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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 Work

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. Westbound traffic has been diverted onto the new eastbound bridge as well while crews construct the new westbound South Platte River Bridge.
  • Demolition of the old westbound South Platte River bridge is complete.
  • The concrete deck was poured recently for the new westbound South Platte River Bridge.
  • Noise wall, drainage, wall, subgrade work and paving along westbound C-470 between Santa Fe and Wadsworth is on-going.

Santa Fe to Lucent:
Work includes:

  • inlet, lighting and barrier;
  • noise wall construction;
  • continued work on the Erickson bridge; and
  • concrete paving;

Lucent to Quebec:

  • Eastbound and westbound traffic has been shifted onto new permanent concrete pavement between Lucent and Quebec.
  • Concrete paving is on-going.
  • Crews will complete concrete barrier, guardrail, overhead sign installation, and drainage work.
  • Crews will do ITS work (light poles and tolling infrastructure in median).
  • Expect trail work at Colorado and Quebec.

Quebec to I-25:
Work includes

  • earthwork;
  • drainage pond grading and pipe installation;
  • ITS;
  • bridge, retaining wall and drainage 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;
  • bridge construction;
  • More traffic shifts can be expected to move traffic onto new permanent concrete pavement;
  • concrete paving continues.

Lane Closures

Due to increased snowmelt and subsequent water release from Chatfield Reservoir, the Mary Carter Greenway Trail underpass at C-470 will experience intermittent closures when water levels create unsafe conditions for passage on the trail. The project currently has built a diversion pad, which temporarily narrows the river, to allow bridge construction to take place. Once the diversion pad is removed the new trail will no longer experience these conditions. The reconstructed trail was raised approximately 6" and moved away from the waters edge to help prevent trail flooding in the future.

Detour During Closures: Western Detour - Take the C-470 Bikeway Trail west on the south side of C-470 along Chatfield Lake. Continue right to pass underneath C-470 and turn east to stay on the C-470 Bikeway Trail. Join the Columbine Trail after crossing Chatfield Ave. Take the trail north along Chatfield Ave. as it turns into S Platte Canyon Rd. After crossing Mineral Ave. take a right and join the Mineral Ave. Trail, continue on and then connect back onto the Mary Carter Greenway Trail.

Eastern Detour - Follow the Highline Canal Trail east, then turn left on the trail before the Centennial Trail begins and continue as it goes under County Line Rd. Then continue north on the Highline Canal Trail to the bike lane on Mineral Ave. Take Mineral Ave. across Santa Fe Dr., then get on the Railroad Spur Trail back onto the Mary Carter Greenway Trail.

CDOT will conduct an extended full closure of the westbound C-470 off- and on-ramp at Platte Canyon Rd. This closure will start on Wednesday, July 24 and continue through Sunday, August 18.

This closure is necessary to remove existing asphalt, complete earthwork activities, remove and replace existing drainage and complete permanent paving as part of the C-470 Express Lanes project.

By conducting an extended full closure of the off- and on-ramps, the project will eliminate over 100 nightly ramp closure and the need for additional traffic switches and the use of additional temporary asphalt. The benefits of this closure will decrease confusion for the traveling public while increasing safety for motorists and construction crews. When completed, the off- and on-ramps will open to their final configuration.

Westbound Platte Canyon off-ramp detour: Continue on westbound C-470 to the Wadsworth Blvd. exit. Turn right onto northbound Wadsworth Blvd. then turn right onto Chatfield Ave. Continue until Chatfield Ave. turns into Platte Canyon Rd. See map below.

Northbound Platte Canyon Rd. to Westbound C-470 On-Ramp from Detour: Continue north on Platte Canyon Rd. To Ken Caryl Ave. Turn left on Ken Caryl Ave. to Wadsworth Blvd., and turn left. Continue south on Wadsworth Blvd. to the westbound C-470 om-ramp. See map below.

Southbound Platte Canyon Rd. to Westbound C-470 On-Ramp from Detour: Continue south on Platte Canyon Rd. until the road becomes Chatfield Ave. Continue west on Chatfield Ave. to Wadsworth Blvd., turn left on Wadsworth Blvd. to the westbound C-470 on-ramp. See map below.

