Background

The city is working to address recurring travel delays and safety concerns along westbound East Sixth Avenue (State Highway 30) near Aspen Street.

The intersection of East Sixth Avenue and Aspen Street serves as the sole access point to the north side of Buckley Space Force Base.
 
East of Aspen Street, vehicle queues frequently exceed the capacity of the left-turn lane, causing travel delays to traffic continuing west.

Crash data also indicates that the East Sixth Avenue/Aspen Street intersection has a disproportionately high rate of turning-related crashes compared to similar intersections statewide, underscoring the need for safety improvements.

Project Location

The project spans East Sixth Avenue from the Aspen Street intersection to 1,500 feet east of the intersection. Located in northeast Aurora, East Sixth Avenue is a key arterial roadway with an average daily traffic volume of approximately 20,000 vehicles. As part of the state highway system, East Sixth Avenue provides a direct connection to Interstate 225 and lies near both Interstate 70 and E-470. Additionally, East Sixth Avenue forms the northern boundary of Buckley Space Force Base.

Project Goals

• Deliver an effective solution to the existing traffic congestion on westbound East Sixth Avenue near Aspen Street.
• Address intersection safety concerns.

Proposed Improvements

The proposed improvements aim to reduce vehicle queuing and delays along westbound Sixth Avenue. A second westbound left-turn lane will be added to increase storage capacity for traffic entering Buckley Space Force Base. Additionally, a second westbound through lane will begin approximately 1,500 feet east of Aspen Street. The outside shoulder of westbound Sixth Avenue will be widened to four feet. Signal phasing and timing adjustments also will be implemented to optimize traffic operations at the intersection.

Project Timeline

• Design Started: May 2025
• Preliminary Design (30%) Complete: Fall 2025
• Final Design (100%) Complete: Spring/Summer 2026
• Construction: Anticipated 2026

Project Contact

Matt Cresto, Project Manager
303.739.7860 | [email protected]