Get ready for major changes to three major Douglas County intersections in the coming weeks as part of the Highlands Ranch Highway 85 widening project. The project will redesign three intersections, including innovative continuous flow intersections, to improve traffic flow and handle additional traffic volumes. The new intersection will permanently reroute heavy left-hand traffic to allow for simultaneous left-hand and through traffic.
Continuous flow intersections shift left-turning traffic to the outside edge of the road, allowing straight-moving traffic to pass through the middle of the intersection at the same time, increasing the number of vehicles that can pass through the intersection in a single traffic light cycle.
Douglas County is creating new permanent left turn routes at the following intersections along U.S. 85 at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive and C-470:
The project will open the new intersection in stages later this month, starting with Highlands Ranch Parkway, then Town Center Drive, and finally C-470. Crews are preparing for traffic changes. The impact of the traffic changes will be announced at a later date.
Drivers turning left at the new continuous-flow intersection on U.S. 85 will use the new traffic signal to cross traffic ahead of the intersection signal, then cross to the left side of the road and turn left at the main intersection, moving through traffic as at a normal intersection. Right-turning vehicles will use the new dedicated right-turn passing lane, allowing right turns on red, while left-turning vehicles will continue to proceed.
In addition to reconstructing the three intersections, the project widened U.S. 85 from four to six lanes and replaced and widened the bridge between U.S. 85 and C-470. Multimodal improvements include improved bus stops, a new shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians on the east side of U.S. 85, an underpass on U.S. 85 for C-470, an underpass on U.S. 85 for the High Line Canal Trail, and a new sidewalk from Walhurst Senior Community to C-470.
The new highway and underpass are expected to open in March 2025. Construction will continue until the summer of 2025 as workers complete weather protection and other finishing touches on the new road.
As part of the project to widen U.S. Highway 85 and improve the corridor in Douglas County from Highlands Ranch Parkway to north of C-470, a new widened road and reconstructed interchange will reduce congestion and make travel safer.
Post time: Apr-03-2025