Aerial photo of new US 85 bridge over C-470 in September 2023.
If you drive along US 85 (Santa Fe) in Highlands Ranch, please pay extra attention at C-470 Thursday morning. You’ll be driving on a new bridge.
In partnership with others, Douglas County is widening US 85 between Highlands Ranch Parkway and just north of C-470. Once completed, the project will improve safety and mobility along this vital regional corridor. One major piece of this project is to widen and replace the US 85 bridge over C-470. Half of that bridge replacement will be completed next week.
What:
- Construction crews will shift both directions of traffic onto the new bridge to prepare for later demolition and construction of the other half.
When:
- Drivers should watch for lane closures and delays overnight from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, to 6 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 21. This allows drivers to utilize the new bridge for the first time the morning of Thursday, Dec. 21 (pending good weather conditions).
Drivers Should:
- Allow extra time to navigate the new traffic pattern and pay attention to posted speed limits and signage.
- Be aware – If weather conditions do not allow this work to take place as originally scheduled, crews will conduct this work at a later date.
About the Project
This project will improve safety, mobility, and traffic operations by widening US 85 from four to six lanes between Highlands Ranch Parkway and just north of C-470. Major 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 widening and replacement of the existing US 85 bridge that carries traffic 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 High Line Canal Trail, a below-grade crossing for the C-470 Trail, and a new pedestrian link from the Wolhurst Community to the C-470 Trail.
The US 85 Widening project is the County’s largest transportation project to date and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Project partners include CDOT, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), the Federal Highway Administration, Highlands Ranch Metro District and Chatfield Basin developers. The project will improve safety, mobility and traffic operations. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
Transportation in Douglas County
Building and maintaining a safe and accessible multimodal transportation system is one of the Board of Douglas County Commissioners’ core priorities. In fact, Douglas County allocates more than 50% of its annual budget to transportation improvements. Learn more about the projects bringing this vision to life at DouglasRoadwork.com.
Get Updates
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.