The city of Denver is poised to enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity with the proposal of the Wynkoop Crossing Bridge, initiated by Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
For many years, concerns about the dangers of crossing Speer Boulevard have been voiced, particularly for the thousands making their way between Union Station and Ball Arena for various events, including Avalanche and Nuggets games, as well as significant concerts.
With a recently submitted concept plan to the city, the bridge is the first tangible step towards development on 55 acres of parking lots that surround Ball Arena and along the picturesque South Platte River.
Although the exact cost of the Wynkoop Crossing Bridge remains unclear, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment is committed to financing this vital structure as part of a wider redevelopment plan.
The bridge will connect a newly branded area called the Lower Downtown Landing, situated over Speer Boulevard, directly to Ball Arena, which is owned by Kroenke.
The need for this bridge is underscored by the current challenges posed by the bustling Speer Boulevard, especially during major events, where large crowds often wait for crossing signals and guards in a chaotic scramble to traverse the street.
Architect Andy Rockmore from SAR+ emphasizes the necessity of the bridge, stating, “It’s arguably, absolutely necessary, even today, without the new development in the area. We all know what it looks like for a big event over there, and there are thousands of people who try to cross Speer.”
Plans for the bridge include it landing within the Ball Arena’s parking areas, where an initial phase of redevelopment is set to introduce new commercial spaces and a concert venue near Speer Boulevard in the upcoming years.
Kroenke has ambitions to pave the way for a significant transformation of this area, envisioning thousands of housing units, hotels, office spaces, retail outlets, parks, and entertainment venues scattered throughout the arena’s parking lots.
Additionally, there are opportunities for another major project referred to as River Mile, which aims to replace Elitch Gardens with a robust mix of residential and commercial developments west of Ball Arena.
Rockmore notes, “It’s more of an extension of downtown than a new neighborhood separate from downtown. That’s been the goal all along: How do you create this place that really just continues all the activity of downtown rather than pulls away all the energy from downtown?”
In order for these ambitious plans to advance, city planners have identified the critical need for safe pedestrian crossings over Speer Boulevard.
The new bridge is designed to accommodate walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, and scooter riders alike, sharing a common path to ensure accessibility.
Rockmore, who previously designed the Millennium Bridge — a structure that connects Union Station to Commons Park — envisions this bridge as a safe and user-friendly passageway.
The bridge’s design features staircases and looping ramps on both ends at the downtown landing, while keeping a central gap that allows natural light to illuminate the roadway beneath, thereby avoiding a tunneled feeling.
A gentle 5-percent grade will ensure all individuals, including those on wheels, can navigate the bridge with ease.
The structure is proposed to suspend from a large arch over Speer Boulevard, allowing for future modifications to the boulevard’s design without the hindrance of cumbersome pillars.
On the opposite side of Speer Boulevard, users will be able to access the bridge at ground level, providing a seamless experience for all pedestrians.
The journey across the bridge is crafted to highlight the beauty of Speer Boulevard, as Rockmore expresses, “You don’t just want to pass over that as fast as possible. You want to enjoy it. You want to be sensitive to that. You don’t want to disrupt it. So that’s why we’ve made the bridge as thin and as light as possible.”
Along with the bridge, a new pedestrian walkway into the Downtown Children’s Playground is part of the project plan, ensuring that access to this area remains intact.
The nearby trestle bridge over Cherry Creek is expected to stay as is, complementing this new infrastructure.
The concept plan submitted by Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers is currently under review by various city departments, marking just the first steps in a potentially transformative development phase.
While Martin/Martin did not provide immediate comments, Kroenke opted not to speak publicly on this development.
In its ongoing development plans, Kroenke has rebranded Wynkoop Street to ‘The Sports Mile,’ creating a connective thread from Coors Field to Ball Arena and continuing to Empower Field at Mile High.
image source from：denverite
