long-planned reconstruction of popular pedestrian mall advances

Nearly $13 million in federal funding for the reconstruction of Denver’s 16th Street Mall is in the offing as the result of an intergovernmental agreement between both the city and county of Denver, as well as the Regional Transportation District.

Area officials have for years wanted to substantially upgrade what is arguably one of the most popular pedestrian throughways in the West.

Launched in 1980 and designed by internationally acclaimed architect I.M. Pei, the tree-lined mall encompasses more than thirty historic structures built in the 1800s, and includes restaurants, pubs, shops, public seating, and entertainment venue spaces.

Reconstruction plans for the mall include widening its sidewalks for walkers and café seating, and, most importantly, realigning the path used by the RTD’s shuttle busses to the middle of the mall.

City documents have described the project as one that includes a “spatial reorganization and rebuilding of the transit way lanes and pedestrian spaces.”

The project will additionally include intersection improvements, lighting replacements, upgrades to traffic control and utility devices, and new signage.

The intergovernmental agreement, which was approved last month by the council’s Finance and Governance Committee, is expected to come before the council later this month.
​
Actual work on the 16th Street Mall is scheduled to begin sometime next year.

​By Garry Boulard

---