The Denver City Council just after midnight Tuesday approved a cost-sharing agreement with the state for a project to rebuild and widen Interstate 70 through northeast neighborhoods after hearing heated testimony from opponents. The vote was 8-1.

Denver’s deal with the Colorado Department of Transportationalso covers some costs for a long-needed city drainage project in older neighborhoods — but the city’s proposed financial aid for the ever-controversial freeway project is what has critics crying foul.

Interstate 70 passes over York Street in the Swansea neighborhood. (Denver Post file)

Neighborhood advocates say the impact of the project hasn’t been resolved yet, with work still underway on the final environmental impact statement, or EIS, a federal process. Other critics still argue for alternatives..

“We put a lot of work into comments for the supplemental draft EIS, and the final EIS is not coming out until January,” said Elyria resident Drew Dutcher, an architect. “We have no idea and no faith that any of our concerns will ever be met. What guarantee is there?”

City and CDOT officials told the council they’re still working to address neighborhood concerns. READ MORE