Construction shuts down Santa Fe Drive, C-470 in Highlands Ranch

Drivers can expect delays Thursday night on the C-470 and Santa Fe Drive interchange in Highlands Ranch as construction begins on the bridge.

Santa Fe Drive, also signed as U.S. 85 in this area, from C-470 to Highlands Ranch Parkway — as well as Town Center Drive to the east — will be shut down in both directions starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, Douglas County officials said in a news release. The closure will lift at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

C-470’s exit and entry ramps will also be closed to northbound Santa Fe Drive traffic overnight, the news release stated.

The following detours will be put into place:

• Drivers headed to C-470 from southbound Santa Fe Drive will go east on the C-470 flyover ramp. To reach the westbound highway, drivers will exit at Lucent Boulevard, go north and rejoin westbound C-470.
• Drivers headed to C-470 from northbound Santa Fe Drive will turn east on Highlands Ranch Parkway, continue to Lucent Boulevard and turn north to access both directions of the highway.
• Northbound through traffic on Santa Fe Drive will turn east on Highlands Ranch Parkway to Lucent Boulevard, turn north and travel to County Line Road, turn west and rejoin Santa Fe Drive.
• Southbound through traffic on Santa Fe Drive will enter eastbound C-470, exit at Lucent Boulevard, go south to Highlands Ranch Parkway and continue west to rejoin Santa Fe Parkway.

During the closure, crews will pour the concrete bridge surface to form the eastern portion of the new Santa Fe Drive bridge over C-470 to widen the road and improve traffic flow, county officials said.