Colorado State Highway 470
Encyclopedia
State Highway 470 is the southwestern portion of the Denver Metro area's beltway. Originally planned as Interstate 470 in the 1960s, the beltway project was attacked on environmental impact grounds and the interstate beltway was never built. The portion of "Interstate 470" that was built as a state highway
is the present-day SH 470, which is a freeway for its entire length.
, starting south from its western terminus at US 6 (6th Avenue) near the intersection with Johnson Road. The highway has interchanges with Interstate 70, State Highway 8, and U.S. Highway 285, then curves to the east. The eastbound portion of SH 470 has interchanges with State Highway 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard), State Highway 75
(Platte Canyon Road), U.S. Highway 85 (South Santa Fe Drive), and State Highway 177
(South University Boulevard). The eastern terminus is the interchange with I-25. Beyond the eastern terminus, the direct continuation of SH 470 becomes the E-470
tollway.
.svg.png)
In the 1960s the Colorado Department of Transportation
perceived a need for a beltway around the Denver Metro Area and sent a proposal to the Federal Highway Administration
. The plan was for the federal government to provide 90% of funds for the project with the state providing the difference. I-470 was added to the Federal Highway Act of 1968 and was to be part of the Interstate Highway and Defense System. The Denver City Council approved the location and began engineering and environmental impact studies. After a few months the studies went under analysis with negative feedback. The Colorado Department of Health was opposed to the interstate beltway on the grounds that it would violate the Federal Clean Air Act. Other studies compared the proposed I-470 to the I-25 and I-225 freeways suggesting that alternate uses for the land (other than freeways) would be more environmentally friendly.
did not wish to participate in the building of the freeway extension and left the counties and cities of the metro area to provide funding for the project. The east, north, and northwest portions of the beltway could only be built as tollways.
(Parker Road) and termed Eastern/Extension 470 or E-470
. Subsequently, E-470
was extended to the interchange with I-70 in the east, and later to I-25 in the north. This newly added tollway was built and continues to be administered by a quasi-governmental organization known as the E-470 Public Highway Authority.
voted to stop all efforts to finish the beltway due to traffic concerns. The city and county of Broomfield, Colorado
effected an 11 miles (17.7 km) continuation of the E-470
tollway from I-25 to an interchange with US 36 (the former Denver-Boulder Turnpike) near Flatiron Crossing Mall
. This section of the tollway is known as the Northwest Parkway
, and is administered, similarly to E-470
, by its own quasi-governmental agency. In combination with E-470
(47 miles) and SH 470 (27 miles), the Northwest Parkway brings the total length of the completed portion of the beltway around the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
to approximately 85 miles (136.8 km). The uncompleted portion, from the west end of the Northwest Parkway to the northwest end of SH 470, is 19 miles (30.6 km) along existing streets.http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&mo=ma&un=m&1rc=I1AAA&cl=EN&qq=8sZ2eXZGPCFEMLp9VGzGfEpt%252fFydj92e8q7d1Dr6ZlEsP%252fVPzrIp0Bja4Yeu0N7cgtLtTLltxl3um0FUqgJBhlubJ7QG2ncUomb1pZlH0WsN4O9iAWSWfJKnIY3cA8XoIOTFe%252bZ09Z1EWCYy4FiJxKv2ihPxuG5tLcW%252bnIJrbwCmNl8MRLzYpSWTKzp8aFbUiIOaBwqXwHAIMIIbNPDQuaW2OABx8RvrcRCKB6%252bnpbYGMTf%252fbnTlfkCAyDHS0QITnBFFVSDVT2vOBJ8cdMBaxMtHFX6tJSTAJiqWJtqc0fo6V2vIR0bRlsXIlMXwlsr5MU8HxowyEaa%252bFcMM2iowUEqQZ4DQHSFT7I1wnWLhX2fexqWieRSPgWJtdQPeSs5uc3%252bgDpZiyfsBE%252fblz4g2BObLvfaMbCiGwUv6f32GFzyHGitDCo5kci1QKV6uHPFxwTTlXv5rAiogp6DWCFBpPCpcV3VcBbtJ3ebGApbTV2vFO8yv5GvaZLSOck3sMeSl4jbYJaLEzCLz7O%252b%252byMw05gHkwTZQOvEC1ZbeLj4cfy7WnO2s5RAT%252frgS3r6djjjXRo9ZjUh1bPM%253d&ct=NA&r=s&1si=tana&did=1171406112&rsres=1&1y=US&1ffi=&1l=Xj%252bQNUSTFEvd6GFNSCEIHQ%253d%253d&1g=cO%252f%252fKJbLhBMns9cXm3F%252f4Q%253d%253d&1pl=&1v=INTERSECTION&1n=BROOMFIELD+COUNTY&1pn=&1a=Us+Hwy+36+%26+Northwest+Pkwy&1c=Broomfield&1s=CO&1z=80020&2y=US&2ffi=&2l=&2g=&2pl=&2v=&2n=&2pn=&2a=Us+Hwy+6+%26+State+Hwy+470&2c=Golden&2s=CO&2z=80401&panelbtn=2]
made a compromise with the cities of Westminster
, Arvada
and Golden
to do an environmental impact study, the first step in an attempt to complete the beltway by 2010. The last segment of the beltway would be another tollway, tentatively called W-470, and would connect the west end of the Northwest Parkway
to the northwest end of SH 470. Some observers estimate that W-470 is more likely to be completed in 2020 than in 2010.
