US 85 Corridor Improvements (Douglas County)
About the Project:
Douglas County and the Colorado Department of Transportation are partnering on a multimodal transportation project to increase mobility along 2.5 miles of US 85 (Santa Fe Drive) from Highlands Ranch Parkway to C-470. Construction started in early October 2022. The project will widen US 85 from four to six lanes, replace and widen 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.
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 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.
For the latest information on this project, including construction schedule, impacts and updates, go to the Douglas County project website.
Project Facts
- Total Construction Cost: $108 million
- Contractor: Kraemer NA
- Timeline: Fall 2022 to Fall 2025
- Location: US 85 (South Santa Fe Drive): Highlands Ranch Parkway to C-470
- Project 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).
- Project Partners: This project is being operated by Douglas County with CDOT, Chatfield Basin Developers, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments as partners.