Completion of High Line Canal Underpass at Yale Avenue

Completion of High Line Canal Underpass at Yale Avenue

Published on October 27, 2026

Denver - Representatives from Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), Denver City Council President and District 4 representative Diana Romero Campbell, Arapahoe County officials, and community partners celebrated the completion of the High Line Canal Trail underpass at East Yale Avenue and Holly Street. The new underpass allows people walking and biking along the trail to travel beneath Yale Avenue without crossing vehicle traffic at street level.

The new underpass closes a longstanding gap in the regional trail network. Yale Avenue is a major east-west road serving Denver and Arapahoe County residents, and heavy congestion near the Holly Street intersection made the crossing hazardous for trail users.

"This project addressed a safety concern that trail users faced for years," said Amy Ford, executive director of DOTI. "People can now travel along this section of the High Line Canal Trail without having to cross a busy street and that's an important safety improvement."

The project also included retaining walls, graded concrete trail connections on both sides of Yale Avenue, and improvements to curbs, gutters, and storm drainage.

"Our goal is to create spaces where people feel safe moving through their community," said Council President Romero Campbell. "My family and I grew up playing, walking, running, and biking along the canal in southeast Denver, and I know how many people use and value this trail. I'm thrilled the new underpass offers a safer way to enjoy a trail that's been an integral part of this community for so long."

The Yale Avenue underpass is the result of a longstanding partnership between Denver and Arapahoe County, dating back to 2014. Arapahoe County contributed funding to the project and will lead the next phase of improvements at the Yale Avenue and Holly Street intersection, scheduled for 2027.

"Completing this underpass is a significant improvement for the trail users here in southeast Denver," said Leslie Summey, chair of the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners. "We're pleased to see this phase finished and look forward to continuing work at the Yale and Holly intersection."

The celebration began with a community walk and bike ride along the High Line Canal Trail, starting near South Holly Street and East Iliff Avenue. Participants traveled to the new underpass, where city and county officials delivered remarks and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The project received $6.2 million through the voter-approved 2017 Elevate Denver GO Bond, with additional funding from regional and federal partners. David Evans and Associates, Inc. served as the designer, and Jalisco International, Inc. served as the contractor.

• Press release
• Transportation and Infrastructure