T-REX on Track for Nov. 17 Opening/Berthoud Parkway Opens/ECCV Completes H2'06

T-REX officials celebrated last month the substantial completion of construction on Denver's landmark transportation project. The $1.67 billion, multi-modal project will be officially finished on Nov. 17 with the opening of the southeast light rail line.

T-REX Celebrates End of Major Construction

The T-REX Project celebrated the substantial completion of construction on Aug. 22, reopening the remaining Interstate 25 "narrows" ramps that were closed in 2001. All highway ramps and travel lanes are now open and in their final alignments.

The entire project will be officially finished on Nov. 17 when the southeast light rail line opens to the public.

Between now and then, Southeast Corridor Constructors, the T-REX contractor, will continue minor finishing work throughout the corridor, including items such as landscaping and "intelligent transportation system" and light rail testing, construction at light rail stations and at park-n-rides.

Berthoud Parkway Opens, Full Completion This Month

The U.S. Highway 287 Berthoud Parkway opened to traffic in July after nearly three-and-a-half years of construction. While the 5.2-mile bypass is open to traffic, the entire project is not complete, and a small portion of the parkway is still in a temporary alignment.

When the project is complete, old Highway 287 between Mountain Avenue in Berthoud and Larimer County Road 12 and the segment south of Bert's Corner will be turned over to the town of Berthoud.

Sema Construction Co Inc. is the contractor of the $26.5 million project, which should be complete by the end of this month.

ECCV Completes Cooperative South Metro Water Pipeline

The East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District has completed H2'06, its collaborative, renewable water project. The project includes construction of a 31-mi. pipeline, pump stations and other infrastructure. ECCV partnered with members of the South Metro Water Supply Authority to increase the size of the pipeline, giving communities the opportunity to bring their own supplies southward.

Because many suburban Denver communities rely solely on aquifers and wells for water, ECCV for years researched a renewable water source to serve its 50,000 customers in unincorporated Arapahoe County and Centennial. In December 2003, the district announced an agreement to buy South Platte River water rights from United Water and Sanitation District and Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Co., an irrigation water provider in Adams and Weld counties.

Denver-based Camp, Dresser & McKee Inc. was the design consultant for the project, working with district engineers Meurer and Associates.

Permits Granted for Construction, Re-Drilling of Denver Basin Wells

Denver Wells LLC, a subsidiary of Southwestern Investment Group Inc., is re-drilling four Denver Basin wells owned by Denver Wells and one additional well owned by a third party.

The wells will yield approximately 2000 acre ft per year at a rate of 300 gal. per minute.

Construction began this spring on the first well - Webber No. 1, located just north of Interstate 70 near the National Western Stock Show complex - and as of this month, water is flowing to the Platte River via an abandoned storm sewer.

The remaining sites are expected to be complete by next spring.

Click here for more Infrastructure News >>