Denver’s Hidden Sewer Crisis | Denver News

Denver’s $149 million 16th Street Improvement Project hit a major roadblock when workers unearthed a hidden brick sewer dating back to the early 1900s—something no map showed. The discovery halted construction for over ten months and added $18 million to the bill, with city council unaware of the costs until after they were spent. An audit revealed Denver still has miles of undocumented historic brick sewers, exposing gaps in planning and oversight. Despite early consultations with preservation experts, the sewer wasn’t flagged as significant until it was found—and work had to stop for review. The city eventually paid the contractor $18 million to cover delays, but the audit criticized how the change order bypassed normal approval processes, while officials insisted they followed protocol to keep the project moving. Local businesses suffered too, with one shop owner reporting a 50% drop in revenue during the chaos. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e43427717e7d07ec