The Douglas County Recording Office is relocating from January-June 2025 due to construction. Click here to learn more about the Recording Office renovation project or to schedule an appointment at the new temporary location.
The Douglas County Recording Office is relocating from January-June 2025 due to construction. Click here to learn more about the Recording Office renovation project or to schedule an appointment at the new temporary location.
US 85 Widening Project opening newly reconstructed intersections at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive and C-470
Posted on February 6, 2025 2025News and EventsTransportation
Prepare for big changes coming to three major intersections in Douglas County in the coming weeks as part of the US 85 Widening Project in Highlands Ranch. The project is in the process of reconstructing three intersections to include innovative Continuous Flow Intersections (CFI) to improve traffic operations and handle additional traffic volumes. The new intersections will permanently relocate high-volume left-turn movements to allow left-turning traffic and through traffic to move simultaneously.
CFIs displace left-turning traffic to the outside edges of the road, which allows through traffic to move through the middle of an intersection simultaneously, increasing the number of vehicles that can make it through the intersection in a single traffic light cycle.
Douglas County is installing CFIs along US 85 at Highlands Ranch Parkway, Town Center Drive and C-470, with new permanent left-turn alignments for:
The project will open the new intersection movements in phases beginning later this month, beginning at Highlands Ranch Parkway, then Town Center Drive and lastly C-470. Crews are currently preparing for the traffic switches and traffic impacts will be announced at a later date.
How to navigate a Continuous Flow Intersection
US 85 drivers turning left at the new CFI intersections will cross through traffic using a new signal prior to the intersection signal and proceed to the far-left side of the road, then make a left turn at the main intersection while through traffic proceeds as it would in a typical intersection. Right-turning traffic will use new dedicated right turn bypass lanes that allow right turns on red while the displaced left-turn movement proceeds.
Watch a video to see how CFIs work.
Project Overview
In addition to reconstructing three intersections, the project has widened US 85 from four to six lanes and replaced and widened the bridge that carries US 85 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 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 new trail and underpasses are expected to open in March 2025. Work will continue through summer 2025 while crews complete weather-proofing the new roadway and other finishing operations.
The newly widened roadway and reconstructed interchanges will alleviate traffic and create safer travel as part of the US 85 Widening Project and corridor improvements being made from Highlands Ranch Parkway to north of C-470 by Douglas County.
Get Updates on the US 85 widening project
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, douglas.co.us/us-85-construction.
Other Roadwork
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