Background
In 2021 CDOT launched the I-25: Speer Boulevard and 23rd Avenue Bridge and Interchange project to study and evaluate replacing the bridges that cross over I-25 in Central Denver. They need replacement for the safety of all travelers. Currently there are no bike or pedestrian facilities on the north side of Speer Boulevard and the south side of 23rd Avenue. The lack of these facilities leaves connectivity gaps in the bike and pedestrian infrastructure.23rd Avenue Current condition
23rd Ave current condition
Alternative: “Close 23rd Avenue Interchange with I-25 Alternative”
23rd Ave interchange removal option
CDOT has several proposals for 23rd Ave. The obvious answer is the removal of the interchange to make this a more human-scale place to move about. It is unnecessary to have this many on-ramps into downtown; in this case, traffic would continue to use the redundant Speer exit.
To show support for this alternative you can use our example text as a starting point and send comments via this form: https://www.codot.gov/projects/studies/i25speerand23rd/comments
I support the option “Close 23rd Avenue Interchange with I-25 Alternative” for redesigning the 23rd Ave bridge reconstruction. Due to the redundant number of downtown exits for I-25, I believe that we can remake the 23rd Avenue bridge into a space that is safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, and rolling to their destinations.
The 23rd Avenue bridge is one of the few connections across I-25 but in its current form, it is neither safe nor comfortable to use. Because we can maintain access to destinations along this route and redesign the bridge to be more people-centered I strongly support removing this interchange and designing the bridge to safely accommodate people moving outside of a vehicle.