Sheridan Corridor Multimodal Plan

March 2026

At the March 3, 2026 Edgewater City Council meeting, CDOT Project Manager Everett Bacon and the design team presented an update on the Sheridan Boulevard Corridor Safety Improvements project. The presentation covered the current state of the design, key changes from the original corridor plan, and the timeline to construction.

The full presentation is available in the Documents Section of the site.

Schedule

The project is in final design and on track to complete plans and specifications by August 2026, with the project advertised for contractor bids in September–October 2026. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, with a duration of approximately 12 to 16 months.

A Key Design Change & Why It Still Meets the Goal

The original Sheridan Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Plan called for moving the west curb line, physically narrowing the roadway to address the well-known problem of drivers using the wide southbound shoulder as an unofficial travel lane.

During engineering and cost estimation, the design team determined that relocating the curb line would require moving storm drainage infrastructure buried several feet underground, as well as rebuilding road grades across a significant portion of the corridor. The cost of that work would have substantially exceeded the project's available budget.

In response, the design team developed an alternative approach using a combination of raised center medians, floating islands, and curb extensions (bulb-outs). These elements work together to narrow the effective driving surface, restrict unsafe turning movements, and create a physical buffer between pedestrians and moving traffic. This meets the corridor's safety and traffic-calming goals without requiring major drainage reconstruction. Floating islands are specifically designed to allow stormwater to pass around them, eliminating the need to relocate existing drainage inlets.

What the Finished Corridor Will Feel Like

For those reviewing the presentation slides, it helps to understand what the design is responding to. What looks like a four-lane road on Sheridan today is, in practice, operating more like six lanes, drivers regularly use the wide center turn lane and the southbound shoulder as through lanes. The project is designed to change that by eliminating excess pavement.

The slides include a photo of Federal Boulevard as a reference point for what the finished Sheridan corridor is intended to resemble: a road with a landscaped center median, clearly defined travel lanes, and a more comfortable environment for people on foot. The design drawings show north to the right, which is worth keeping in mind when reading the before-and-after comparisons at each segment.

A few specific details worth noting: the new mid-block pedestrian crossing (HAWK signal) between 22nd and 24th Avenues was sited at that location based on pedestrian count data, proximity to existing bus stops, and the concentration of pedestrian activity on the north side of Sloan's Lake. Near 26th Avenue, the existing sidewalk on the east side of Sheridan is currently just three feet wide, well below the four-foot minimum and five-foot standard, and the project will bring it up to the five-foot target, requiring a modest shift of the travel lanes to accommodate the space.

Construction: What to Expect

Construction work will occur primarily during nighttime hours (approximately 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), similar to the Denver Water pipe replacement currently underway on the corridor. All lanes of Sheridan Boulevard will remain open to traffic during daytime hours throughout construction.

Property owners and businesses along the corridor are being notified of changes to driveway access through a formal permitting process. Right-of-way and easement notifications are being issued beginning Spring 2026. During construction, the contractor will manage direct outreach to affected properties in accordance with CDOT specifications.

Starting January 2026, Denver Water will begin a major pipe replacement project on Sheridan Boulevard. They’ll be replacing about 8,000 feet of aging water mains beneath the roadway. This is separate from the City of Edgewater’s Sheridan Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Project, but the timing is intentional so utility work is completed before the multimodal project begins.

Water service for City of Edgewater water customers will not be affected. Customers billed directly by Denver Water will be notified by Denver Water if any outages are planned during construction.

What to expect from Denver Water’s project

• Work hours: To minimize traffic and business impacts, most work will take place Sunday–Thursday nights, roughly 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

• Phase 1 (17th to 29th Ave): Expected to last about nine months.

• Next phase (17th to 13th Ave): Follows immediately after.

• Overall timeline: Work is anticipated to continue into early 2027.

Learn more on Denver Water's project page.

The project is currently in the CDOT design phase. The overall goal is to provide a corridor that is safer, accessible, and more comfortable for all users who travel to, from, and along Sheridan Boulevard.

Proposed revised Sheridan Boulevard cross-section featuring the elements described below.

Project Improvements include:

• Add wider sidewalks and curb extensions along Sheridan Boulevard for more comfortable travel. Curb extensions (Figure 1 example below) reduce pedestrian crossing distances and slow motorist turning speeds, creating a safer environment for all users.
• Install Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon midblock crossing (Figure 2 & Figure 3 examples below) between 22^nd Avenue and 24^th Avenue providing safe and accessible access to and from Edgewater to Sloan’s Lake Park.
• Install enhanced transit stops along the corridor.
• Redesign driveways between W 20th and W 17th Avenues to slow turning traffic to enhance pedestrian safety.
• Provide additional landscaping (Figure 4 example below) along Sheridan Boulevard, including trees, planters, and vegetation.
• Additional and updated lighting to add character and pedestrian amenities along Sheridan Boulevard.
• Add a center median to reduce approach turn and broadside crashes for vehicles.

Figure 1: Curb Extensions

Figure 2: Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Brighton Blvd and 33^rd Street

Figure 3: Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Brighton Blvd and 33^rd Street

Figure 4: Curb Extension with Landscaping

The Sheridan Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Plan was adopted by City Council in Ocotober, 2022.

City Council Resolution

Sheridan Blvd Multimodal Corridor Plan

Thank you to all the community members that participated in the creation of this plan!