongoing Activities
Work on the drainage culvert just east of Simms on Collins Avenue continues and current scheduling indicates work there will continue for a few months. Similar to the bridge over Indiana Street, the falsework (the temporary structure to support the bridge span) for the bridge over 6th Avenue at the Denver Federal Center is in place. DTCG will be working in this area for several months. The bridge structure is being built on the south side of 6th Avenue and is scheduled to roll out over 6th Avenue in early spring. Demolition of three properties on the north side of 13th Avenue east of Wadsworth is complete and a construction yard is in place. Construction of the bridge over Wadsworth is in the early stages and 13th Avenue just east and west of Wadsworth is closed for the duration of construction in that area. Work on a drainage culvert on 13th Avenue between Zephyr and Carr should begin in late October or early November, moving from east to west. Traffic will be impacted in this area along 13th Avenue. As was mentioned last month, crews will close Carr Street at the 13th Avenue intersection for a few weeks to pipe under the roadway for the future culvert. This closure isn’t expected in the near future and prior notification will be given to residents and traveling motorists well before the closure is put into place.

Upcoming Activities
Construction on a drainage culvert on North Avenue in the Denver Federal Center is expected to start later this month and construction on a drainage culvert near 12th and Harlan Street is scheduled to begin later this year. Signs of retaining wall construction between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue east of Simms Street and between Harlan and Sheridan should appear in November. Other construction activities between Harlan Street and Kipling Street are on hold for now, while RTD finalizes property acquisitions in that area.
 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AREA 3 (East of Sheridan to the Auraria Campus)

Current and Ongoing Activities
Utility and retaining wall construction are the biggest focus in the gulch area. The utility work includes storm drainage, sanitary sewer drainage, water lines and Xcel Energy electric and gas relocations. Walls are sprouting up from Sheridan to Knox Court. Excavations and tree removals continue, as crews work to clear the path for the light rail guideway. 12th Avenue between Perry and Newton remains closed but should reopen later this month once the street is repaved. Construction on Knox Court should be completed by year’s end and Knox Court between 12th and 13th will reopen. The pedestrian bridges at Hazel Court and Tennyson have been placed and are expected to open to foot traffic in early 2010. Phase one of the Federal Boulevard Bridge re-construction continues and the bridge girders will be set later this month. The light rail bridge at Lakewood Gulch (just east of Decatur) has not seen any recent activity, but crews are hoping to place the girders later this month. Once the girders are set, crews will pour the deck and finalize construction on this bridge.

Upcoming Activities
Current scheduling indicates that work on the light rail bridge over the Consolidated Mainline Railroad (east of I-25) could begin as early as mid-November.

For more information on construction please visit the Construction Information page on the West Corridor Web Site.

 

HOW CAN I GET (OR STAY) INVOLVED?

One of the best ways to get the latest information on the West Corridor is to ensure we have your e-mail address. Our periodic e-mails will provide you with information essential to being an active participant. As full construction continues for the next two and a half years, it is the best way to stay informed of construction activities. Tell your friends and neighbors to sign up on our e-mail list to receive up-to-date information, and if your e-mail changes, please notify us.

Don’t forget to visit our Web site, where you’ll find all the latest information about the West Corridor.