C-470 Express Lanes

Project Facts

Location: 12.5 miles of C-470, from I-25 to Wadsworth Boulevard
Cost: $276 million

The C-470 Express Lanes project includes:

adding two westbound Express Lanes from I-25 to Colorado Boulevard, and adding one westbound Express Lane from Colorado Boulevard to Wadsworth Boulevard
adding one eastbound Express Lane from just west of the South Platte River to I-25;
fully reconstructing a portion of the existing pavement;
adding auxiliary lanes;
improving portions of on- and off-ramps to current standards (including ramp metering where appropriate);
realigning substandard curves;

making safety and operational improvements between I-25 and Quebec via direct-connect ramps from I-25 to the westbound C-470 Express Lanes;
widening existing bridges throughout the project area;
replacing the bridges over the South Platte River;
installing water-quality features where required;
installing noise barriers where required;
installing Intelligent Transportation Systems elements and tolling equipment; and
adding grade separations for the multi-use trail at Quebec and Colorado.

Current and Upcoming Activities

Wadsworth to Santa Fe:

Traffic has been shifted onto new permanent concrete pavement and the newly constructed South Platte River Bridge eastbound between Wadsworth and Santa Fe.
Demolition of the old eastbound South Platte River bridge is complete.
Currently, the Mary Carter Greenway Trail at the South Platte River is open. Occasionally flaggers will post in that area to guide users when work is occurring.
Work on the north side of the eastbound South Platte River bridge is ongoing.

Santa Fe to Lucent:
Work includes:

drainage installation;
noise wall construction;
continued work on the Erickson bridge;
concrete paving; and
retaining wall construction near the Highline Canal Trail.

Lucent to Quebec:

Eastbound traffic has been shifted onto new permanent concrete pavement between Lucent and Quebec.
Concrete paving is ongoing.
Subgrade treatment is taking place.
Crews will complete guardrail and overhead sign installation, and drainage work.
Crews will do ITS work (light poles and tolling infrastructure in median).
Expect approach slab work at the Big Dry Creek bridge, and trail paving.

Quebec to I-25:
Work includes

earthwork;
drainage pond grading and pipe installation;
soil nail wall construction in I-25 interchange area;
ITS;
bridge work at Yosemite and Acres Green;
Willow Creek trail now open;
permanent barrier installation;
temporary asphalt paving in median and I-25 interchange;
installation of overhead signs;
trail paving; and
bridge column/abutment construction, girder set and bridge deck pour complete for new direct connect bridge near I-25 to westbound C-470;
Traffic shift on eastbound C-470 to open third lane between Yosemite off-ramp and I-25.

Lane Closures

8 p.m. -5:30 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday
Alternating right and left lane closures on east and westbound C-470; traffic pace between I-25 and Wadsworth

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday:
Right- and left-lane closures on Erickson, Acres Green, University and Yosemite; partial ramp closures on Broadway, Lucent and University; traffic pace on east and westbound C-470; northbound I-25 to County Line off-ramp closures.

7 p.m. - 5:30 a.m. Monday-Friday:
Alternating right- and left-lane closures on eastbound and westbound C-470; single-lane closures on Yosemite, Acres Green, Broadway, University and Erickson.

8 p.m. - 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday:
Alternating right- and left-lane closures on eastbound and westbound C-470.

Follow posted detour signs. Construction activities area weather dependent and schedule is subject to change.

Full Closure for Bridge Rehab Work

What: Full closure of westbound and eastbound County Line Rd. ramps to southbound I-25 and the southbound I-25 ramp to northbound E-470 and westbound C-470 for bridge rehabilitation work.

When: Westbound and eastbound County Line Rd. ramps to southbound I-25 Sunday, November 18 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Southbound I-25 ramp to northbound E-470 and westbound C-470 Sunday, November 18 from 10:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Detours: Westbound and eastbound County Line Rd. ramps to southbound I-25 detour Take County Line Rd. to the northbound I-25 ramp. Take northbound I-25 and exit Dry Creek Rd., turn left, and return back onto I-25 southbound.

Southbound I-25 ramp to northbound E-470 and westbound C-470 detour Take southbound I-25 to Lincoln Ave. Take Lincoln Ave. eastbound and continue back ono northbound I-25 to westbound C-470 and northbound E-470.

Full Closures of Westbound C-470 Broadway to Lucent

What: Two full freeway closures of westbound C-470 from Broadway to Lucent will occur to allow crews to install permanent overhead sign structures.

When: Tuesday, November 13 and Wednesday, November 14 Monday, November 19 and Tuesday, November 20 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Detour: North Detour: Exit Broadway westbound off-ramp. Turn right onto northbound Broadway, proceed north to County Line Rd. and turn left. Continue on County Line Rd. until Lucent Blvd. Turn Left onto south Lucent Blvd., then continue to the westbound C-470 on-ramp.

South Detour: Exit Broadway westbound off-ramp. Turn left onto southbound Broadway, proceed south to Plaza Dr. and turn right. Continue on Plaza Dr. until Lucent Blvd. Turn right onto north Lucent Blvd., then continue to the westbound C-470 on-ramp.

Southbound Lucent Dedicated Right Turn Closure to Westbound C-470

What: The dedicated right-hand turn from southbound Lucent Boulevard onto westbound C-470 will have a full closure for paving, ramp widening construction and drainage installation.

When: Beginning mid-August for approximately six weeks. This is closure is 24/7.

Vehicles will turn right at the traffic signal.

Turn Lane Closure at University

What: The dedicated right-hand turn from southbound University Boulevard onto westbound C-470 will have a full closure for paving, ramp widening construction and drainage installation.

When: Beginning in mid-August for approximately six weeks. Closure is 24/7.

Non-commercial vehicles will turn right at the traffic signal.

Truck Detour: Commercial vehicles will continue through the traffic signal at the westbound C-470 on-ramp. Continue south to Dad Clark Dr and turn right. Take Dad Clark Dr approximately 2 miles to Broadway. Turn right on Broadway and continue to westbound C-470 on-ramp. (Detour is approximately 2.23 miles.)

Highline Canal Trail Closure

What: There will be a full closure of northbound and southbound Highline Canal Trail C-470 Underpass. This closure will be utilized to create a safe work zone for wall construction.

When: Beginning the morning of Aug. 8 and continuing for approximately three months The trail will be closed 24/7.

Detour:

Northbound Highline Canal Trail underpass detour (approximately 0.8 miles):
1. Take Plaza Drive west toward Erickson Boulevard.
2. At Erickson Boulevard turn right, continue north to County Line Road, and turn right.
3. Proceed west on County Line Road to Primo Road and turn right.
4. Take Primo Road to Highline Canal Trail and proceed north.
Southbound Highline Canal Trail underpass detour (approximately 0.8 miles):
1. Take Primo Road north to County Line Road and turn left.
2. Proceed on County Line Road west to Erickson Boulevard and turn left.
3. Proceed south on Erickson Boulevard to Plaza Drive, turn left onto Plaza Drive, and continue to Highline Canal Trail south.