Plans to construct a missing pedestrian and bicycle bridge along the C-470 Trail over the Acres Green Drive intersection to address safety and traffic concerns is moving forward.
Lone Tree City Council approved resolutions regarding funding for the project and an intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation for bridge maintenance at its regular meeting April 19.
With the approvals, a construction contract will go to bid in May or June. Currently the trail is an at-grade crossing with Acres Green Drive.
“When (CDOT) reconstructed C-470, the section west of (Interstate 25), they grade-separated several of the trail crossings throughout the area, but for some reason, the intersection at Acres Green wasn’t included,” Lone Tree Director of Public Works and Mobility Justin Schmitz said.
Due to visibility and safety concerns for trail users and drivers, changing the at-grade crossing is a priority for the city, Schmitz said.
“There’s been a lot of concern over the years about the ability to see oncoming traffic,” he said. “A lot of people are excited about this project going in.”
Douglas County is also in the process of building a similar pedestrian and bicycle bridge on the C-470 trail at the Yosemite intersection, which is expected to be finished in November.
Having spent $375,000 last year on design, the construction budget is $4 million. Lone Tree and Douglas County will each contribute $1 million, and CDOT will provide the rest.
Schmitz said construction should start in the fall and will take about a year. Following completion of the bridge, CDOT will be responsible for maintaining it, though the city will still maintain the spur trails and streetscapes and handle grafitti removal.
Additionally, Lone Tree is spending roughly $900,000 to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Acres Green Drive and Parkway Drive in conjunction with the bridge project.