Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has proposed an ambitious $935 million bond package, which could appear on the ballot for city voters this November.
This bond package includes a notable $89.2 million allocation aimed at altering a segment of Eighth Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
This particular project is the most expensive among approximately 60 initiatives bundled within the proposed bond package.
Currently, the Eighth Avenue viaduct, which starts at Mariposa Street where the Lincoln Park area transitions from residential to industrial, extends over several tracks.
These tracks serve the Regional Transportation District, the state-run Burnham Yard, and freight trains, before the roadway reverts to a surface street at Vallejo Street close to Interstate 25.
The proposed changes to Eighth Avenue aim to eliminate the bridge section that spans the RTD tracks and Burnham Yard, instead transforming that portion into an ‘at-grade roadway’ or surface street.
While a part of Eighth Avenue will still retain its bridge structure, it will ramp up east around Seminole Road near Denver Water’s campus and ramp down at its existing location by Vallejo.
Additionally, the bond proposal includes $50 million earmarked for improvements related to the Sixth Avenue bridge, which crosses a narrower section of Burnham Yard.
This funding is intended for repairs and preliminary design work for its future replacement—an initiative city officials believe will require federal funding and could cost several hundred million dollars.
The Sixth Avenue bridge, which accommodates about 64,000 vehicles daily, is a critical connection to Interstate 25.
In contrast, the smaller Eighth Avenue bridge serves around 14,500 vehicles each day, according to city data.
The potential redevelopment of Burnham Yard is a significant topic in the dialogue surrounding the bond proposal.
The Denver Broncos have declared that no decision has yet been made regarding a new stadium site or if they will remain at Mile High Stadium, which is state-owned and under lease until the end of the 2030-2031 season.
However, the team has already invested approximately $140 million in private property surrounding Burnham Yard, despite no official agreement between the state and the Broncos for the 58-acre site.
Furthermore, negotiations are underway with Denver Water for the acquisition of 35 acres adjacent to the Burnham Yard area.
A spokesperson for the Broncos declined to provide insight regarding how the removal of the bridge section over Burnham Yard might influence the team’s development plans at the site.
During a Denver City Council committee meeting, Councilwoman Sarah Parady sought clarity on whether the prioritization of the bridge projects was influenced by the Broncos’ interest in the area.
She questioned city officials, asking whether the potential for Broncos development had played a role in elevating the importance of these projects above others.
‘At the Mayor’s Office level, was that part of the conversation, the potential Broncos development?’ she inquired.
Riley Patrick, the bond project manager from the city’s finance department, acknowledged the reality of the situation.
He stated, ‘It is impossible to not get to that thought process,’ emphasizing the Broncos’ significance in Denver’s cultural and sports landscape.
Parady pressed further, asking why this aspect hadn’t been previously mentioned to the council.
This exchange marked the first public acknowledgment by city officials of the Broncos’ interest in the Burnham Yard location, which they had previously only discussed generally.
Despite these conversations about the Broncos, Riley maintained that the bridge projects are fundamentally about necessary infrastructure investment.
He highlighted that the Eighth Avenue bridge had been slated for consideration of city bond funds as early as 2018, well before the Broncos expressed interest in Burnham Yard.
As for the Sixth Avenue bridge, he explained the city’s goal is to reach a pre-design phase that would enable them to pursue federal grants for funding while preparing for future developments.
‘This is about life safety. This is about our bridges and structures. This is about being able to connect two sides of the city and enable the safe passage of fire trucks,’ asserted Riley, who clarified that he is not a personal fan of the Broncos.
For those interested, a full list of the proposed bond projects can be accessed on the city’s official website.
Interactive maps detailing the bridges on Sixth and Eighth Avenues, alongside the outlined Burnham Yard, are also available for public viewing.
This conversation underscores a shifting landscape in Denver, as infrastructural decisions intertwine with the potential future of the Denver Broncos and their redevelopment initiatives.
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