Globeville Landing Outfall

Ames Construction built a drainage channel and conduit for the Globeville Landing Outfall project, the first in a series of interconnected projects that will provide 100-year flood protection for a large area of Denver. The natural-filtration drainage channel is designed to clean stormwater while moving it to its ultimate destination—the South Platte River. Ames constructed the upstream portion of the drainage infrastructure, including the largest precast culvert system installed in Denver.

Home to Globeville Landing Park and the Denver Coliseum, the site was monitored by the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment because it sits on a buried landfill. Crews encountered far more contaminated debris than anticipated. To safely dispose of the excavated soil, the contaminated debris was sealed in trucks and hauled to a permitted landfill outside of the city.

Groundwater inflow recharge rates were also far higher than expected. With treatment and discharge limits restricted, dewatering quickly became a priority on the site. Ames used deep well points and underdrains to lower the groundwater table for individual structures and isolated areas. To maintain dry conditions, work was re-sequenced and mitigation measures were implemented to divert groundwater away from the work zones.

In a major milestone for key stakeholders, work in the coliseum parking area was completed and repaved before the start of the 2018 National Western Stock Show. Later phases of the project involved enhancements and finishes within Globeville Landing Park, including hardscape plazas, picnic shelters, green space, and playground amenities.