Denver’s 16th Street Project Surpasses Budget by Over $27 Million
A Denver audit revealed the 16th Street Improvement Project exceeded its budget by over $27 million. The cost overrun was largely due to the discovery of a historic brick sewer system, which led to a significant change order approved without…
Denver, CO, August 20, 2026 —
DENVER – The 16th Street Improvement Project in Denver has significantly exceeded its initial budget, with a recent audit revealing cost overruns totaling more than $27 million.
The project’s final expenditure reached approximately $175.6 million, marking an 18% increase from the originally planned $149 million. The primary driver for this substantial budget increase was the unexpected discovery of a historic brick sewer system during the construction phase.
This discovery necessitated a significant change order. According to the audit findings, this change order was approved without the review of the city council. The presence of the historic sewer system required a modification of the project’s scope and execution, leading to unforeseen costs.
The audit was conducted to assess the financial management and oversight of the 16th Street Improvement Project. The findings highlight a considerable deviation from the initial financial projections and point to a lapse in the standard approval process for major project changes.
Further details regarding the specific approvals and the exact timeline of the discovery and change order were not provided in the summary. The audit’s findings are now under review, with the city expected to address the identified issues concerning budget management and the change order approval process.
Story summarized from the original created by Allie Jennerjahn on www.denver7.com, see more information here.
