Wadsworth and Morrison Road

Wadsworth-Morrison intersection improvementsAerial view of irrigation work on wadsworth and morrison roads

Lakewood, in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Transportation, is starting a $7 million project to improve safety, accessibility and park access at the intersection of Wadsworth Boulevard and Morrison Road.

February/March Update:

  • The northbound left turn lane from Wadsworth Boulevard onto westbound Morrison Road will be closed for the next several months. Drivers can use Jewell or Yale avenues as detours or enter westbound Morrison from southbound Wadsworth.
  • Night work is expected to begin March 3 and will last approximately two weeks. A single lane northbound and southbound will closed from 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. to shift traffic to another lane for irrigation ditch and storm sewer pipe construction across Wadsworth. This work will occur adjacent to the intersection just south of Morrison.
  • Beginning March 8, weekend work could occur. Saturday work will be shut down by midnight Saturday and limited from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
  • Retaining wall construction on the west side of Wadsworth near the Morrison intersection has begun to make room for adding a southbound acceleration lane and wider sidewalk on Wadsworth.
  • In the upcoming months, traffic will be shifted to allow for storm sewer installation across Wadsworth.

January 2025 Update:

  • Xcel overhead electric relocations are complete. Remaining communication lines on the poles are scheduled to be relocated this month and then the remaining poles will be removed.
  • NORAA Concrete is installing storm sewer facilities on the east side of Wadsworth, south of Morrison Road
  • Retaining wall construction on the west side of Wadsworth near the Morrison intersection has begun to make room for adding a southbound acceleration lane and wider sidewalk on Wadsworth.
  • In the upcoming months, traffic will be shifted to allow for storm sewer installation across Wadsworth.

October 2024 Update:

  • Xcel overhead power relocations are nearly completed and existing overhead poles are anticipated to be moved by the end of October.
  • Project contractor, NORAA Concrete, is back on site to begin removal of the existing median north and south of the Morrison Road intersection. Construction will shift traffic to the east to make room on the west side of the road to construct a new retaining wall, sidewalk, and storm sewer.
  • Grading and storm sewer installation has begun on the east side of Wadsworth.

April 2024 update
Work on this project has been temporarily stopped because of the following issues:

  • Pipe work is needed to carry irrigation water from ditch companies under the intersection, and that pipe work was unable to be completed before April 1 when ditch companies start providing water to their users. This work will now have to wait until November when the ditch companies turn off the irrigation water.
  • Xcel Energy must move current overhead powerlines underground in the area of the intersection, and construction on the intersection improvements can’t proceed until Xcel conducts this work. When Xcel completes its work, the city’s contractor can begin the replacement process for the traffic signals. The current Xcel schedule indicates the work for placing the power lines underground will be finished mid-July. Beginning in May, Xcel crews will be in the area to begin work to relocate power lines, which is unrelated to the city’s intersection project. Any concerns about this relocation work needs to be directed to Xcel Energy.

The improvements including the following:

  • Construct a missing link of a shared-use path on the east side of Wadsworth from Woodard Drive south to Vassar Avenue at the Lakewood city boundary.
  • Reconstruct approximately 2000 feet of Wadsworth and a portion of Morrison Road to enhance safety and create an east leg that will provide access to Peak View Park.
  • Install a new traffic signal.
  • Create double left turn lanes for eastbound Morrison to northbound Wadsworth.
  • Create a through-lane for right turns from eastbound Morrison to southbound Wadsworth.
  • Add a left turn lane on southbound Wadsworth to Peak View Park.
  • Add an acceleration lane on southbound Wadsworth from Morrison for right turns.
  • Add a deceleration lane on northbound Wadsworth for right turns into Peak View Park.
  • Add an acceleration lane on northbound Wadsworth for right turns from Peak View Park.
  • Upgrade ADA accessible ramps.
  • Install additional pedestrian access to Peak View Park along new Wadsworth sidewalk.

The city has received two federal grants of nearly $5 million to pay for this project, and the city is contributing about $2 million from funds that Lakewood voters designated to be spent on transportation improvements.

Contact information:
Jay Swenson                                                                              Eric King
Project Manager for contractor Noraa Concrete           City of Lakewood Project Manager
303-637-9233                                                                            erikin@lakewood.org 

Back to top