The underpass provides better access to the university and alleviates safety concerns created by a high volume of vehicles, bikes and pedestrians moving on and off campus at this and nearby intersections. The underpass follows years of planning efforts by the city and Colorado State University emphasizing the need for safety improvements to the Shields and Elizabeth Streets intersection.
At a key location, the underpass is located at the heaviest corridor of bike, car and pedestrian traffic in the city. Traffic engineers estimate that 50,000 cars and 2,000 bikes enter the Shields and Elizabeth intersection each day with volumes increasing by more than 20 percent since 2009.
