Denver City Council Monday approved the $149 million contract to have PCL Construction Services oversee the renovation of the 39-year-old 16^th Street Mall, home to more than 300 businesses.

Councilmembers voted 13-0, without discussion, to approve PCL as the general contractor through December 2024. The Council also approved an agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Denver Regional Council of Governments for a $20 million grant that will help with that almost $150 million price tag.

Denver poised to invest $100 million-plus in 16th Street Mall upgrades

Overhaul highlights include new granite pavers in a similar pattern, improved drainage, “more surface friction to improve pedestrian safety,” 10-feet of dedicated sidewalks extending from businesses and RTD Mall shuttles moved to the middle, where kiosks and trees are now, according to the City of Denver.

The contract calls for access to all businesses during construction, ADA accessibility, pedestrian and bike access and an 18-month cap for work on any given block. Improvements are planned the entire length of the Mall, from Market Street to Broadway.

City officials summarized the economic impact of the project: 1,843 jobs, $155.7 million in labor income, $379.5 million in anticipated sales.

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Of those 300 businesses in the 16^th Street Mall area, 200 are directly on the Mall. Half of those are locally owned, according to city records. The contract includes $300,000 earmarked to help those businesses through the construction.

Construction is expected to begin in Q4.