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Public Works

US 85 Widening from Highlands Ranch Parkway to C-470

Under Construction

Budget

Total Approximate Construction Cost = $108 Million

Project Manager

Douglas County / CDOT / Kraemer North America
[email protected]

719-695-0052

Contractor

Kraemer North America
[email protected]

719-695-0052

Partners

  • Douglas County
  • CDOT
  • Chatfield Basin Developers (Sterling Ranch and Solstice Development)
  • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
  • Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
  • Highlands Ranch Metro District

Project Update

Click here to receive updates on this project by email

Updated Dec. 1, 2023

To complete drainage installation and paving at Blakeland Drive and US 85, access restrictions are necessary. There will be no access to/from northbound US 85 to Blakeland Drive on the west side of US 85 from 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Dec. 1, until 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, then again from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. Access for through traffic along US 85 will be maintained.

Detour Routes:

  • Northbound US 85 traffic will go east on C-470 to Exit 18/Lucent Boulevard, turn north. Go west on C-470 to Exit 17/US 85 and turn south to access Blakeland Drive. View map.
  • Blakeland Drive traffic will go south on US 85 to Carder Court and turn west. Turn south on Division Street to Midway Drive and turn east to access northbound US 85. View map.

Please give yourself extra time and pay attention to posted speed limits and signage. If weather conditions do not allow this work to take place as originally scheduled, crews will conduct this work at a later date.

See the “Schedule” section below for more detailed information on traffic impacts. For background information prior to construction, visit US85DouglasCounty.com

Description

This project will improve safety, mobility, and traffic operations by widening (from four to six lanes) and reconstructing a segment of US 85 (South Santa Fe Drive) from Highlands Ranch Parkway, extending north of  the C-470 Interchange to Dad Clark Gulch (which is located approximately 1,200 feet north of County Line Road). Major US 85 intersection improvements will occur at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive, Blakeland Drive, the C-470 Interchange ramps and at County Line Road. The project also includes the replacement and widening of the existing bridge that carries US 85 over C-470.

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 community to the C-470 Trail.

The project also includes the addition of continuous auxiliary lanes, new asphalt paving, relocation of utilities, raised medians, new curb and gutter, and a new closed storm sewer system with water quality ponds.

Timeline: Fall 2022 to Fall 2025

Partial Continuous Flow Intersection (CFI) will be installed for the following traffic movements:

  • Southbound US 85 to Eastbound Highlands Ranch Parkway
  • Southbound US 85 to Eastbound Town Center Drive
  • Northbound US 85 to Westbound C-470

View a map of US 85 Interchange at the above 3 listed intersections.

Other projects along US 85 in Douglas County

Schedule

Dec. 3 – Dec. 9:

Major impacts:

  • No northbound US 85 access to/from Blakeland Drive on the west side of US 85 from 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 until 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, then again from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4.

Daily impacts:

  • Single lane closures on northbound and southbound US 85 and on the C-470 ramps at US 85 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Monday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 9, throughout the corridor.

Trail Closures

Three trail closures will stay in place into 2024 while crews install new underpasses to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely pass under US 85.

Bus Access: RTD, in partnership with the project team, has closed the Bus Route 402L stops on US 85 between County Line Road and Highlands Ranch Parkway to allow crews to work safely. Though some stops are closed, the Route will remain in service. Customers should sign up for RTD’s Service Alerts and use the Trip Planner app to plan an alternate route.

Business Access has permanently changed to right-in, right-out only at private driveways and un-signalized intersections between Highlands Ranch Parkway and C-470. Left turns at Norwood Drive, Carder Court, Brandon Drive, Grace Presbyterian Church, and Spring Gulch Equestrian Area are no longer allowed. View business access changes.

Open Work Area north of C-470

Roadway widening and corridor improvements continue on US 85 north of C-470. You may notice an open construction site without much construction. Here’s why.

While excavating the existing US 85 roadway north of C-470, crews discovered a varying subgrade material that requires engineers to redesign that area and revise the current construction plans. To do so, roadway designers and the contractor need safe access to that work zone, so it will remain closed to the traveling public.

As always, no pedestrians are allowed in the work zone. For the safety of crews and the traveling public, please use assigned pedestrian detour routes and do not enter the work zone.

As always, we ask you to please continue to pay extra attention and follow all posted signage through the construction zone. Expect increased enforcement to ensure the safety of crews and motorists. Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted in the work zone – please use signed and signaled intersections to cross US 85.

Project Photos