Decorative map detailing road closures and routes. Larimer bridge is closed. Pedestrian route is Market Street to 14th to Lawrence. Vehicle routes include taking Blake Street, Market Street or Lawrence Street towards 14th Street.
Decorative map detailing road closures and routes. Larimer bridge is closed. Pedestrian route is Market Street to 14th to Lawrence. Vehicle routes include taking Blake Street, Market Street or Lawrence Street towards 14th Street.

The Connecting Auraria project is underway, focusing on the replacement of the 60-year-old Larimer Street bridge that connects downtown to the Auraria Campus over Cherry Creek and into Larimer Square. The project is expected to be completed next fall. 

Planned improvements 

The Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure will demolish the aging bridge and replace it with a new bridge between 14th Street and Speer Boulevard. This section of Larimer Street will be transformed to remove curbs, widen sidewalks to 12 feet and add a two-way protected bikeway to increase Americans With Disabilities Act access and promote alternative, sustainable transit options. Streetscaping improvements will be added, such as patterned concrete, pedestrian lighting, seating, planters and trees. The bridge will retain one car lane.  

This work complements efforts to better integrate the Auraria Campus into the fabric of downtown Denver and showcase the campus as a dynamic, vibrant part of downtown’s past, present and future, as outlined in the Auraria Higher Education Center Strategic Plan. 

Street-closure and detour information 

The City and County of Denver will close Larimer Street from 14th Street to Speer Boulevard starting Dec. 11. Students and employees who use Larimer Street to commute between downtown and the Auraria Campus should plan for extra commuting time. 

  • Pedestrians can cross Speer Boulevard at Lawrence Street instead of Larimer Street.  
  • One lane of northbound Speer Boulevard will be closed, but access to the parking lot at the corner of Larimer Street and 14th Street will remain open. 
  • The Cherry Creek Trail will also be closed around the project site, and detours will be posted.  
  • During peak travel times, all lanes on Speer Boulevard in the project zone will be open to motorists.  
  • During non–peak hours, motorists can expect one-lane closures. 
  • Working hours will be Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional weekend work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Follow the Early Bird or visit the Auraria Higher Education Center website to follow the project