C-470/US 85 (Santa Fe Drive) Interchange

Project completed

Project Overview

In late June 2010, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) began a safety and mobility improvement project that constructs a flyover ramp from southbound Santa Fe Drive (US 85) to eastbound C-470.  In addition, the project will construct a new bridge over Erickson Boulevard as well as a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Erickson Boulevard.  The bicycle/pedestrian trail will also be reconstructed.

The $26.7 million project was partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as well as CDOT and Douglas County.  Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc. was the contractor for this project which was completed December 12, 2012, four months ahead of schedule.

This is the first improvement project for this interchange.  The second project will reconstruct the Santa Fe Drive bridge over C-470 and widen Santa Fe Drive to three lanes in each direction between Blakeland Drive and County Line Road. The Santa Fe Drive/County Line Road intersection will also be improved with double left turn lanes and right turn lanes.

Project Benefits

The improvements on this current project will not only benefit motorists, but bicyclists and pedestrians as well.  

  • The new flyover ramp from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470 will improve safety and mobility on Santa Fe Drive as the heavy ramp traffic will no longer have to stop at the traffic signal.
  • With free-flowing traffic from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470, there will be more signal time dedicated for the northbound Santa Fe Drive to westbound C-470 turn movement.  There will also be an additional left turn lane from northbound Santa Fe Drive to westbound C-470.
  • A new climbing lane will be constructed on eastbound C-470 between Santa Fe Drive and Lucent Boulevard providing motorists, including heavy trucks, more time to reach travel speeds before merging with traffic.
  • The new Erickson Boulevard bridge will be separated from C-470 ramp traffic, providing for improved safety and mobility.
  • The new bicycle/pedestrian bridge will improve safety by providing a crossing for bicyclists and pedestrians.
  • The existing bicycle/pedestrian path will have a smoother riding surface, which will improve safety.

Project Schedule

Tentative Schedule
This is a tentative schedule highlighting key milestones for the project. The schedule is subject to change:

June 2010- Construction begins
July 2010- Reconstruction of the bicycle/pedestrian trail begins
August 2010- Construction begins on the new flyover from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470
Winter 2010- Girder installation and bridge deck work begins on the new flyover bridge
Summer 2011- Flyover bridge from southbound Santa Fe Drive to eastbound C-470 is completed  
January 2012- Flyover open to traffic, project is completed