The Colorado Department of Transportation recently finished a safety project aimed at reducing collisions at a notoriously hazardous interchange in the northern part of the city. The work was designed to improve traffic safety by reducing crashes at the junction of two state highways, with upgrades focused on southbound Highway 83 slightly north of where it becomes Interquest Parkway, at the point where North Powers Boulevard — Highway 21 — ends.
The interchange had drawn concern following a string of serious collisions. The city's deputy public works director noted that over the preceding months, several major traffic crashes had occurred involving drivers going southbound on Highway 83 and turning onto southbound Powers.
CDOT's solution was to add a second left-turn lane and a second left-turn signal on southbound Highway 83. When those signals are green, they stop northbound Highway 83 traffic to allow for safer turning onto Powers. The change represents a significant shift in how the intersection is controlled. Previously, the left turn was permissive — meaning drivers could proceed if the road appeared clear. Now, the movement is protected, with two dedicated turn lanes in place.
The city's involvement in the project stems from its ongoing work with CDOT to eventually redesign the interchange as part of a broader effort to extend Powers Boulevard north to Interstate 25. That longer-range initiative means the recently completed improvements may be considered an interim measure at a location expected to see continued development in the years ahead.
The current status of the Powers Boulevard extension project and its timeline for redesigning the interchange remains to be reported.