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Jackson Street Storm Drain System

This large, 126-inch stormwater pipe at Jackson Street will provide additional capacity for water to flow and reduce flood risks in the area.

The Jackson Street Storm Drain Project provides a critical link between the lower and upper Montclair Basin system for managing stormwater and improving flood mitigation during heavy rainstorms. Areas impacted especially hard by significant, persistent flooding include streets east and west of Colorado Blvd between Colfax Avenue and E. 12^th Avenue and Hale Parkway.

Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) completed Phase 1 of the improved, expanded storm system on schedule in July 2021. Crews installed a new 126-inch storm pipe under E. Colfax Ave at Jackson Street, continued south under National Jewish Health's parking lot, and under E 14^th Avenue between Jackson and Harrison Streets. New storm inlets were installed in E. 14th Avenue between Jackson and Harrison Streets, as well.

Phase 2

DOTI has now completed the design of the second phase of the Jackson Street Storm Drain System. Phase 2 will further improve capacity to manage stormwater flows coming from the upstream portion of the Montclair Basin, and under Hale Parkway.

Phase 2 of the new storm drain system will begin at Jackson Street and E. 14^th Avenue, cross under Colorado Boulevard and proceed along Colorado Boulevard south to E. 13^th Avenue where Phase 2 construction will end. New storm inlets will be added in E. 14^th and Harrison Street and E. 13^th and Colorado to reduce local flooding.

Construction is expected to begin in early Fall 2023. A public meeting will be held prior to construction. After the completion of Phase 2, Phase 3 work will proceed east to Ash Street, and south on Ash Street to Hale Parkway where the project culminates.

Project Map

Phase 2 project area map for Jackson Street Storm Drain System

Project Archive

Phase 1 Archive Info

The Jackson Street Storm Drain Project provides a critical link between the lower and upper Montclair Basin system for managing stormwater and offer improved flood protection for residents and businesses in the project area between Colfax and 12th Avenues, from Jackson to Albion Streets.

Project Overview - Phase 1

The Jackson Street Storm Drain project is located in the Montclair Drainage Basin, which has a long history of significant flooding during heavy rainstorms.

Following a comprehensive design phase and a public meeting in December 2019, Denver's Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) began installation of an expanded storm drain system to provide greater flood protection for Congress Park residents, National Jewish Health (NJH) patients and staff, and local businesses. Project construction began in January 2020 and was completed on June 30, 2021.

The new 126-inch storm pipe crosses under E. Colfax Avenue at Jackson Street and continues south under NJH's parking lot to E. 14th Avenue at Jackson Street. The final segment of the storm pipe, along with multiple new storm inlets, were installed under and along E. 14th Avenue between Jackson and Harrison Streets.

Design is currently underway for Phase 2 of the Jackson Street Storm Drain Project, which will connect the recently completed system on the west side of Colorado Boulevard to the east side of Colorado Boulevard at about Albion Street near 13th Avenue. While the community now has greater flood protection benefits from the recently installed stormwater pipe and inlets, Phase 2 will further improve the capacity to manage heavy stormwater flows coming from the upstream portion of the Montclair Basin. Phase 2 construction is currently anticipated to begin in late 2022.

Overview of Construction Timeline & Traffic Impacts

Early January 2020 — late July 2020 (7 months)

Construction in westbound lanes of E. Colfax Avenue at Jackson Street

During this phase of construction, the westbound lanes of E. Colfax Avenue around Jackson Street will be closed, while the eastbound lanes of E. Colfax will remain open and adjusted to provide one eastbound and one westbound lane for traffic.
Access to Jackson Street from E. Colfax will not be open to vehicles during work in westbound lanes of E. Colfax.

Late July 2020 — early November 2020 (3 months)

Construction in eastbound lanes of E. Colfax Avenue at Jackson Street

The westbound lanes of E. Colfax will be reopened and adjusted to provide one lane of traffic in each direction.
Access to Jackson Street from E. Colfax will reopen.
The traffic plan on E. Colfax will “flip” for pipe installation to begin in the eastbound lanes of E. Colfax Avenue around Jackson Street and the eastbound lanes will be closed.
NJH remains accessible from 14th Avenue at Jackson Street.

January 6, 2020 — mid November 2020 (10 months)

North end of Jackson ROW/NJH parking lot (Driveway to Circle Entrance)

Mid November 2020 — late June 2021 (7 months)

South end of Jackson ROW/NJH parking lot (Circle Entrance into E. 14th Avenue) and East 14th Avenue between Garfield and Harrison Streets

Vehicle and pedestrian access to NJH will move back to E. Colfax from the temporary location on E. 14th
Pedestrian access from NJH parking lots south of E. 14th Avenue will be across E. 14th at Harrison Street.
Full lane closures will be required on E. 14th Avenue in the area around Garfield, Jackson and Harrison Streets during the final phase of the project to ensure the safety of the construction crews as they install the new pipe.
Detours will be put in place during this phase of construction