Water flows over Ward Road sidewalk, raising safety questions near I-70

Water has been flowing over the sidewalk on Ward Road just north of Interstate 70 for years, and the situation has worsened recently. The stream has turned the concrete into a slick, mossy path that is difficult for pedestrians to use safely. Residents in the area have long wondered who controls the water source and who is responsible for fixing the problem.

The sidewalk sits alongside a large Kaiser Permanente medical facility on the west side of Ward Road, which is also State Highway 72. Because of this designation, the Colorado Department of Transportation, or CDOT, maintains the street and sidewalk. However, the water itself appears to originate from below the Kaiser property. Satellite images show an irrigation ditch nearby, but state officials and local experts suggest the flow is not from the ditch system.

Jason Smith, a tributary coordinator for the Colorado Division of Water Resources, visited the site after being contacted about the issue. He noted that the area has been reported as wet for a long time. Smith believes the water is likely groundwater or seepage, possibly from a natural spring. He said the underground source is not fully mapped, making the exact origin difficult to confirm.

CDOT agrees with Smith’s assessment. Their maintenance teams believe a natural spring on the Kaiser property is pushing water up and over the sidewalk. The department has recently cleared vegetation from the walkway, but the plant life has already begun to grow back. As winter approaches, ice on the wet sidewalk presents a slipping hazard for people walking to the nearby transit stop.

Andrew Sorensen, a representative for Kaiser Permanente, said the company was not aware of the specific water issue until it was brought to their attention. Sorensen stated that the organization is investigating the source and will work with local and state agencies to determine the next steps. He added that Kaiser is committed to understanding the situation and addressing it appropriately.

State law allows property owners to divert water if it is not being consumed for agriculture, provided it returns to a natural drainage path. Smith explained that creating a small ditch to move the water downhill toward Clear Creek is legally permissible. Kaiser has indicated it is open to diverting the flow once the investigation is complete.

The water currently flows down Ward Road to a drain near the old RTD Park-N-Ride facility. Until a permanent solution is in place, CDOT says it will continue to monitor the area. The department will address cleanup if water or ice accumulation creates a safety concern for pedestrians.

Local residents continue to walk the route daily, navigating the wet concrete. The combination of moisture and recent plant growth makes the path slippery. The investigation into the spring is ongoing, with both Kaiser and state agencies reviewing the property boundaries and water flow.