Denver and Littleton filed a joint injunction Monday in Denver District Court to stop the Town of Bow Mar from installing a gated entrance on South Sheridan Boulevard and closing the West Tufts Avenue access point. The cities say the gates exceed Bow Mar’s authority under Colorado law and would shift traffic hazards onto neighboring streets.
According to CBS News, Bow Mar’s population is about 950, yet a traffic study shows roughly 1,200 vehicles travel through the community each day, most of whom do not live there. The town has introduced speed bumps, “kids at play” signs, and lowered the speed limit to 20 mph, but residents still voice safety concerns.
The lawsuit argues the gates would close roads that the Colorado Department of Transportation classifies as major collectors, which the regional transportation system relies on. The Denver Post notes the towns contend the barriers would “shift traffic hazards Bow Mar wants to address to the larger neighbors.”
Bow Mar leaders propose controlled‑access gates at two of the town’s three main entrances and the closure of a smaller entrance near Tufts Avenue. The town expects the South Sheridan gate to be erected by the end of the month and operational by January, according to The Denver Post. The gate would be open only to residents, emergency services and delivery trucks.
City officials say they have tried to work with Bow Mar for months. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said, “Bow Mar doesn’t get to decide what is or isn’t a public road, and they don’t get to make life less safe for Denver and Littleton drivers.” Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter added that equal access for both cities’ residents is essential.
Bow Mar’s spokesperson Bill Rigler declined to comment on the lawsuit. The town’s statement, posted online, emphasizes that the goal is to reduce unsafe traffic before a serious injury occurs, and that emergency services, deliveries, guests and visitors will continue to have access.
The lawsuit also cites that Bow Mar received nearly $37,000 from the Highway Users Tax Fund in 2025 and another $31,000 through October 2025, which obligates the town to keep its roads open to the public.
What’s next: The case will proceed in Denver District Court, where a hearing date has not yet been set. Both cities say they are prepared to pursue further legal action if necessary to keep the public roads open.
Sources: cbsnews.com, denverpost.com
