TRAFFIC ALERT: Overnight lane closures will take place on outbound Peña (leaving DEN) near the West Terminal from June 8–12, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. Please use caution and drive safely.
MAJOR PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The Peña NEPA & Design Project is now underway. DEN is evaluating improvements along the Peña corridor in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The project aims to identify solutions that improve safe, reliable access for passengers, employees, cargo, and surrounding communities – while supporting DEN’s Vision 100 goals and preparing for future travel demand.
Why Improvements are Needed: The Peña corridor is the main way travelers, workers, visitors and cargo get to and from the airport. Upgrades are needed to provide safe, reliable and efficient airport access, while also supporting the mobility needs of surrounding communities and industries.
What is NEPA? A federally mandated process that evaluates proposed improvements and analyzes their potential effects on people and the environment before advancing into design and construction, ensuring informed decision-making and compliance with federal environmental requirements.
Timeline: The planning and preliminary design process is expected to take about two years, and construction could begin as soon as 2028.
Community Involvement: DEN is committed to open, inclusive and transparent engagement. Stakeholders and the public will have multiple opportunities to share input that helps shape informed choices as plans take shape.
Partnership with FHWA: DEN is working with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), whose role ensures the project follows federal standards and stays eligible for federal grants and financing.
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DEN is committed to transparency and providing opportunities for community input, public engagement and agency coordination.
Completed
Scoping is the early phase of environmental review, when community input helps define project needs and shape alternatives. From October 2025 through February 2026, nearly 7,000 people — neighbors, commuters, business owners, and community members from across the region — participated in surveys, interviews, and open houses and shared comments and ideas. This wide range of perspectives and lived experiences is helping DEN confirm project needs, surface new ideas, and shape alternatives as environmental review moves forward.
We are here
DEN is now evaluating alternatives to identify which options are feasible to advance. This step in the environmental review process compares possible solutions and guides decisions toward a solution that meets transportation, community, economic, and environmental needs for the Peña corridor. DEN’s goal is to identify a preferred alternative for the Peña corridor by the end of 2026.
After the preferred alternative is identified, the environmental effects of the preferred alternative and the “no action” alternative will be evaluated in detail. This evaluation provides FHWA with the information to determine what NEPA Class of Action is required; a Categorical Exclusion (CatEx), an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Once FWHA determines the Class of Action, the NEPA document will be developed within the federal time limits.
Your input will help identify the key issues and shape the alternatives we evaluate.
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