MEDIA ADVISORY: Denver Strengthens Permitting Procedures to Increase Safety and Access around Construction Zones

Denver Public Works is releasing updated procedures that aim to lessen construction impacts to people as they move about the city and to improve access to adjacent homes and businesses. The department worked in conjunction with City Council members Wayne New, Paul Kashmann, Albus Brooks, Jolon Clark and Raphael Espinoza, and community and business leaders to implement new requirements on contractors when closing the public right of way (vehicle travel lanes, parking lanes, alleys, and sidewalks) for construction activities:

Traffic Management Plan for All Modes
A contractor’s traffic control plan will be required to show how all modes will be provided safe and convenient access around a project site, including pedestrians, people on bikes and scooters, transit riders, and drivers. Specifically, the traffic control plan will be required to have a strong focus on pedestrian safety. The plan must be included in a contractor’s street occupancy permit application.
Denver Public Works will also require additional barricades, signs and provisions for pedestrians in the traffic control plan.

Pedestrian Canopies
Pedestrian canopies will be required, with limited exceptions, on new projects where vertical construction is occurring directly adjacent to a pedestrian pathway (ex: multi-story building).
Existing large projects will be reviewed to determine if any mobility improvements can be made.

Construction Worker Parking Plan
Large projects (greater than $100,000 and lasting longer than a week) will be required to submit a parking plan for their workers and subcontractors’ workers who will access the construction site.
The parking plan must aim to minimize impacts to surrounding businesses and residences.
Workers will be allowed to use the front of the project site for parking, but otherwise must utilize off-site parking that the contractor will be required to provide.

Additionally, beginning April 1, Denver Public Works will require the posting of information signs for all private projects in the public right of way lasting longer than seven days. The signs will list the contractor, their contact information along with details of the permit including permit number, location, duration, and description of the project. Denver Public Works will work to standardize the placement of similar information signage as part of existing building permit requirements so this contact and description information is accessible to the public.