Portion of 46th Avenue permanently closed as part of Central 70 Project

DENVER — Monday morning crews working on the Central 70 Project permanently closed 46th Avenue between Brighton Boulevard and York Street.

This closure is necessary to safely demolish and rebuild the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) bridge, which currently crosses over 46th Avenue and under the I-70 viaduct, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Initial work will include building temporary railroad tracks for trains to operate on while the team constructs the new permanent UPRR bridge over the rebuilt highway.

Since the closure has been put in place, the artwork (known as 'duct-work) along 46th Avenue is no longer accessible to pedestrians or motorists.

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To navigate this closure:

• Drivers in both directions of Brighton Boulevard will use eastbound I-70 and exit at York Street.
• Drivers on westbound 46th Avenue can access westbound I-70 by going north on Josephine and west on Steavenson Place.
• Drivers on southbound York Street will use westbound I-70 and exit at Brighton Boulevard.

Pedestrians are encouraged to use 47th Avenue in lieu of 46th Avenue.

The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70, add one new Express Lane in each direction, remove the aging 54-year-old viaduct and lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards.