We are excited to announce that construction is underway to close the largest trail gap on the High Line Canal trail!

 

The Canal had an approximate three-mile gap from Colfax Ave. in Aurora, north to Denver’s Green Valley Ranch neighborhood. While trail users could walk along the old ditch rider’s road, a two track dirt trail that is still present through this area, a formal trail had never been constructed. In 2020, the City of Aurora completed the construction of more than one mile of trail. This construction laid Canal trail from north of I-70, connecting the new construction to the existing trail in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood that borders Aurora.

 

In January of 2023, the City of Aurora, in collaboration with American Civil Constructors, kicked off construction to close the remainder of this gap by constructing nearly two-miles of trail from Colfax Ave. to the trail north of I-70.

 

Once complete, this once three-mile trail gap will now have:

  • A continuous eight-foot-wide concrete trail
  • One pedestrian bridge (south of Smith Road)
  • One overpass (over I-70 just east of the Tower Road interchange)
  • An upgraded railroad crossing at Tower Road to promote pedestrian and cyclist safety

 

The Plan for the High Line Canal laid out the importance of closing trail gaps and we could not be more pleased to see this gap closing! Connecting the northern sections will significantly improve access to the 71-mile High Line Canal trail and connect some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the region.

 

The City of Aurora has been granted federal funds through the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to help pay for the trail construction. The city is using capital improvement funding as a matching amount. Thank you, DRCOG and other funding partners: Conservation Trust Fund, Adams County Open Spaces Grant and Adams County Open Space Tax Shareback.

 

We anticipate that in early 2024 construction will be complete. In the meantime, there may be intermittent vehicular and pedestrian delays. Visit the City of Aurora’s website to stay up to date on construction.