Parker Road Overpass for High Plains Trail

High Plains Trail Connector Project

The High Plains Trail Connector project suspended construction on Friday, March 31. The suspension is expected to delay until June due to waiting on bridge fabrication parts to continue the next phase. No lane closures are planned for the duration of the suspension. The project will start back up again in June.

Construction on the High Plains Trail connector project began in April 2022 and is expected to be completed in early summer 2023. This $5.2 million multimodal project will connect two major regional trails including the Cherry Creek Regional Trail and the High Plains Trail. The first phase of the regional connection project will install a grade-separated overcrossing at Parker Road, which will connect to the existing Cherry Creek Regional Trail. Work will begin just north of Preservation Park & Trailhead and will move east across S. Parker Road (near mile marker 63). Planned improvements include: pedestrian bridge installation, trail enhancements, and landscape/irrigation improvements.

Construction for this first phase is scheduled to be completed in early summer 2023 and the next phase of construction will start once Prairie Point within the City of Aurora begins development.

Traffic Impacts

Through the project duration, there will be single-lane closures on S. Parker Rd between the 17 Mile House Farm Park and Preservation Park & Trailhead (mile markers 63-63.7) at the border of Centennial and the Town of Parker. The single-lane closures (both southbound and northbound at various times) should not impact nearby residents, and the work will occur weekdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Later in the project, Parker Road is expected to be fully closed overnight when crews set the bridge and pour the concrete bridge deck. During this closure, a detour will be in place for travelers. Details of this detour will be shared ahead of the work to alert drivers and residents that alternate routes are recommended. Every effort is being made to minimize any disruption in traffic flow.

Ultimately, travelers can expect very minimal daytime and nighttime traffic impacts as the project progresses. Minor impacts to bicycle and pedestrian access will be required. Access to transit stops will be maintained throughout construction.

For inquiries or to receive project and construction updates, please email the project team at highplainstrailproject@gmail.com.

MAY: Looking west at the existing High Plains Trail, which is a branch of the Cherry Creek Trail system. A new pedestrian bridge will tie into the existing trail.
MAY: Looking north towards the historical 17 Mile House Farm Park along the west side of S Parker Rd.
JUNE: Fill operations on the West side in preparation for berm build
JUNE: Drill operations for drilling shaft caissons in preparation to lay the bridge foundation
JUNE: Swinging rebar cage being placed in drilled shaft caissons in preparation for concrete pour
JUNE: Closeup of the rebar cage
AUG: Completed caissons that will hold the bridge foundation
AUG: This box culvert (tunnel) will provide ADA access to get people to the top of the bridge
AUG: This box culvert (tunnel) will provide ADA access to get people to the top of the bridge
OCT: First bridge abutment concrete pour on the west side of South Parker Road. Abutments are the bridge ends that provide vertical support to help carry the load of the bridge superstructure.
OCT: Bridge abutment pour continued
OCT: Bridge abutment pour continued
DEC: Finishing the concrete box culvert deck, which will be the access point for pedestrians and bikes to go from one side of the bridge to the other
DEC: Installation of the Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls
DEC: These MSE Walls were designed with both panels and steel straps to retain the compacted structural fill in the middle and help carry the bridge load.
DEC: These MSE Walls were designed with both panels and steel straps to retain the compacted structural fill in the middle and help carry the bridge load.
FEB: Construction Progress
FEB: Construction Progress
FEB: Construction Progress
FEB: Construction Progress
FEB: Construction Progress
MARCH: Pouring the roundabout walking path leading to bridge overpass from Cherry Creek Trail
MARCH: Pouring the deck walkway on top of the MSE walls

Project Background

This project is an extension of the High Plains Trail, a regional trail recently constructed along E-470 that extends from Stephen D. Hogan Parkway to Ireland Way at the Arapahoe/Douglas County line.

Funding for the trail connection project is provided by Arapahoe County, Town of Parker, City of Aurora, City of Centennial, Douglas County, and E-470 Public Highway Authority. The partner group has also secured funding from Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) and a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO).

The project will improve regional trail connectivity, provide a safer crossing at S. Parker Road, improve neighborhood access to the larger Denver regional trail network, and enhance quality of life for residents.

Planned Improvements

Following the E-470 Widening Project, various local counties secured funding for the design and construction of the recommended trail connector project, for which some of the major improvements include:

A new pedestrian bridge spanning South Parker Road
A new pedestrian trail connecting High Plains Trail to Cherry Creek Trail
Landscape/irrigation improvements

Project History & Schedule

Beginning of design phase: 2018
Data gathering: 2018
Preliminary design: 2018
Final design and environmental clearance: 2021
Right-of-Way Plans and Acquisitions: 2021
Construction: May 2022 to early summer 2023