Construction on the 1,300-space parking garage south of RidgeGate on Havana and the bridge to the end-of-line station for RTD’s Southeast Rail Line has been underway for several months.  The Southeast Rail Line Extension is scheduled to open in 2019.

Article and photo by Patte Smith; map provided by RTD

Motorists who travel north on I-25 can see the immense amount of construction work that has been accomplished on the new 2.3-mile RTD Southeast Rail Line Extension.  Construction crews are hustling on the $233 million project that is set to open in 2019. 

The 1,300-space parking garage is well underway on the Havana street frontage road on the east side of I-25.  A bridge oveÅr RidgeGate to the east of I-25 already spans the parkway, and the bridge over I-25 from Sky Ridge to the future Lone Tree City Center Station is being constructed. 

Another bridge for vehicle traffic, the Sky View Avenue Bridge, is being constructed simultaneously 15 feet south of the light rail bridge from Sky Ridge to the Lone Tree station.  “While the Sky Ridge Avenue Bridge is being constructed at the same time as the Southeast Light Rail Extension, it will not be open to traffic until roads in the Lone Tree City Center are built and there is something to connect to,” noted Keith Simon of Coventry Development.  The planned city center will be an urban neighborhood featuring the light rail station and a mix of office, retail and residential space.

Simon, the president of the Rampart Range Metropolitan District stated, “The district is still evaluating timing for RidgeGateEAST, a development that will be east of I-25, and the infrastructure projects that focus on doing the baseline engineering.  Coventry Development Corporation has been preparing sub-area plans for RidgeGateEAST that will be presented to the City of Lone Tree for approval later in 2017.”

Some lane restrictions and overnight closures will continue to occur as the Southeast Rail Line is constructed.  Visit www.fastracks-comments.com/public/comment.aspx?project=se to get on the email list for closures, updates and the newsletter.

The map shows the new R Line, in bright green, traveling between Lincoln Station in Lone Tree and Nine-Mile Station in Aurora.  The R Line provides access to other RTD FasTracks rail lines.

RTD’s new light rail R Line began running in late February.  The R Line travels from Lincoln Station to eight new station stops including Peoria, Fitzsimons, Colfax, 13th Avenue, 2nd & Abilene, Aurora Metro Center, Florida, Iliff Avenue, and ends at the existing Nine Mile Station in Aurora. 

The line brings light rail service to major centers in Aurora such as the Aurora City Center, Anschutz/Fitzsimons Medical Campus, Children’s Hospital, and the new VA Hospital.  It provides easy connections to the University of Colorado A Line and the H Line, making it easier to get to the airport, the Denver Tech Center or downtown Denver.

The local fare for the R Line is $2.60, but if a trip involves a transfer to another line, fares could cost more depending on the destination.  Discount fares apply for those who are eligible.

For more information on the Southeast Rail Extension and the new R Line, visit www.rtd-denver.com and click on FastTracks.