After 16 years in the making, Castle Rock braces for Highway 85 to I-25 interchange

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- The city of Castle Rock is wrapping up work on the city’s largest transportation project in history.

This project is 16 years in the making, and at the end of the month people in the city will be able to use the stretch of road connecting Highway 85 to I-25.

City officials said this improvement is much needed because of big time growth in this area.

“An extension like this, an interchange like this is just a natural progression of the growth and economic development we’ve had,” said Castle Rock Mayor Paul Donahue.

The two-mile stretch crosses railroad tracks, a flood plain and connects a huge residential area called The Meadows to the Interstate.

This is a big deal because it helps alleviate traffic around the very busy outlet mall which Castle Rock touts as one of the most visited attractions in the state.

But the convenience comes with a big price tag: The entire project cost $84 million; Castle Rock tax payers passed a bond to help pay for it. 

Douglas County and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) also pitched in.

“No doubt this comes with a cost, but many times our residents tell us ‘you know, if you can get me home 15 minutes earlier, you know, that dollar... it costs me in a day or a week, it’s worth it to me,’” said Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge.

The road’s not even open yet, but the city is already talking about expanding it.

Mayor Donahue said he hopes to expand it by two more lanes at a cost of $19 million, but at this point it’s not in the budget so it will have to wait for the future.