Commerce City: design near complete for 90th Avenue underpass; construction estimated in fall

Commerce City — Public works staff gave a status update on the planned pedestrian underpass on 90th Avenue at Telluride/Reunion Parkway. The underpass design contract was approved in April 2024 and has been in design since; staff said design is approaching the point where construction work can be bid and a selected contractor would coordinate work with the ongoing 90th Avenue widening project.

Interim Public Works staff said construction is currently estimated to begin in fall, depending on the progress of the widening project. Staff provided an estimated construction cost of $3,400,000 and said the cost will be covered from the city's contingency account for that program; staff cautioned final costs will be known only after competitive bids are returned. The underpass was not in the original scope of the widening project but was added after council direction during the winter retreat.

Staff also noted coordination with the local metro district, the water district for utility work and the high school to avoid conflicting construction operations. A public meeting specific to the underpass was held in July of last year, and staff said they are in contact with affected districts and stakeholders ahead of final bid documents.

Mayor Pro Tem and councilmembers thanked staff for the update and stressed the safety benefits for schoolchildren and other pedestrians given truck traffic in the corridor. Sound-wall design and additional mitigation were described as matters for later discussion.