Consultation on this project has concluded. Please visit the construction website for updates, information and to ask questions.

New Construction Updates as of July 23, 2026

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December 2024 Update

Important safety improvements are coming to West Colfax Avenue between Sheridan and Wadsworth boulevards! Starting in early 2025, construction is expected to begin on continuous medians from Sheridan to Teller Street — an important step toward making Colfax safer for pedestrians, motorists, and transit users alike. Watch the video below for some more information about this project.

August 2024 Update

In mid-August, Phase 1 was put out to bid, construction contractors are now able to review the final plans and submit a bid for construction. Construction is anticipated to begin in November.

Project Information

To efficiently construct the project, a two phased approach for project design completion and construction is being implemented. Phase 1 includes construction of the Colfax Avenue medians and associated elements. Phase 2 includes construction of the curbside and street edge treatment.

Phase 1:

This project phase includes final design, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) approvals and environmental clearances, and construction of the West Colfax median improvements. Project elements include a more continuous center median, roadway lighting, utility design and coordination, landscaping, irrigation system, and pedestrian "Z" crossings mid-block between signalized intersections. The Z crossings will create designated areas for pedestrians to cross Colfax and make those crossings more predictable for motorists while providing greater protection for pedestrians.

Phase 2:

This project phase will include final design, CDOT approvals and environmental clearances, and construction. Project elements associated with this phase include curbside improvements focused on repurposing the outside traffic lane for pedestrian use from Sheridan Boulevard to Teller Street. This phase will also include installing continuous sidewalks along this segment of the street. Other improvements will include access management, a new traffic signal and pedestrian hybrid beacons at Z-crossings, utility design, new bus lane pullouts, pedestrian lighting, a pedestrian detection system, storm water system improvements, landscaping, placemaking elements, and public art.

Project Background

The West Colfax Transportation Safety Project is an opportunity to create a safer and more comfortable experience for pedestrians, transit users, and motorists along the iconic West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, between Sheridan boulevard and Teller street. This segment of West Colfax has the highest concentration of traffic injuries and deaths in Lakewood; in a five-year period ending in 2019, there were six deaths, with multiple additional deaths since that study period.

Lakewood initiated efforts in 2017 to better understand safety issues along the corridor. In December 2020, Lakewood was awarded a $10 million grant from Colorado’s Safer Main Streets Initiative with support of a Lakewood City Council approved $2.5 million local match to advance the design and construction of improvements along West Colfax. This project, in fact, received the largest amount awarded under the program.

In mid-2021 Lakewood sought feedback from residents, business owners, transit users, and all who travel this section of West Colfax Avenue to help shape the future vision for the corridor and identify needed safety improvements. Community input clearly identified the three top priorities of improving safety, creating a vibrant community asset that incorporates art, and minimizing impacts during construction.

In December 2021 the detailed design phase began. The final design will seek to repurpose an underutilized travel lane to provide safe sidewalks comfortable for anyone regardless of physical abilities, to guide pedestrians to specially designated safe road crossings, to decrease the number of vehicle access points to Colfax in order to minimize conflict along the corridor, to improve roadway and pedestrian lighting, and to implement a pedestrian entry warning system that will be developed specifically for West Colfax to warn drivers of jaywalking pedestrians.

Public Participation Process

The community and stakeholders will continue to be involved to help us create a safer and more comfortable experience for pedestrians, transit users, and motorists on Colfax between Sheridan and Teller Street.

On August 22, 2024 the project team hosted an open-house at The HUB Building at 40 West Arts. The open house provided business owners and community members the opportunity to meet with the project team and have their questions answered.

Attendees reviewed the final design for Phase 1 of West Colfax from Sheridan boulevard to Teller street and learn more about the project schedule including the anticipated construction start for Phase I. Displays include project plan drawings showing the Artline and standard segment typical designs and roadway cross sections.

Past Events

Safety data

Data and planning efforts demonstrate that it is imperative to improve the safety for everyone walking, using transit and driving along West Colfax.

Project components

This project will create consistent sidewalks through repurposing the outside lanes of traffic; add designated pedestrian crossings in specific locations; establish pullouts for buses and provide bus stop amenities; improve street lighting for safety; and enhance driver safety by increasing sight-distances, reducing conflicts with turning vehicles, updating intersection traffic signals and lengthening turn lanes – all of which will improve safety for everyone while reducing driving stress.

Working with partners

In addition to working with CDOT, the city's key partners on the project include the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District, the Regional Transportation District, the organizations that supported the Safe Main Streets grant application, businesses and community members.

Lakewood is providing matching funds for the project, creating the opportunity to build a safer and better functioning West Colfax that will also be an asset to the community and local businesses.

Project area

The project area includes West Colfax from Sheridan to Teller Street. This segment is home to a wealth of commercial, transit, art and cultural destinations in Lakewood.

Survey #1: Lakewood West Colfax Safety Design Study