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News Article
New water pipes coming to Sheridan Boulevard
Denver Water to replace 8,000 feet of pipe before major safety improvements come to busy corridor.
Sheridan Boulevard is about to get a makeover, starting with new water pipes.
Beginning January 2026, Denver Water will replace nearly 8,000 feet of aging water pipes underneath Sheridan Boulevard, between West 13th and West 29th avenues, as part of a multi-phase project anticipated to take about a year to complete.
The project precedes the Sheridan Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Plan, a partnership between the City of Edgewater, City and County of Denver, Colorado Department of Transportation and Regional Transportation District. The plan aims to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles between West 17th and West 26th avenues, creating a more inviting entryway to Edgewater for locals and visitors alike.
While Denver Water’s project is not explicitly a part of the plan for the corridor, proactive replacement of these pipes will ensure strong, stable water infrastructure for the area long into the future and avoid the need to dig up the street after improvements are made.
The project will begin at West 17th Avenue and move north to West 29th Avenue. When the first phase is complete, they will go back to West 17th Avenue and work southward until they finish at West 13th Avenue.
“We are excited to get this work done and pave the way for future improvements to Sheridan Boulevard,” said Austin Steckler, water distribution manager for Denver Water. “It’s important for us to get this work done now to ensure the system is reliable long after the future improvements to Sheridan Boulevard are complete.”
Water upgrades in a growing city
This project is part of the utility’s proactive pipe replacement program. Much of Denver Water’s distribution system dates to the late 1800s and early 1900s, and a dedicated team works continually to identify pipes in need of replacement.
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Pipes are replaced for various reasons, including reducing the need for repair or the chances of breaks, replacing corroded pipes, preventing water quality concerns, increasing available hydrant flow and improving area water delivery.
As new projects arise in its service area, Denver Water also coordinates with partner agencies if water infrastructure upgrades are necessary where the project is set to occur.
“We work with partner agencies across our service area to make sure we’re aware of upcoming projects near our infrastructure, so we’re not digging up a recently updated part of the street,” Steckler said.
Recent examples of this cross-agency coordination include projects on Colfax Avenue and in the City of Littleton.
Business impacts and traffic management
To minimize construction impacts on businesses and traffic, as well as reduce the overall construction timeline, work on Sheridan Boulevard will typically occur at night, requiring nightly lane closures and parking restrictions, Sunday through Thursday, from approximately 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Work may need to take place other days and times.
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Crews will work in two-to-three-block increments at a time, using Denver Water’s new electrified fleet vehicles when possible to limit noise during night work. Electric vehicles are a major part of Denver Water’s net-zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.
This project will also require some temporary water outages. Before any planned water outages, Denver Water will provide detailed information about the date and expected length of the outage to impacted customers, as well as ways to prepare.
While unlikely, emergency water shutoffs may also occur without notice. If this happens, crews will work directly with affected customers.
Denver Water will replace any lead service lines encountered during this project. Replacements will be arranged with affected customers directly. For more information about Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program, visit denverwater.org/Lead.
Staying informed
Denver Water knows construction is impactful and is committed to communicating about impacts with residents and businesses.
Regular project updates will be provided via a dedicated project webpage, email updates and on the social media platform Nextdoor.
Businesses will remain open during construction and all properties in the project area will receive additional notifications with information about specific impacts they may experience.
Project information is available in English and Spanish, including frequently asked questions and guidance for businesses to minimize customer impacts.
Those with questions related to any of Denver Water’s construction projects can contact Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or send an email to WaterUdoing@denverwater.org.
For emergencies or urgent inquiries after hours, call 303-628-6801.
Watch the virtual community meeting held for this project Nov. 19, 2025.
Sign up to receive updates about the Sheridan Boulevard Pipe Replacement Project.