The Colorado Department of Transportation announced on April 1 that the Oxford Road median between northbound and southbound Colorado Highway 119, also known as the Diagonal Highway, will be closed to all modes of transportation beginning at 7 a.m. on Thursday, April 9. The closure is expected to last about one month and is part of the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Improvements Project.
The closure aims to allow crews to build a raised bikeway crossing and widen the road for longer deceleration lanes. Officials said access through the Oxford Road median will be prohibited during this time, but local property owners near the construction zone will still have access.
To help travelers navigate around the closure, westbound motorists are directed to continue northbound on CO 119 past Oxford Road, turn left onto Airport Road median, then return southbound on CO 119 before turning right onto Oxford Road. Eastbound motorists and cyclists should turn right onto southbound CO 119/Diagonal Highway, then left at Niwot Road median before accessing northbound CO 119.
Project planners said closing the median entirely for a month would minimize disruption compared with shifting barriers over several months. The project is designed to improve safety in the corridor, maximize traffic flow and operational efficiency at intersections like Jay Road, Niwot Road and Airport Road, enhance transit travel times and ridership, and increase opportunities for bicycle commuting with new bikeways and connections.
According to the official website, by the year 2040 vehicular traffic along this stretch of highway between Boulder and Longmont is expected to rise by about a quarter. This could lead to more congestion, delays and crashes if improvements are not made.
The Colorado Department of Transportation oversees transportation infrastructure across Colorado as outlined on its official website. It works in highway maintenance as well as support for aviation and transit according to its website. Shoshana Lew serves as executive director according to agency information.
Work schedules may change based on conditions. Additional updates will be provided ahead of any major closures or detours during construction.
