Wheat Ridge combats traffic congestion with new continuous flow intersections
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) — Denver's increased traffic is affecting several communities around the metro area.
Wheat Ridge will use continuous flow intersections (CFIs) to remedy backups along Wadsworth Boulevard between 38th and 44th streets.
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'It's absolutely awful, it's really impossible to get in here to get groceries,' one resident told FOX31.
Wheat Ridge Police Department spokesperson Alex Rose said traffic accidents were up 13% in 2024 from the year before but staff is conducting increased patrols and citations increased by 50% last year. Maria D'Andrea, Wheat Ridge's director of public works, said CFIs will have an immediate impact on driver safety.
'The city initiated this project even though it's on a CDOT-maintained roadway because it was important for our community to ease traffic,' D'Andrea said.
Drivers already see new covered stoplights over Wadsworth Boulevard. Animation provided to FOX31 by Wheat Ridge shows how CFIs shift left-turn traffic across Wadsworth Boulevard in a special lane that moves toward the next intersection, keeping traffic moving and creating fewer backups.'Signage and the striping on the pavement will guide you through,' said D'Andrea.
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Rose said that CFIs can prevent and reduce the impact of left-hand turn crashes and make things safer for pedestrians using newly upgraded sidewalks in the area.
'We wish that people, in general, would be attentive all the time but specifically in the stretch moving forward once this change comes online because it is different and it's going to be an adjustment,' said Rose.
Some drivers who viewed the CFI animation told FOX31 they are happy to know the city is constructing the intersections, others say they fear they will be confused about how to use them.
'It is a little bit different but once you do it once or twice it's really easy,' said D'Andrea.
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The city will provide drivers with information about how to use the intersections on its website where residents can sign up for notifications. Drivers can also find information on the city's social media pages and on the What's Up Wheat Ridge webpage. The CFI project cost is approximately $82 million, which makes it the largest infrastructure project ever led by the city. More than 75% of funding comes from federal, state, and regional partners. The city told FOX31 that Wheat Ridge voters approved a sales tax increase in 2016 to support a portion of the project.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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