DENVER, CO Following years of extensive planning and collaboration, federal, state and local officials and members of the community join the Colorado Department of Transportation to celebrate the groundbreaking of the C-470 Express Lanes project, which will increase mobility and user choice on a 12.5-mile stretch of C-470 primarily between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard.

"Today we celebrate the efforts of the C-470 Coalition and all the legislative advocates that came together to support a project that not only has an incredible regional economic impact, but will touch the daily lives of commuters and community members in this area," said Shailen Bhatt, CDOT Executive Director. "We wish the project team smooth and speedy construction as they deliver this much-anticipated project to a rapidly developing region."

When this $276 million project completes, motorists will have the option to use the Express Lanes for a faster, more reliable commute, or the free general-purpose lanes. The project also includes full reconstruction of existing pavement, the addition of auxiliary lanes at selected locations, on- and off-ramp improvements, realignment of substandard curves, widening of existing bridges within the project area, replacing the bridges over the South Platte River and installing ITS elements and tolling equipment.

Over 100,000 motorists currently use this segment of C-470 each day with volumes projected to increase 40 percent by 2035. Construction is projected to be complete in the spring of 2019.