DENVER (KDVR) — Denver International Airport sent out some information and changes for travelers exiting the airport over the next week, with the big impact on Pena Boulevard.
DIA said on Monday the project is set to start Tuesday night, Sept. 9, and is expected to last until Tuesday, Sept. 16. A spokesperson for DIA, Michael Konopasek, spoke to FOX31 about the project.
“We’re talking about the area from the terminal over toward Jackson Gap and it will be the outbound lanes with impacts,” said Konopasek. “So that’s leaving the airport.”
Konopasek said there will be a variety of lane closures and details depending on the evening. The whole goal of the project is to keep Pena Boulevard’s infrastructure up.
“After the 17th of this month all of that traffic will be moved onto new pavement, so it’ll be a smoother process as you drive,” he said.
The lane closures will start at 11 p.m. each night and last until 6 a.m. the next morning. Konopasek said they chose the overnight hours since there is less traffic then and it’ll be less of an impact on commuters.
He also noted that, specifically and only on the nights of Sept. 9 and Sept. 16, there will be detours in place as that stretch of Pena Boulevard will be closed. Travelers leaving the airport between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on those two days will be rerouted to westbound E. 78th Avenue and travel on it until they can merge back on Pena Boulevard at Jackson Gap Road.
“The whole focus is to improve the aging infrastructure and to make sure we look at safety,” Konopasek said. “We want to make sure there is enough space on the shoulder and there is enough space with the new traffic alignment so they aren’t weaving too quickly, to make sure it’s a nice smooth journey.”
This project ties in with another project happening, he noted, with the “diverging diamond interchange” that will be at Pena Boulevard and Jackson Gap Road. That project is expected to finish in October, and he said it will look exactly as its name suggests.
“It makes the traffic go on the other side it kinda looks interesting for those who aren’t aware of it, it looks like a diamond,” Konopasek said. “The whole intention of this is to make sure over by the cell phone lot where Jackson Gap is so traffic can continue to move efficiently over there.”
Drivers might also want to keep in mind that with weather and other setbacks, changes to construction timelines can occur.
DIA is also asking drivers to slow down, follow the signs, be patient and be aware of construction workers, noting that police will be out patrolling the area, too.
Travelers can get more information on the Pena Boulevard’s master plan on DIA’s website.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
