C-470 Express Lanes

Project completed

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
adding grade separations for the multi-use trail at Quebec and Colorado

Express Lane Information

Traffic Alert

Detour: Traffic will be able to access westbound C-470 at all times during the closure. Depending on traffic, this closure can add between 4 and 5 minutes to the motorists drive time. Please plan accordingly.
What: Eastbound C-470 right lane closure under Santa Fe bridge from off-ramp to on-ramp to replace a permanent concrete panel.
When: 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13 until 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14.

C-470 Express Lanes between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard will open for testing. Drivers encouraged to try the new lanes for free prior to toll commencement in August 2020.

The C-470 Express Lanes between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard are expected to open for testing this weekend following final checks. Motorists will be able to use the new lanes for free until mid-August 2020 during the testing phase of the toll system.

Major construction is complete, and C-470 will now have improved safety and traffic flow. The project added two Express Lanes westbound from I-25 to Colorado Boulevard and one Express Lane westbound from Colorado Boulevard to Wadsworth Boulevard, and one Express Lane eastbound from west of the Platte River to I-25.
Crews expect to begin work to open the eastbound Express Lane tonight and should be fully open tomorrow morning. Work to open the westbound Express Lanes is scheduled to begin tomorrow night. All Express Lanes are expected to be open to traffic by this Sunday.

In addition to the new Express Lanes, the project reconstructed a portion of the existing pavement and added auxiliary lanes between interchanges, improved portions of on- and off-ramps, widened the existing bridges through the project area and replaced the bridges over the South Platte River, installed water-quality features and noise barriers, installed Intelligent Transportation Systems elements and tolling equipment, and added grade separations for the multi-use trail at Quebec St. and Colorado Blvd.

Once testing is complete in August, drivers will have the choice of taking the Express Lanes, which will be available 24 hours a day, for a faster, more reliable travel time in exchange for a toll. All travelers will have the choice of taking the general purpose lanes for free. To save money, drivers are encouraged to get an ExpressToll pass prior to toll commencement in August.

Tolls will range from $0.65 to $3.60 per toll point with an ExpressToll pass depending on the time of day.
See below for details on how to use the new C-470 Express Lanes:

When tolling begins in August, drivers will be charged depending on how far they travel in the C-470 Express Lanes.
C-470 Express Lanes will be free for all motorcycles, with no pass required.
Free carpooling will not be available on these lanes.

Limits

The C-470 Express Lanes Project is located along 12.5 miles of C-470, between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard.

Need

Over 100,000 motorists currently use this segment of C-470 each day, with volumes projected to increase 40 percent by 2035.

Cost

The project cost is $276 million.

Funding

CDOT has identified $110.6 million in state and federal funding, and Douglas County is contributing $10 million for construction. The remainder will be funded via loans repaid by toll revenues.

Outcomes

Adding two express lanes to westbound C-470 from I-25 to Colorado Boulevard, and one express lane westbound from Colorado Boulevard to Wadsworth
Adding one express lane eastbound from Wadsworth to I-25
Full reconstruction of a portion of the existing pavement
Adding auxiliary lanes between the following interchanges:
- Westbound
  - University to Broadway
  - Broadway to Lucent
  - Lucent to Santa Fe
  - Santa Fe to Platte Canyon
- Eastbound
  - Santa Fe to Lucent (existing replaced in kind)
  - Lucent to Broadway
  - Broadway to University
  - Quebec to Yosemite
Improving portions of on- and off-ramps to current standards (including ramp metering where appropriate)
Realigning substandard curves
Safety and operational improvements between I-25 and Quebec via direct-connect ramps from I-25 to the westbound C-470 express lanes
Widening of 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
Adding grade separations for the multi-use trail at Quebec and Colorado

Delivery Method

This project will be completed using design-build, which is an alternative delivery strategy where design and construction occur concurrently, resulting in schedule savings.

Time Savings

We project up to 18 minutes in travel time savings for a westbound trip from I-25 to Wadsworth during peak and evening commute times, once the facility opens and motorists have sufficient time to adjust to the new C-470 options.

General-Purpose Lanes (Non-Tolled)

The current number of general purpose lanes will remain the same. Express Lanes will be an addition.

Toll Collection

All tolls will be collected by License Plate Toll or with an ExpressToll account.

License Plate Toll customers will be billed the ExpressToll rate plus a surcharge. The most efficient and least expensive way to pay tolls is by using an ExpressToll transponder.

How We Use Tolls

All toll revenue collected on C-470 will be utilized for the C-470 corridor and will go toward:

maintenance of the highway;
administrative costs of operating the Express Lanes; and
paying off financial debt.