From big city roadwork to major highway projects to, yes, the airport, plenty of construction deals around Denver have a 2025 completion date. And all the slowdowns, dirt and stray nails just might seem worth it when the final results are revealed.
Or maybe not.
There are so many projects in Denver and along Colorado’s roadways that it can sometimes feel like construction is inescapable. So Westword picked five big projects to highlight that are slated for completion in 2025.
The 16th Street Mall Finally Finishes Upgrades
If you’re desperate to get back to the 16th Street Mall, or even if you’ve completely forgotten what the draw was in the first place, 2025 will give you a chance to reintroduce yourself to the downtown pedestrian plaza after three years of construction to modernize and revitalize the infrastructure there.Construction was originally meant to begin in 2020 and wrap up in 2021, but delays meant it didn't actually start until 2022. At that time, work was projected to end in 2024, but by the start of 2025 only six blocks had been completely finished, according to the city dashboard for the 16th Street Mall project.
As the city’s development partners work to maintain and clean the open blocks, construction continues on other blocks. Currently, Glenarm and Cleveland are closed to traffic at their respective intersections with 16th Street; the city expects the Cleveland closure will last until April.
But there’s hope: In late December, the city said completion of construction will occur in the fall of 2025, estimating that the project was 78 percent finished. The project was originally slated to cost $149 million; the dashboard now projects a $175.4 million final cost, with $141.5 million spent thus far.
Although the mall has been open to pedestrians throughout construction, businesses have struggled and downtown Denver has lagged on pandemic recovery, so finishing up this work would be a true reason to celebrate in 2025.
East Security Will Open at Denver Airport
Denver International Airport has been a construction disaster for years as the airport works to renovate its Great Hall, C Concourse and security systems. In 2024, the new West Security checkpoint opened to great success; in 2025, the East Security checkpoint should follow suit, according to DIA public relations team member Michael Konopasek. The checkpoint is set to open in the third quarter of 2025 ,with seventeen security lanes that mirror those of the West Security checkpoint.
That possible completion date isn’t what drove the Transportation Security Administration to close the bridge security checkpoint in December, however. According to TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers, TSA eliminated that checkpoint because it processed fewer than 3 percent of travelers, and staff could be better allocated to West Security, expanding services there.
Getting to the airport will also be easier after 2025, as the city will complete the diverging diamond interchange at Jackson Gap and Peña Boulevard that is now under construction.
“This type of interchange allows traffic to move through the area more efficiently, without the need for additional traffic signals,” Konopasek says, adding that the interchange is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.
Construction in the Great Hall and various other projects along Peña will continue after 2025, but this year will see some major milestones reached for Denver travelers.
Speer Boulevard Bridge Construction to End
Since 2023, Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has been working to restore bridges along Speer Boulevard for safety reasons. In 2025, the third and final bridge that needs work should be completed, according to the DOTI Speer Boulevard bridges construction page. “Work on the bridges over the railroad tracks will include rotomilling and overlaying asphalt over the bridge, removal and replacement of bridge deck waterproofing membrane, bridge deck repairs, removal and replacement of bridge expansion joints, backwall repairs and final striping,” according to the construction page.
The bridge currently causing construction woes goes over railroad tracks near the South Platte River. “Drivers should anticipate double left lane closures on northbound and southbound Speer Blvd. between I-25 and Auraria Pkwy from August-December 2024,” DOTI's website notes. “Two travel lanes will remain open in each direction for the duration of the project.”
The project was supposed to end in 2024 or early 2025, according to the site...but since 2024 is over, 2025 seems like a sure bet. Soon, getting to concerts or Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets games at Ball Arena won’t require battling cones — just your fellow fans.
Some Colfax Construction Will End — But More Will Follow
Colfax is undergoing major construction right now on both the east and west sides of Interstate 25, as East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit construction began at the end of 2024 after West Colfax pedestrian and transit improvements started in February 2024. The entire West Colfax project, which involves renovating intersections and medians from Irving Street to Sheridan Boulevard along Colfax, is projected to be completed by the summer of 2025. 
Although BRT construction on East Colfax is expected to last until 2027, according to the city dashboard for the project, one element of the project should be completed in 2025: Denver Water’s work to replace water pipelines underneath the road in advance of construction.
Since 2023, Denver Water has been replacing pipes and lead service lines from Broadway to Yosemite Street. According to Denver Water, many of those pipes hadn’t been updated in 130 years. By early 2025, the agency is slated to finish the pipe and service line work along Colfax, representing one small step in what will be years of construction along America's longest main street.
E-470 Road-Widening Project Wraps Up
E-470 is a toll road connecting the eastern perimeter of the Denver metro area from Douglas to Adams County with access to DIA. Since 2022, eleven miles of the toll road have been under construction to add a third travel lane in each direction from Interstate 70 to 104th Avenue. After three years, the E-470 road-widening project is projected to be complete in 2025.
“People should expect intermittent single-travel lane closures on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., as well as during overnight hours between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.,” E-470 notes on its website.
The portion of the road undergoing widening overlaps with the airport, providing another way to get to DIA.
Along with widening the road, the project installed new interchanges in several places, enhanced E-470’s connection with Peña Boulevard and added new deer fencing to help with wildlife crossings. The Peña connection was completed at the end of November.
“We are opening another section of the road between 56th Avenue and Peña,” the E-470 website says. “This will provide six total travel lanes from I-70 to Peña Boulevard and include the improvements to the Peña interchange. The speed limit will soon return to 75 miles per hour in that area.”
As we move full speed ahead into 2025, we resolve to keep you updated on the status of these projects.
