Purpose: Improve safety, mobility, and traffic operations by widening and reconstructing a segment of US 85 (South Santa Fe Drive) from Highlands Ranch Parkway and extending north of C-470 Interchange to Dad Clark Gulch (which is located approximately 1,200 feet north of County Line Road).
Timeline: Fall 2022 to Fall 2025
About the project: Douglas County and CDOT are partnering on this multimodal transportation project to increase mobility along 2.5 miles of US 85 (Santa Fe Drive). In addition to widening US 85 from four to six lanes, the project includes the replacement and widening of the existing bridge that carries US 85 over C-470. 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.
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
Click Here for Map of US 85 Interchange at the above 3 listed intersections.
Learn more about the new continuous flow intersection design.
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.
Business Access Changes: In order to address safety concerns along the US 85 Corridor, access to businesses and some streets will be restricted right-in and right-out turn movements – left turns to and from US 85 at all driveways and on Brandon Drive and Carder Court will be restricted. Instead, traffic will use signalized intersections at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive and Blakeland Drive.
The construction project was advertised in the local paper as well as on Rocky Mountain Bid Net. Douglas County received a total of three bids, and Kraemer North America, LCC submitted the lowest bid and was awarded the construction contract on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022.
Other projects along US 85 in Douglas County