Full closure of Kalamath Street between Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue begins Oct. 19 for rail reconstruction work

DENVER (Oct. 13, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) continues light rail track reconstruction work at the intersection of Kalamath Street and Colfax Avenue to replace aging rail infrastructure and maintain the long-term integrity of its transit network. On Sunday, Oct. 19, the current alternating lane closures will shift to a full street closure on southbound Kalamath Street from Speer Boulevard to Colfax Avenue as crews perform rail replacement work. The full closure is scheduled to last through Sunday, Oct. 26.

Vehicles traveling south on Champa Street will need to turn left onto southbound Speer Boulevard. Pedestrians and bicyclists traveling on southbound Kalamath Street or 10th Street on the Auraria Campus will continue to be rerouted west to 9th Street and Colfax Avenue to access the bus stop east of Colfax at Auraria Station. Local access will be maintained, and crews may work as late as 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends to minimize the duration of the full closure. All construction activities are schedule- and weather-dependent and subject to change.

“RTD is dedicated to keeping the community and customers informed about progress and timelines during these kinds of infrastructure projects” said RTD Deputy Chief Executive Officer Angel Peña. “The work sequencing on Kalamath Street allows us to minimize the duration of the full street closure and complete the Kalamath Street crossing construction as quickly as possible.”

About the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project

The full-depth reconstruction process involves removing all current track infrastructure, concrete, rail, ties and ballast. RTD has been closely working with the City and County of Denver to discuss lane closures and develop traffic detour plans. The Kalamath Street crossing work is part of phase 3 of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project to upgrade RTD’s oldest light rail infrastructure and maintain a state of good repair.

The work is part of a multi-year, $152 million project to reconstruct miles of light rail track in downtown Denver — the first project of this magnitude in RTD’s history. During the initial phase, which took place in 2024, crews reconstructed five intersections in Denver’s Downtown Loop. This year’s work involves a full reconstruction of the light rail crossing located near the intersection of Kalamath Street and Colfax Avenue. The 86-day period of work began on Sept. 15 and is scheduled to be completed on Nov. 27.

The rail reconstruction project is designed to strengthen and modernize RTD’s infrastructure for long-term reliability and safety. At the Kalamath intersection, the project will incorporate durable concrete panels to enhance track performance under heavy vehicle traffic. By using more resilient materials, RTD is investing in infrastructure that better supports current and future transportation needs.

Continued Connections and Alternative Service

During the planned maintenance work, RTD will focus on maintaining customers’ connections to and from their destinations with as little disruption as possible. Recognizing some regular light rail service will be affected by the planned reconstruction work, the following options are available to support customers:

• D Line: Rerouted to serve Union Station. Customers can easily connect to the Downtown Loop using the 16th Street FreeRide or Free MetroRide.
• No service at Colfax at Auraria Station through the Downtown Loop. The bus stop east of Colfax at Auraria Station will remain open to serve Bus Route 16.
• H Line: Operating between the Florida and Southmoor Stations. No service between Southmoor Station and the Downtown Loop. Customers will need to transfer to/from E Line at Southmoor.
• L Line: Suspended. Customers can use Bus Route 43 as an alternative.

Customers who may be impacted by the maintenance work are encouraged to sign up for RTD’s Service Alerts, use the agency’s NextRide app, or contact customer support at 303.299.6000. For construction-related questions, contact the project team at [email protected].

2026 Reconstruction Work

RTD will begin subsequent project phases in 2026, and some work may occur simultaneously. The agency’s project team, is in the process of developing comprehensive reconstruction plans and timelines for the future phases, which include:

• Colfax Avenue alignment reconstruction
• Downtown Loop midblock sections
• Welton Street corridor improvements

A project overview is available at rtd-denver.com/railproject, and the agency will continue to regularly post status updates and information.

The website has an overview of project phases, timelines, video, photos, illustrations, maps, and detour information. Throughout the project’s duration, RTD will also actively engage with the community through multiple activities to ensure customers and the public remain informed about current and future work.