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Ribbon cut for Fitzsimons Parkway
In the words of Congressman Bob Beauprez, “Fitzsimons is the bigger, better tomorrow.” If that be true, then Fitzsimons Parkway is the road to that bigger, better tomorrow.

Congressman Bob Beauprez, Aurora Mayor Paul Tauer and CU President Hank Brown slice the ribbon opening the new Fitzsimons Parkway April 17.

The Fitzsimons Parkway made its official debut with ribbon-cutting ceremonies on April 17, opening to development another 200 acres north of the Health Sciences Center campus. The parkway is expected to be completely open to traffic in May, with an estimated 25,000 cars passing along its length every day.

That massive stretch of pale gray concrete is going to see plenty of traffic over the next few decades. The Fizsimons site alone is expected to employ at least 15,000 people by 2007.

The first shovel of dirt on the $40-million project was turned over in October of 2004. Since then, 5,980 tons of asphalt and 18,200 cubic yards of concrete have been transformed into a major artery connecting Colfax Avenue to the southeast; and Peoria Boulevard to the northwest. In addition, 148 trees, 2.5 miles of curb and gutter and 1.6 miles of sidewalk are now in place.

An ambulance was, appropriately, the first vehicle to make the trip on the new stretch of road.

The project was completed primarily by the City of Aurora and its various contractors, which included Matrix Design Group Inc., Concrete Express and Nolte Associates. Funding came from Aurora, the Federal Economic Development Administration, the University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado Hospital and the United States Army.

Construction to link the parkway to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. is expected to begin later this year.

Other dignitaries on hand for the ceremony were Aurora Mayor Paul Tauer, Aurora City Manager Ronald S. Miller and University of Colorado President Hank Brown.

 

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