Washington Street in Globeville is set for big changes and two years of construction

Long-awaited construction to improve a stretch of one of Globeville’s busiest roads started Friday.

The bumpy, two-lane street cuts through a mostly industrial part of Globeville between 47th and 52nd avenues. But surrounding areas include single-family homes and the National Western Center, which is due for a major expansion.

The sidewalks aren’t much better — in many parts of the street, the walkway is right up against the street or narrows into a dirt path.

Improvements will include wider sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure and more trees. Work is expected to take two years, according to a city timeline.

Plans to improve Washington Street north of Interstate 70 have been percolating since 2014, when the street was identified in the Globeville Neighborhood Plan as a potentially transfo