Construction began Monday on Santa Fe Drive to make the stretch of road safer and more pleasant for pedestrians, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said.

Santa Fe Drive is home to the Art District on Santa Fe, a popular tourist and resident destination. The new design will be implemented between Sixth Avenue and Colfax Avenue.

Beginning next week, construction will cause lane closures between Sixth Avenue and Colfax Avenue Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The construction project includes reconfiguring Santa Fe Drive from three lanes to two, shortening intersection crossing distances, adding two small parks adjacent to the sidewalk, realigning bus stops, dedicating left-turn lanes at Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and 11th avenues intersections, and adding bike racks, seating, planters and lighting.

The changes are intended to calm traffic, reduce vehicle speeds and provide gathering spaces to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, DOTI said. 

In late October, street murals will also be painted to enhance the Santa Fe corridor by local artists Jennifer Chaparro, Alexi High and Bimmer Torres.

DOTI has been collaborating with the local community for more than two years to create this new street design.

Work is expected to be completed in November. DOTI will evaluate the streetscape treatments to determine a longer-term vision for the corridor.