US 6 & Wadsworth Boulevard Interchange Improvements

About the Project

Since the original interchange at US 6 (also known as 6th Avenue) and Wadsworth Boulevard was constructed in the 1950s, the Denver Metro Area has seen explosive population growth, resulting in an increase in crashes and congestion across the region. CDOT began planning efforts to improve this interchange more than 15 years ago after determining the interchange was no longer able to meet existing and future transportation needs.

Project Facts

  • Cost: $202 million (all five phases)
  • Contractor: 
  • Timeline: 2014 to 2028
    • Design completion: Late 2025
    • Construction: Summer 2026 to 2029
  • Location: US 6 and Wadsworth 
    • Nearest Town/City: Lakewood
    • Mile Point(s): 
    • County: Jefferson

An Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed for the project in 2009, and in March 2010 a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued, which identified a set of improvements in the interchange area and provided environmental clearance.

Design and construction of these planned improvements has been occurring since 2014, with individual project phases being conducted as funding was identified. While portions of the project have been completed adjacent to the interchange area, the larger interchange reconstruction, completion of connections for pedestrians and bicyclists, and additional noise mitigation remain the largest and most critical improvements still needed. Design and updated environmental clearance activities for the full interchange are currently underway and construction is anticipated to begin in early Summer 2026. Information about each phase can be found in the Resources section of this page.

Project Area

The US 6 and Wadsworth Boulevard project is located within Jefferson County. The entire project limits extend along Wadsworth Boulevard from 4th Avenue to Colfax Avenue and along US 6 from the eastern interchange ramps at Wadsworth west to Meadowlark Drive. The interchange area is located within the City of Lakewood.

Project Benefits

  • Improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists
  • Create better traffic flow
  • Provide additional travel options for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Replace the structurally deficient US 6 bridge over Wadsworth Boulevard
  • Address neighborhood concerns about cut-through traffic by converting portions of frontage roads to two-way traffic
  • Reduce noise impacts to adjacent residents with new noise walls

Work Schedule & Timeline

The US 6 and Wadsworth Boulevard project construction is expected to be completed in 2028. Construction is divided into five phases:

  • Phase 1: Wadsworth from 10th Avenue to West Colfax Avenue - Construction completed in 2015
  • Phase 2: Wadsworth from 10th Avenue to Highland Drive - Construction completed in 2020
  • Phase 3: Southwest Quadrant Improvements - Construction completed January 2025
  • Phase 4: Phase 4: US 6 & Wadsworth Interchange Reconstruction - Design completion expected late 2025 with construction expected to begin in early Summer 2026
  • Phase 5: Two Creeks Water Quality Pond – Design from late 2023 through mid-2024.

Traffic Impacts

  • Refer to COtrip.org for real-time travel conditions and road closures