If you drive US 85, you know the “gap” that still needs to be widened between Sedalia and Castle Rock. On Thursday, July 17, the full U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed a bill including $500,000 in federal funds toward design for a project to widen that section of Highway 85, an exciting win for transportation and public safety in Douglas County.
This funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Bill. Find a table of all Community Project Funding requests included in this bill.
U.S. Highway 85 is an essential corridor on the National Highway System. Despite prior progress through partnerships with the Colorado Department of Transportation, the remaining segment between Sedalia and Castle Rock faces ongoing safety, capacity, and congestion challenges. This funding will be allocated to design for the project, which is being led by CDOT. The funding will also go toward right-of-way and utility relocations.
“Completing the widening of Highway 85 would be a huge step forward for the public safety and mobility of Douglas County residents,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon, “We are proud to have partnered with Rep. Lauren Boebert and fiercely advocated for this funding, which gets us another step closer.”
Each fiscal year, local governments in Colorado can apply for federal Community Project Funding (CPF) requests through their Congressional Representative. Members of the House of Representatives are limited to requesting funding for 15 projects throughout their entire district.
Douglas County requested funding through Congresswoman Boebert, and in May, Rep. Boebert announced funding requests for three important local projects: U.S. Highway 85 Widening, the Plum Creek to Rueter-Hess Reservoir Pipeline, and the Louviers Water & Sanitation District Drinking Water Distribution Replacement.
Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee considered and passed its Fiscal Year 2026 bill, which is also expected to be passed in September by the full U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Included in this bill are Douglas County’s funding requests for:
- Plum Creek to Rueter-Hess Reservoir Pipeline – $1,750,000 has been included in the Interior Appropriations bill. This funding will help construct a transmission pipeline and pump station to deliver water from Plum Creek to the Rueter-Hess Reservoir.
- Louviers Water & Sanitation District Drinking Water Distribution Replacement – $1,750,000 has been included in the Interior Appropriations bill. This funding will support the replacement of approximately 12,000 feet of aging galvanized steel pipe, 86 service lines, and 15 fire hydrants in Louviers.
Find a table of all CPF requests included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.
“This funding is an investment in our community,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle, “It’s central to building a brighter future for families and businesses.”
As individual appropriations bills containing Douglas County’s funding requests are released by the Appropriations Committees and move through the process, Douglas County will continue to provide transparency and updates about these potential federal funds.
“As Commissioners, we are committed to advocating for the funding needed to improve infrastructure in Douglas County,” said Commissioner George Teal, “That’s why we make it a priority to collaborate with our federal delegation and make our community’s needs known.”
Each year, the Board of County Commissioners travels to Washington D.C. to advocate for federal funding for the Douglas County community. This year, the Board is making an aggressive push to bring even more federal dollars back to the local community and has already had significant success with $18.5 million in nonredundant Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) and CPF requests being made by Congresswoman Boebert and Colorado’s two U.S. Senators. Learn more about their advocacy on our webpage.