Centennial’s Colorado Boulevard project could bring lane changes and new paths this fall

Centennial is preparing a major redesign of Colorado Boulevard between Arapahoe Road and Dry Creek Road, but the city has not established a firm construction start date for the planned 2026 work.

The roughly one-mile project is intended to change how the corridor serves drivers, people walking and people biking. Centennial describes it as a multimodal improvement project rather than a routine resurfacing or lane-maintenance job.

What the project is expected to change

The regional project description calls for reducing the roadway from five lanes to three and constructing a separated bike and pedestrian facility. The city describes the planned facilities as separated shared-use paths intended to improve walking and cycling connections along the Colorado Boulevard corridor.

The project also includes proposed traffic-calming features and improvements intended to provide better visibility and access at intersections and neighborhood streets. Centennial’s second-quarter newsletter says the final design was presented at a May 13 open house, but that does not mean the construction logistics are finalized.

For drivers, the practical takeaway is that the corridor could eventually have fewer vehicle lanes or a different allocation of roadway space. People who walk or bike are expected to receive a more separated route, while nearby residents may see changes at access points where neighborhood streets meet Colorado Boulevard.

Funding comes largely from outside Centennial

The project has up to $9.4 million in funding through the Denver Regional Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program. About 90% of the funding is expected to come from federal and state sources, with an estimated city contribution of approximately $950,000.

Centennial’s roadway program identifies the Colorado Boulevard work as part of a broader regional transportation effort involving the city, the Colorado Department of Transportation and DRCOG. The regional program description covers the Arapahoe Road-to-Dry Creek Road segment.

Why the construction timing remains uncertain

City materials anticipate construction beginning in late summer or early fall 2026. That is a planning window, not a confirmed start date.

DRCOG’s April 2026 Transportation Improvement Program Status Report listed utility clearances, easement acquisition and responses to 100% design comments among the project’s active items. The report identified construction as the phase to initiate but did not provide a fixed start date.

As of July 26, 2026, the available information does not confirm the exact construction date, traffic-control setup, temporary closures, detours or project duration. Those details will need to come through later city or project updates.

What residents should watch next

The design intent is more defined than the construction logistics. Residents, commuters and people who regularly use Colorado Boulevard should watch for updates confirming the start date, lane arrangements, access changes and any temporary traffic controls.

Until those details are published, the safest description is that Centennial is planning a multimodal Colorado Boulevard redesign for 2026, with late summer or early fall as the anticipated window rather than a guaranteed construction date.

Sources

• City of Centennial: Colorado Boulevard Multimodal Improvements
• DRCOG April 2026 Transportation Improvement Program Status Report

Look for updates to this story

Related News

• Richmond plans safety upgrades at 700 intersections, starting this fall
• Durham Downtown Traffic Shifts This Week as Waterline Work Closes Dillard Street
• Capital Boulevard North upgrade enters geotechnical phase as Wake Forest corridor moves toward final design
• Little Rock approves $25,000 engineering increase for Hilaro Springs Bridge replacement