If the cones on Highlands Ranch Parkway east of Broadway are nearly gone, why does the county have another round of construction lined up at the same corner? Douglas County is handling the stretch between Broadway and Burntwood Way as two separate projects, with different funding and different goals, and they run about a year apart. The pavement job is wrapping up this fall. The intersection job is expected to start in spring 2027.
Where the Parkway Stands in Early November
Douglas County's project page for the Broadway to Burntwood reconstruction was last updated October 29. It says crews made the final traffic shift in late October, so the lanes you drive now are the permanent ones. No more shifts are planned.
The work isn't finished yet, though. Here is what remains:
- North-side concrete. This week's crews are pouring concrete on the north side of the parkway, and the north sidewalks between Broadway and Burntwood Way are closed. Walkers and riders should use the south-side sidewalks.
- Traffic signals. Signal work continues through November and December. Some of it may call for brief traffic holds on the parkway and on nearby streets.
- The trail connection. The bike and pedestrian trail between East Highlands Ranch Parkway and Ridgeglen Way stays closed until the project ends. The fencing is staying up, and the posted detour sends you to the crossing at Burntwood Way.
- Work hours. General construction runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Paving and saw cutting are allowed until 10 p.m.
The speed limit through the work zone is 35 mph. You can reach the project team through its hotline at 720-663-1958 or by email at [email protected].
Why the County Replaced the Road Instead of Patching It Again
This section of Highlands Ranch Parkway was built in the 1980s. It was still the original concrete when crews tore it out this summer. Amy Strouthopolous, pavement management supervisor for Douglas County, told the Highlands Ranch Herald that concrete pavement usually lasts 30 to 50 years. That puts this stretch inside the expected range.
She explained the decision to the Herald this way:
"We're repairing this over and over and we've reached the point where the time and money it's taking to repair this is not worth it. It's time to reconstruct."
The county's own project description says the same thing in budget terms. Maintenance costs on this segment had climbed so far that a full rebuild became the cheaper long-term choice.
The plans described in the Herald call for 11-foot travel lanes and 7-foot bike lanes kept on the roadway. They also include 8-foot sidewalks, a raised concrete median, curb ramps upgraded to ADA standards, and a 2% cross slope so water drains off and the surface holds up longer.
The price was $6,579,818. According to the Douglas County manager report for May 26, 2026, Castle Rock Construction Company was the lowest of six bidders, and its bid came in 43% below the engineer's estimate. The money comes from the county's Road Sales and Use Tax Fund, Pavement Management Program, and Road and Bridge Fund.
The Signal at Ridgeglen Way Is the Change You'll Feel Most
For many drivers, the biggest difference on this stretch won't be the smoother pavement. It will be the new traffic signal where Ridgeglen Way meets the parkway.
Ridgeglen Way is the street to the Highlands Ranch Senior Center, which was nearing completion in fall 2024. When it opened, there was no signal at Ridgeglen. As the Herald reported, a light didn't meet the county's criteria at the time. The county counted on the signals at Broadway and Burntwood Way to create gaps in traffic until it could study the intersection after the center opened.
That arrangement made turning left onto a busy arterial hard. At the May 12 county business meeting, Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle said he regularly heard from seniors who love the center that the turn was "just impossible," the Herald reported. The new signal is paid for by the Highlands Ranch Metro District in partnership with the county. The signal at Burntwood Way is being rebuilt as part of the same project.
Access to the Senior Center and to Mountainview Christian Church was to be kept open during construction, according to the county manager report for July 28, 2026. The county says crews will be installing new signal equipment along this segment through the end of the year.
The Broadway Intersection Was Never Part of This Job
The Herald noted that the pavement rebuild runs east of the Broadway intersection, from Broadway to Burntwood Way. The intersection itself is a separate county project with a separate purpose. Its job is safety and capacity at one of the busiest corners in Highlands Ranch. It dates to a 2021 agreement between Douglas County and CDOT. According to the May 26 county manager report, county staff decided as design moved along that folding the neighboring parkway widening into the same project would mean less disruption for drivers. On May 12, commissioners approved an amendment that raised federal safety funding from $1,125,000 to $3,600,000 and formally added the widening, so construction can go ahead with about 50% federal funding and a 50% county match.
| Broadway to Burntwood reconstruction | Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Replace worn-out 1980s concrete | Add turning and through capacity, improve safety |
| Main work | New pavement, raised median, sidewalks, signals at Ridgeglen and Burntwood | Second southbound left-turn lane on Broadway, three eastbound through lanes on the parkway, redesigned signal |
| Funding | County road and pavement funds, $6.58 million contract | About half federal, including a $3.6 million Highway Safety Improvement Program grant administered by CDOT, and half county match |
| Timing | Started June 8, 2026; signal work through December 2026 | Construction expected to start spring 2027 |
The county's intersection project page, updated August 14, 2026, lists design work, right-of-way acquisition, and utility relocation for 2025 and 2026, with construction expected to begin in spring 2027. It also says the parkway widening may be pulled out of the first construction package and built later, depending on funding.
If you drive that corner often, some of the change is already in place. As an interim fix, the county:
- Replaced the northbound, southbound, and westbound signal heads with left-turn heads that allow turns on a green arrow only, to address a pattern of left-turn crashes.
- Retimed the signal for current traffic volumes.
- Removed old pavement markings to open a second left-turn lane from westbound Highlands Ranch Parkway to southbound Broadway, and added a double-left-turn sign on the mast arm.
The double left you may have started using when heading west toward southbound Broadway is that interim fix. The spring 2027 project adds a matching second left turn for drivers coming south on Broadway and heading east onto the parkway.
Getting Around Until Both Projects Are Done
Until both projects wrap up, a few practical points help with daily trips along this corridor:
- On foot or by bike, use the south-side sidewalks between Broadway and Burntwood Way while the north side is closed. Cross at Burntwood Way instead of the fenced trail to Ridgeglen Way.
- For other trail routes, the county points people to the Highlands Ranch Metro District Parks, Recreation & Open Space Service Center at 303-791-2710 and to the Metro District's open space and trails page. The Metro District's trail system runs more than 70 miles and links neighborhoods for both recreation and getting around.
- Expect short holds on the parkway and side streets during signal work through December. The county suggests checking your navigation app before you leave.
- Heading north toward Littleton, keep in mind that County Line Road between University Boulevard and Broadway has been under construction since September 2025. The county is adding lanes, a new signal, and sidewalks there.
The north-side concrete and the signals are the last pieces of the pavement rebuild. After that, the next scheduled work at this end of the parkway is the intersection project, expected to start in spring 2027.
Construction along a corridor like Highlands Ranch Parkway changes how a street feels, from turns and sidewalks to the traffic you hear at 7 a.m., and it's worth understanding before you buy or list a home near it. If you're thinking about a home near Broadway or Ridgeglen Way and want to know what the next year of road work means for that location, I'm glad to go through it with you. Melissa Smessaert is here when you're ready to Schedule a Consultation.
