Good news first: the US 85 Widening Project is in its final phases of construction and is expected to be completed later this year. Yet, as crews work to safely finish construction, there are significant delays you should plan for in May – including delays up to 20 minutes.
Through May, paving of the final layer of asphalt along 2.5 miles of US 85 (Santa Fe) will occur between Highlands Ranch Parkway and north of County Line Road, including the new C-470 bridge and on- and off-ramps.
Due to the temperature requirements for this type of paving, operations must take place during the day. Please take an alternate route or plan extra time. Your patience during these extended work hours will help accelerate the schedule by about eight weeks.
Closure details for paving operations from May 10 through May 15:
Saturday, May 10 from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. – Add to Calendar
- Northbound US 85 traffic is restricted to a single lane from Highlands Ranch Parkway to north of County Line Road.
Sunday, May 11, from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m.– Add to Calendar
- Southbound US 85 traffic is restricted to a single lane from Highlands Ranch Parkway to north of County Line Road.
Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13 from 5 a.m. until 3 p.m.– Add to Calendar
- Northbound and southbound US 85 traffic is restricted to a single lane intermittently, with intersection turn restrictions and driveway access closures.
Wednesday, May 14, and if needed, Thursday, May 15, from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m.– Add to Calendar
- Northbound and southbound US 85 traffic single-lane closures intermittently, intersection turn restrictions and driveway access closures.
Paving operations will take place in one-lane width sections, with crews working diligently through extended daytime hours to expedite paving activities and minimize disruptions. Crews will make every effort to ensure businesses and side streets remain accessible, although some may be impacted temporarily while the paving machine crosses the entrance.
Weekend-long impacts at the C-470 and US 85 interchange will be required in the coming weeks to finish paving on the new bridge and connecting ramps. Stay up to date by signing up for emails or visiting our project website.
All paving work is weather-dependent and will be rescheduled as needed.
What is Top Mat paving?
The top mat paving process represents the final surface layer in roadway construction and is critical for enhancing the longevity and performance of roads. Once completed, road users will notice a smooth, durable, and aesthetically pleasing finish. Top mat paving is designed to withstand traffic and weather conditions, ensuring a long-lasting, high-quality pavement surface and reducing sound output by using materials that absorb noise.
Project Overview
The project has widened US 85 from four to six lanes and replaced and widened the bridge that carries US 85 over C-470, in addition to reconstructing three intersections with new continuous flow alignments. Multimodal improvements include bus stop enhancements, a new shared-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians on the east side of US 85, a below-grade crossing for the C-470 Trail at US 85, a below-grade crossing for the High Line Canal Trail at US 85, and a new pedestrian link from the Wolhurst Senior Community to the C-470 Trail.
The newly widened roadway and reconstructed interchanges will alleviate traffic and create safer travel as part of the US 85 Widening Project and corridor improvements being made from Highlands Ranch Parkway to north of C-470 by Douglas County.
Get Updates on the US 85 widening project
Stay updated by signing up for emails – select “US 85 Construction.”
For more information about the upcoming work and to stay updated on construction impacts, please visit our website, douglas.co.us/us-85-construction.
Other Roadwork
Interested in knowing what’s happening on roads throughout Douglas County? Sign up for Douglas County’s Cone Zone email notifications. For statewide road conditions, visit cotrip.org.