TRAFFIC ALERT: Overnight lane closures will take place on outbound Peña (leaving DEN) between the Terminal and Jackson Gap from June 22 –27, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night for striping. 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.
Click the image to see a large view.
As efforts continue on the Peña NEPA and Design Project, the project team has been gathering input from the public, corridor users, agencies, and stakeholder organizations to better understand corridor needs, community priorities, potential issues, and ideas to consider as alternatives are developed and evaluated.
Now, the scoping process is complete! This is an early step in the NEPA process and enables DEN to begin comparing alternatives that will guide the technical and environmental review, which will be a major priority for 2027. This review will help incorporate environmental considerations into an alternatives evaluation and will be conducted in greater detail for the selection of a preferred alternative.
Take a look at our scoping summary for more information about our engagement efforts, what we heard from these scoping activities and how scoping is informing our next steps on the project.
Below are links to the Scoping Summary brochures.
Track where we are in the environmental review process and where your input matters most.
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.
DEN is committed to transparency and providing opportunities for community input, public engagement and agency coordination.
Help Us Shape the Corridor
Your input is an important part of this process. Public feedback will help shape the project and guide decisions. American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation, along with childcare, will also be provided.
Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Food and refreshments provided
A meal will be available to all open house attendees who participate in the event.
Learn more about the project at your convenience anytime between Monday, July 13 and Friday, July 31 on our self-guided online open house (use the QR code to the left).
Look for Peña NEPA and Design Project team at community events throughout the year — attending local events, answering questions, and sharing ways to get involved and help shape the future of the Peña corridor. Check back for updates as new events are added.
