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Shutdowns coming as RTD launches major reconstruction of rail routes in central Denver

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Shutdowns coming as RTD launches major reconstruction of rail routes in central Denver


Regional Transportation District officials are launching a major reconstruction of light rail track in central Denver, starting in May with a $152 million first phase that will rework five segments downtown and lead to a shutdown.

Closures are planned starting May 26, when all D and H line trains will be rerouted to Denver’s Union Station.  L Line trains connecting the 30th Avenue/Downing Station to the Downtown Loop will be suspended.

There will be no light rail service operating in the RTD’s central corridor through September 2024, RTD officials announced on Wednesday morning.

The project is unprecedented since the RTD began light rail service in October 1994.  While RTD officials between 2012 and 2023 directed 17 projects in the central corridor to replace sections of curved rail, switches, crossings, signals and other rail infrastructure, a project on this scale has not happened before.

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After the first phase of reconstruction is completed in September, officials said, work crews will pause until 2025 and light rail services will resume during the pause.

“Maintaining RTD’s assets and infrastructure is essential to preserving the region’s previous investments in its mass transportation system,” RTD general manager Debra Johnson said in a press release.

“Managing and maintaining assets in a state of good repair ensures the long-term integrity of the rail network for all individuals who entrust RTD to deliver them to their destinations.”

Several segments of track along the central 5.3-mile corridor between the Interstate 25/Broadway and 30th Avenue/Downing stations require a full reconstruction, which entails removing all current rail infrastructure, concrete, ties, and ballasts, officials said. Work crews also are planning to address drainage systems beneath tracks before rebuilding each segment.

Rail and street intersections to be reconstructed during the first phase are at 15th and Stout Street, 17th and Stout Street, 15th and California Street, 17th and California Street, and Broadway and Welton Street.

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Denver and RTD officials have been discussing street closures and traffic detour plans. Vehicle drivers downtown can expect rerouting to merge traffic into single lanes or around intersections.

RTD’s bus routes that operate along 15th and 17th streets may also be affected temporarily during the reconstruction work, agency officials said. As light rail trains are rerouted to Denver Union Station, RTD officials are planning to temporarily reintroduce a free MetroRide service along 18th and 19th streets with multiple stops.

Starting in 2025, later phases of the reconstruction will begin. These include a second reconstruction in RTD’s Downtown Loop and work along Colfax Avenue. A fourth phase will consist of work along Welton Street.

“The agency is ensuring that its 30-year-old system continues to provide reliable service for at least 30 more years and beyond,” Johnson said.

Before the reconstruction begins, transit riders are encouraged to sign up for agency service alerts and can find project information at rtd-denver.com/railproject.

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Denver, CO

Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/17-12/21 – 303 Magazine

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Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/17-12/21 – 303 Magazine


When: Dec 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown: 

Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.





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Denver airport delays, crashes, broken windows, downed power lines: What to know about Colorado’s windy Wednesday

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Denver airport delays, crashes, broken windows, downed power lines: What to know about Colorado’s windy Wednesday


Hurricane-force winds in Colorado on Wednesday had a major impact across the Denver metro area, Front Range, and foothills. It’s a First Alert Weather Day because of the dangerous conditions.

Gusts of over 100 mph — equivalent to a category 2 hurricane — were reported in some parts of the Front Range, and over 100,000 people were without power as of 7 p.m. On Berthoud Pass, between Empire and Winter Park, wind gusts reached at least 102 mph. They reached 97 mph at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Boulder County, 96 mph in Marshall, and 93 mph in West Arvada. 

Several highways were closed, Denver International Airport saw dozens of delays, power lines and other property damage were reported, schools were closed, Denver’s holiday events were canceled, and thousands of homes and businesses were without power after Xcel’s Public Safety Power Shutoff and unplanned outages.

Power shutoff

Xcel Energy was implementing what it calls a Public Safety Shutoff, for only the second time ever in Colorado. An estimated 50,000 people across the Front Range were impacted, mostly in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties.

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Restoration for some areas was expected to start around 6 p.m. Wednesday, but many customers told CBS News Colorado that Xcel told them it could be up to three days before their power is restored.

Downed power lines are seen as a result of powerful winds near Golden, Colorado, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.

CBS


As a result, the Colorado Division of Emergency Management opened charging centers, shelters, and resource centers in the impacted areas.

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Xcel said it shut off the power in these areas because of the combination of wind speeds and dry conditions that increase the chance of wildfires.

Once conditions improve, Xcel Energy Colorado President Robert Kenney said crews will begin inspecting lines to determine when power can be restored.

“Once the wind event stops, that does not mean your power will be immediately restored,” he said. “We have several hundred crew members that are already being pre-positioned, that are on standby, so that when the wind event does end, they will be able to immediately begin inspecting the lines. They have to visually inspect the lines for damage before restoring the power.”

Delayed flights

The Federal Aviation Administration called for a ground delay at Denver International Airport from 5 through 8 p.m., although that’s subject to change, based on evolving weather conditions.

As of about 6:30 p.m., 66 flights were delayed, and one was canceled.

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Wind gusts were recorded at around 40 mph at the airport around 5 p.m.

School closures

Several school districts — including Jefferson County, Colorado’s second-largest — closed schools, and many also canceled after-school activities.

The University of Colorado cancelled classes, but the Buffs’ basketball game against Portland State is continuing, although fans are not allowed to attend.

Highway closures

Several highways in the foothills near Boulder, as well as in Northern Colorado up to the Wyoming state line, were closed. At least one crash also closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 on the Eastern Plains.

Those planned closures included:

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  • Highway 93 between Boulder and Arvada
  • Highway 36 between Boulder and Lyons
  • Highway 128 from Superior to Highway 93 
  • Highway 287 between Ted’s Place and the Wyoming border closed this afternoon, but has since reopened

Damage and other closures

Power lines were reported as having fallen across the Denver metro area, adding to the number of customers without power.

A number of local businesses were also forced to close — some out of caution, others due to a lack of power.

Car and structure windows were also broken by flying debris, like this car in Boulder, whose windows were shattered by small, flying rocks.

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A car window in Boulder, Colorado, was shattered by flying rocks on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.

CBS


Despite losing power around 10 a.m., Ace Hardware in Golden remained open and kept busy, selling generators, flashlights, batteries, and tools and materials to prevent or fix damage.

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Some business owners raised concerns about what a days-long outage could mean for their companies, products, and customers.

“We could lose everything,” DeAnn Wieber, owner of the Windy Saddle Cafe in Golden, said. “We could lose all our food, the time that it took to prepare everything, and we just don’t know. And there’s are a lot of businesses going through the same thing.”

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Canceled due to high winds: Wednesday’s drone show, holiday tree, Christkindlmarket

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Canceled due to high winds: Wednesday’s drone show, holiday tree, Christkindlmarket


Downtown’s Mile High Drone Show, the Denver Christkindlmarket and access to the Mile High Tree have been canceled for Wednesday, Dec. 17, due to high winds, said producers at Visit Denver.



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