Construction crews have started digging into the ground near Parker Road and I-225 in Aurora, kicking off work on a $9.3 million pedestrian bridge that's been in the pipeline for 14 years. The span will link the Nine Mile RTD station to homes and businesses on the north side of the road, giving people a way to cross without dodging traffic or hopping the center median.
A Long-Delayed Project Finally Moves Forward
The project has been in development since 2012. As reported by Denver7, rising construction costs led Aurora to pause the work in 2022. The city later revised the design and scope to fit the available budget. The bridge is intended to give pedestrians and cyclists a more direct crossing and improve connections in the area.
Aurora says people walking or biking now have to go farther to reach a signalized crossing, and that some pedestrians cross Parker Road at an undesignated location, sometimes going over the center median. The bridge is intended to provide a direct route across the road for residents, business owners and shoppers in this redeveloping stretch of Aurora.
Parker Road Is A Barrier Near Nine Mile
Aurora’s Nine Mile Station Area Plan describes Parker Road as a heavily travelled, six-lane roadway where vehicle speeds and traffic volumes pose a formidable barrier to safe pedestrian crossing. The bridge would address that barrier with a crossing linking the station to the north side of Parker Road.
What Drivers Can Expect In The Coming Months
Construction is being staged to limit disruption. The initial phase focuses on relocating underground utilities, with crews expected to remain on-site through November before pausing and returning in March to build the pedestrian ramps. The bridge structure is being built off-site.
Weekday lane closures are planned outside peak travel hours: southbound Parker Road may have a single-lane closure from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and northbound Parker Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each closure is expected to last about 10 minutes or less. Traffic signals will continue to allow pedestrians time to cross.
Bigger Closures Coming When The Bridge Goes In
The bridge installation is expected to require one or two full weekend closures of Parker Road in late summer. Aurora says it will provide advance notice and conduct public outreach before setting dates.
The project also appears on a regional list of transportation investments. The Denver Regional Council of Governments includes the Nine Mile Station Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge over Parker Road in its project documentation, formally tying the local effort to the broader metro area's planning records. Aurora is aiming to wrap up the entire project by fall 2027.
