Douglas County approves $4.5 million design contract for Titan Road-U.S. 85 interchange
The contract advances studies and design for ramp-backup fixes and a possible third U.S. 85 lane in each direction, but construction funding and a firm start date remain unresolved.
Douglas County commissioners on July 14 approved a $4,499,961.25 contract with RS&H to design improvements at the Titan Road and U.S. 85 interchange, including fixes for southbound exit-ramp backups that spill onto U.S. 85.
The contract covers traffic and environmental studies, interchange alternatives and design work along roughly two miles of U.S. 85 between Highlands Ranch Parkway and Titan Road. The project presentation to commissioners calls for widening the corridor to three lanes in each direction. The board approved the contract by unanimous voice vote, the meeting record shows.
Two initially funded task orders total just under $2 million and more than $2.5 million. The first covers data collection, traffic modeling, environmental-clearance work, conceptual designs for up to five interchange alternatives and about 30% design of preferred and interim concepts. The second focuses primarily on widening U.S. 85.
A third task order for final design of interim interchange improvements is not funded. The approval advances design and selection of a preferred alternative; it does not authorize interchange construction or the planned widening.
County staff said the near-term concept would add ramp storage and make other operational improvements to reduce the chance that southbound traffic headed to Titan Road backs up onto the highway. Staff described a phased approach: a smaller project could address demand in the next five years while the county develops a larger interchange reconstruction. Staff said the county hopes to build the near-term portion around 2030, but the meeting record did not establish a firm start date.
The $4.499 million covers the RS&H design contract, with just under $500,000 from one Douglas County business unit and about $4 million from another, both in Fund 230. The county did not identify a total construction cost or future funding package. Those will depend on the selected alternative, later design work and additional approvals and funding.