Upcoming Lane Closures:
  • Sunday, August 11, Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Saturday, August 18 from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. southbound/northbound I-25 and southbound E-470 ramps to westbound C-470 full closure to Quebec St.  These closures are necessary to perform a traffic switch to open the remaining work areas on westbound C-470. To Detour: NB I-25 - Take northbound I-25 and exit onto County Line Rd. west. Continue on County Line Rd. to Quebec St. and turn left. Take Quebec St. to the C-470 westbound on-ramp. SB I-25 - Take southbound I-25 and exit onto Lincoln Ave. west. Continue on Lincoln Ave. to Quebec St. and turn right. Take Quebec St. to the westbound C-470 on-ramp. SB E-470 - Take southbound E-470 to southbound I-25 and exit onto Lincoln Ave. west. Continue on Lincoln Ave. to Quebec St. and turn right. Take Quebec St. to the westbound C-470 on-ramp.
  • Sunday, August 11 and Monday, August 12 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. eastbound C-470 ramps to northbound E-470 and northbound I-25 will be closed to perform drainage installation, grading and paving activities. Detour: Take eastbound C-470 ramp to southbound I-25. Exit on Lincoln Ave., turn left and continue back onto northbound I-25. Take northbound I-25 to northbound E-470.
  • Monday, August 5 through Wednesday, August 7 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. eastbound C-470 ramp to southbound I-25 will be closed for drainage installation, grading and for paving activities. To Detour: Take eastbound C-470 ramp to northbound E-25. Exit on Dry Creek Rd., turn left and continue back onto southbound I-25.
  • Monday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 13 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Southbound I-25 ramp to northbound dE-470 and westbound C-470 will be closed to install barrier. Detour: Take southbound I-25 to Lincoln Ave. Take Lincoln eastbound and continue back onto northbound I-25 to westbound C-470 and northbound E-470.
  • Wednesday, August 13 and Thursday, August 15 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Friday, August 16 from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. eastbound C-470 will be closed from Quebec to I-25 / E-470. To Detour: EB C-470 to SB/NB I-25 - Take eastbound C-470 to the Quebec St. off-ramp. Turn left onto Quebec St., to County Line Rd., and turn right onto County Line Rd. to northbound/southbound I-25 on-ramps. EB C-470 to NB E-470 - Take eastbound C-470 to the Quebec St. off-ramp. Turn left onto Quebec St. to County Line Rd., and turn right. Take County Line to Inverness Pkwy. Take Inverness Pkwy. to Jamaica St., and turn left onto Jamaica St. to northbound E-470 on-ramp.
  • Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17 from 9:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. westbound C-470 from Santa Fe to Wadsworth will be closed for paving activities. Detour: Exit Santa Fe Dr. westbound off-ramp and turn right onto northbound Santa Fe Dr. Take Santa Fe Dr. to Mineral Ave. and turn left. Take Mineral Ave. westbound until the road becomes Ken Caryl Ave. Take Ken Caryl Ave. to Wadsworth Blvd. and turn left. Take Wadsworth Blvd. south and continue onto westbound C-470 on-ramp.
  • Sunday, August 18 through Wednesday, August 21 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Saturday, August 24 from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. southbound I-25, northbound I-25 and southbound E-470 ramps to westbound C-470 closed for retaining wall work, paving and barrier installation. To Detour: SB E-470 to WB C-470 - Take southbound E-470 to southbound I-25 and exit onto Lincoln Ave. west. Continue on Lincoln Ave. west to Yosemite St. and turn right. Take Yosemite St. north to the westbound C-470 on-ramp. SB I-25to WB C-470 - Take southbound I-25 and exit onto Lincoln Ave. west. Continue on Lincoln Ave. west to Yosemite St. and turn right. Take Yosemite St. north to the westbound C-470 on-ramp. NB I-25 to WB C-470 - Take northbound I-25 and exit onto County Line Rd. west. Continue on County Line Rd. west to Yosemite St. and turn left. Take Yosemite St. south to the westbound C-470 on-ramp.
  • Sunday, August 18 through Thursday, August 22 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Saturday, August 24 from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. eastbound C-470 ramps to northbound E-470 and northbound I-25 will be closed for drainage installation, grading and paving activities. Detour: Take eastbound C-470 ramp to southbound I-25. Exit on Lincoln Ave., turn left and continue back onto northbound I-25. Take northbound I-25 to northbound E-470.
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