Highway 93 Planning: Past, Present & What's Ahead
For more than 20 years, the City of Golden has been working toward a long-term vision for the Highway 93 corridor—one that works for both the Golden community and the many people who travel through the area.
With funding now secured for preliminary design (but not construction), the Highway 93 Golden Analysis & Concept Design project will explore possible improvements and develop concept-level designs for the corridor. This work will help identify what improvements may be feasible and how they could be implemented in the future.
About the Current Study
Since Golden’s original plans were developed, conditions along Highway 93 have changed. Some previously proposed improvements are no longer feasible due to right-of-way limitations, particularly near the Washington Avenue and Iowa Drive interchanges.
At the same time, today’s funding environment makes it more realistic to pursue improvements in phases rather than rebuilding the entire corridor at once.
The Highway 93 Golden Analysis & Concept Design project focuses on identifying practical, implementable solutions that advance community priorities while aligning with available funding opportunities. As part of this effort, the City is completing a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study to identify a preferred alternative and inform future project implementation.
Not all improvements will move forward at the same time. This study helps determine what is feasible, how potential improvements could be phased, and what may be pursued as funding becomes available.
Get Involved: Help Shape the Future of Highway 93
Community input is a critical part of the Highway 93 Golden Analysis & Concept Design project. The City wants to hear directly from residents about their experiences traveling along and across Highway 93, as well as their priorities for the corridor.
Today, the three-mile stretch of Highway 93 between CO 58 and 56th Avenue can act as a barrier between North Golden neighborhoods, making it harder to move safely and comfortably between homes, schools, parks, and other destinations.
Community members are invited to participate in surveys, open houses, and other engagement opportunities to help inform potential improvements and guide future decision-making.
Highway 93 Through the Decades: Background & History
Highway 93 has long been recognized as a major source of traffic, noise, and neighborhood disruption in North Golden. The City of Golden has been planning and advocating for transportation improvements along the corridor for decades.
2003 Highway 93 Plan
The original Golden’s Plan (2003) document focused on addressing regional transportation needs while reducing negative impacts on the community, including offering alternatives to proposals that would have extended the C-470 beltway through Golden. That effort generated more than 2,300 community comments.
2013 Highway 93 Plan Update
In 2013, the City updated Golden’s Plan for the Highway 6 and 93 corridor, working with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to identify solutions for regional traffic while protecting Golden’s quality of life.
During 2013 planning efforts, Golden residents identified several key goals for Highway 93:
- Reduce traffic noise and limit speeds to a maximum of 45 mph
- Improve connections between neighborhoods and provide safe options for walking, biking, and other modes of travel—especially to schools and parks
- Protect the natural landscape and historic mountain views
These goals helped guide subsequent improvements, including the Linking Lookout project.
What's Already Been Accomplished
The City of Golden has taken several important steps to reduce impacts from Highway 93 and move long-term improvements forward. These accomplishments reflect years of planning, coordination, and investment:
- Noise reduction measures implemented
Construction of a noise wall and multiple landscaped noise berms to help reduce traffic noise and meet the City’s noise goals. - Noise mitigation policies adopted
Establishment of formal noise mitigation policies and priorities to guide future decision-making. - Right-of-way acquired for future improvements
Acquisition of additional right-of-way needed to implement key elements of Golden’s long-term transportation plans. - US 6 and 19th Street interchange completed (Linking Lookout project)
Construction of a grade-separated interchange and lid at US 6 and 19th Street, improving safety, traffic flow, and neighborhood connectivity. - Heritage Road improvements designed
Completion of designs for a grade-separated intersection and a separate wildlife crossing at US 6 and Heritage Road. - Early utility work starting near Heritage Road
Funding and construction of an early utility package to support future interchange construction in the area.
Highway 93 Golden Analysis & Concept Design – Project Timeline
The project will take place in two stages throughout 2026.
Stage 1: Data Collection and Community Needs (Early 2026 – Summer 2026)
- Step 1: Project setup and engagement plan development
- Step 2: Data collection and mapping
- Step 3: Community touchpoint focused on community needs, including a survey and open house
- Step 4: Stakeholder presentations and feedback
Stage 2: Alternatives and Concept Design (Summer 2026 – End 2026)
- Step 5: Development of evaluation criteria and identification of preferred alternatives
- Step 6: Community touchpoint focused on preferred alternatives, including a survey, open house, and pop-up events
- Step 7: Concept design begins