The Colorado Department of Transportation announced on April 1 that the Oxford Road median between northbound and southbound Colorado Highway 119/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 as crews work on constructing a raised bikeway crossing and widening the road to extend deceleration lanes.
The temporary closure aims to minimize disruptions for travelers while allowing necessary improvements as part of the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Improvements Project. According to officials, closing the median entirely for a month will reduce overall impacts compared to continuously shifting barriers and traffic flow around ongoing operations over several months.
During this period, access through the Oxford Road median will be restricted, but local property owners near the work area will still have access. Detours are in place: westbound motorists are directed northbound past Oxford Road before looping back via Airport Road; eastbound motorists and cyclists are rerouted via Niwot Road. Work schedules may change depending on conditions.
By 2040, traffic along Diagonal Highway between Boulder and Longmont is projected to increase by 25 percent, potentially leading to more congestion and crashes. The current project includes new signage, improved signal timing at intersections such as Jay Road and Airport Road, a commuter bikeway with local connections between highway directions, reconfiguration of key intersections like CO 52 for safety enhancements and Bus Rapid Transit stations, as well as changes at Airport Road designed to reduce crashes.
According to the official website, the Colorado Department of Transportation works toward integrated transportation solutions that improve quality of life for residents across Colorado. The department also aims for an effective multi-modal system that safely moves people and goods while meeting environmental standards according to its official site. Shoshana Lew serves as executive director according to official information. CDOT oversees state transportation infrastructure including highways while supporting aviation and transit through grants as outlined online.
Construction along CO 119/Diagonal Highway will generally maintain existing configurations with periodic lane shifts or closures; further notices will precede any major changes or detours during construction. Kraemer North America is managing construction efforts.
