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An increase in severe storms in the Aurora area has placed key transportation infrastructure at risk, particularly in the floodplain along Box Elder Creek. East 56th Avenue and Hudson Road washed out during a heavy rainfall event in June 2023 when Box Elder Creek jumped its banks, overwhelming the existing drainage infrastructure.

Over three miles of closures along these two arterial roads due to flood damage have restricted access to critical facilities in the region, including Denver International Airport, Colorado Air and Space Port, and a variety of businesses and residents.

Lengthy detours more than double necessary travel miles and create a safety hazard, increasing emergency response times and the potential for vehicle crashes in the area.

This resiliency project will rebuild East 56th Avenue and Hudson Road at their crossings with Box Elder Creek. East 56th Avenue will be reconstructed between Haysmount Road and Hudson Road while Hudson Road will be reconstructed north of East 48th Avenue.

The project will provide a resilient and adaptive infrastructure to counter the certainty of future erosion and heavy rain-induced flooding characteristic of the creek's geography. A key component of this project will be improving the drainage crossings of Box Elder Creek where both roadways experienced extreme erosion.

Armoring both roads and protecting Box Elder Creek channels will help infrastructure to withstand significant rainstorm events and resulting storm flow damage.

Construction will start in 2026.

Funding the Project

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration awarded $10.8 million in funding to help reconstruct the roadway crossings and make upgrades that will reduce flooding risks in the future.

The federal funding is coming from the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to provide funds that safeguard critical transportation infrastructure for Colorado commuters against extreme weather events due to climate change.

The city of Aurora is providing additional funds to complete the project.