Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Development in the region has caused remarkable high traffic growth along CO 83. CO 83 also serves as a reliever route when I-25 is heavily congested. There are features along the corridor that are important factors when contributing to the severity of an incident and this analysis will analyze where safety improvements are recommended.
This project will conduct a comprehensive roadway safety and operational analysis of CO 83 between Mile Point 30.20 (East Palmer Divide Avenue) and MP 53.88 (Bayou Gulch Road). This portion of CO 83 is the two-lane section within Douglas County, with the exception of some of the more prominent intersections, where turn lanes and divided median have been provided. Improvements recommended by this analysis will tie into intersection improvements that are currently in the Design Phase at East Palmer Divide Road.
Based on the 2050 DRCOG traffic model and available funding at this time, it is not recommended to widen the entire corridor. This project is a safety and operations analysis. The analysis will not be evaluating capacity type (adding through lanes) improvements in any part of the 24-mile corridor.
This project has collected comments on locations where noise is sometimes an issue, however the analysis is evaluating safety and operational needs first and foremost.
This project is evaluating updating existing bike facilities and/or recommending new facilities to determine how to best improve safety for cyclists along CO 83 given the available funding. Improvements to be constructed will be limited to CO 83, however, the team can look at recommendations to connections outside of the project area.
This project has identified potential solutions at or near the schools within the project area: Ponderosa High School, Castlewood Community Preschool, and Cherry Valley Elementary School. All potential improvements are screened using the same criteria, focusing on safety and operations.
As new development is approved along the corridor by Douglas County, the developers will be required to prepare a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA). Douglas County will coordinate with CDOT on future TIAs. Developers may be required to install intersection and CO 83 acceleration/ deceleration type improvements based on the results and conclusions of each TIA. In addition, new development will need to incorporate Access Control strategies that are being recommended as part of this CO 83 Safety and Operations Analysis.
Alternative routes are outside of the scope of this analysis.
Funding for this project does not cover funding for additional state and local law enforcement.
A list of recommended projects has been compiled into packages that address safety and/or operational issues along the CO 83 corridor. Early packages (corridor-wide signing, striping, and signal timing improvements) are anticipated to begin construction in 2022 to provide immediate safety and operational benefits to the corridor. CDOT and Douglas County are developing a plan to design and construct the recommended projects (Packages A-M) listed in the Recommended Projects Summary. These packages will be progressed into construction as funding becomes available.
The CO 83 Project has received grant funding of $12.5 million that is made up of federal, state, and Douglas County money. CDOT and Douglas County are also trying to secure other sources of design and construction funding for the corridor. For example, CDOT’s FASTER Safety Program funding will likely be allocated to the corridor.
The first set of projects, such as corridor-wide signing, striping, and signal timing improvement (Early Packages) is scheduled to begin construction in 2022. Schedules for recommended projects (Packages A-M) will be updated as funding is approved, with some construction expected to start in 2023. Refer to the project schedule page for updates.
As projects move into the construction phase more information on traffic impacts can be found using My COtrip Travel Alerts. Traffic impacts are expected and should be limited to standard lane closures per CDOT allowances. CDOT will make every effort to minimize impacts to the traveling public.
