Fes from Aurora writes, “What’s driving you crazy? Why are the disabled parking spaces at DIA at the close-in parking lot roped off?It has been that way for a long time because you can look at the space and see how much trash they have collected.This is in the both east and west parking areas. I’m talking about the parking lot directly across from the arrival on the fourth floor where it is seven dollars per hour.”
Before I asked Denver International Airport about this, I went out to there to take a look for myself. What I found at the level 4 east side parking area were several tall, skinny traffic poles stretched out across all of the accessible parking spaces with yellow tape across them. Except for one parking space where someone looked to have cut the tape and parked in one of the spaces, all were unavailable. I also saw a mechanical lift in one of the spaces indicating there was some work going on, possibly on the part of the garage above these spaces. The only indication of why the cones and tape were there or that work was happening was a sign that only said the spaces were off limits starting May 30.
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At the west side level 4 parking area, all of the tape and cones were moved away from in front of the accesible spaces and grouped together in a striped area next to the accessible spaces and I saw several permitted vehicles using those spaces.
I asked officials at the airport why the spaces were blocked off and what work was being performed. I was told it was part of the domes and ramp project that is happening up on Level 5. The project, which began in March, created an elevated crosswalk and accessibility ramps to help improve pedestrian safety at the terminal west, and soon to include terminal east commercial ground transportation drop-off/ pick-up areas.
I was told the work was on level 5. So, why block off spaces on level 4? I was told it was to prevent concrete or any garage material from falling onto passengers or vehicles during the work above. The reason the cones and tape were moved from the parking spaces on the west side is work wrapped up late last week, so workers don’t need to protect that area any longer…