. It is currently in its planning phase. Jefferson County
, Broomfield
and Arvada
have formed the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority to construct the highway.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=12|Jefferson
|rowspan=3|Golden
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; west end of SH 470
|-
|0.001
|
|
|-
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|0.001
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|1.842
|
|-
|Morrison
|4.248
|
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Lakewood
|5.699
|
|
|-
|6.250
|Quincy Avenue
|
|-
|7.901
|Bowles Avenue
|
|-
|10.192
|Ken Caryl Avenue
|
|-
|12.449
|Kipling Parkway
|
|-
|
|13.902
|
|
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|15.443
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Westbound exit and entrance
|-
|rowspan=7|Douglas
|Littleton
|17.000
|
|
|-
|
|18.458
|Lucent Boulevard
|
|-
|
|19.599
|Broadway
|
|-
|
|21.069
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lone Tree
|24.144
|Quebec Street
|
|-
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|25.574
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Yosemite Street
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|26.195
|
|East end of SH 470; continues east as E-470
|-
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
is the present-day SH 470, which is a freeway for its entire length.
Route description
SH 470 begins in Golden, ColoradoGolden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
, starting south from its western terminus at US 6 (6th Avenue) near the intersection with Johnson Road. The highway has interchanges with Interstate 70, State Highway 8, and U.S. Highway 285, then curves to the east. The eastbound portion of SH 470 has interchanges with State Highway 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard), State Highway 75
Colorado State Highway 75
State Highway 75 is a Colorado highway in Jefferson and Arapahoe counties.-Route description:SH 75 runs a total of in two discontinuous segments. The highway starts at the intersection of Broadway and Rafferty Gardens Ave. in Englewood, and runs south on Broadway to Littleton Ave in Littleton. ...
(Platte Canyon Road), U.S. Highway 85 (South Santa Fe Drive), and State Highway 177
Colorado State Highway 177
State Highway 177 is a Colorado highway in Douglas and Arapahoe counties.-Route description:SH 177 runs , starting at an interchange with . The highway, also known as S. University Blvd., runs north through Centennial and Greenwood Village. It crosses and enters Cherry Hills Village, passing...
(South University Boulevard). The eastern terminus is the interchange with I-25. Beyond the eastern terminus, the direct continuation of SH 470 becomes the E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
tollway.
Proposed I-470
Colorado Department of Transportation
The Colorado Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the State of Colorado of the United States. CDOT is responsible for maintaining 9,144 mile highway system, including 3,429 bridges with over 28 billion vehicle miles of travel per year...
perceived a need for a beltway around the Denver Metro Area and sent a proposal to the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
. The plan was for the federal government to provide 90% of funds for the project with the state providing the difference. I-470 was added to the Federal Highway Act of 1968 and was to be part of the Interstate Highway and Defense System. The Denver City Council approved the location and began engineering and environmental impact studies. After a few months the studies went under analysis with negative feedback. The Colorado Department of Health was opposed to the interstate beltway on the grounds that it would violate the Federal Clean Air Act. Other studies compared the proposed I-470 to the I-25 and I-225 freeways suggesting that alternate uses for the land (other than freeways) would be more environmentally friendly.
I-470 to Centennial Parkway
The feedback from the Colorado Department of Health caused all efforts to plan and build the beltway to cease by order of the governor. A separate commission was established by Governor Richard Lamm to evaluate the right course of action. The commission came up with 11 alternatives. The final decision was to use federal highway funds to build a grand parkway known as Centennial Parkway (a partial beltway in the southwest portion of the metro area) and widen existing roads.Centennial Parkway to SH 470
As the southwestern area grew rapidly, plans for Centennial Parkway evolved to conform to freeway standards. The proposed road was designated State Highway 470. Present-day SH 470 is a freeway that is mostly built to interstate standards.Tollways are planned for the rest of the beltway
After the completion of SH 470 in the southwest, desires for a full beltway persisted in some circles and plans for an extension were created. CDOTColorado Department of Transportation
The Colorado Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the State of Colorado of the United States. CDOT is responsible for maintaining 9,144 mile highway system, including 3,429 bridges with over 28 billion vehicle miles of travel per year...
did not wish to participate in the building of the freeway extension and left the counties and cities of the metro area to provide funding for the project. The east, north, and northwest portions of the beltway could only be built as tollways.
E-470
A tollway extension of SH 470, east and north of the SH 470 eastern terminus, was built to the junction with State Highway 83Colorado State Highway 83
State Highway 83 is a state highway that runs from SH 21 interchange in north Colorado Springs to SH 2 at Leetsdale Dr. / Colorado Blvd. in Denver.-Route description:...
(Parker Road) and termed Eastern/Extension 470 or E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
. Subsequently, E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
was extended to the interchange with I-70 in the east, and later to I-25 in the north. This newly added tollway was built and continues to be administered by a quasi-governmental organization known as the E-470 Public Highway Authority.
Northwest Parkway
When highway interests pushed for the rest of the beltway to be completed, the city of GoldenGolden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
voted to stop all efforts to finish the beltway due to traffic concerns. The city and county of Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield, Colorado
The City and County of Broomfield is a prominent suburb and tier of the Denver metropolitan area in the State of Colorado of the United States. Broomfield has a consolidated city and county government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The...
effected an 11 miles (17.7 km) continuation of the E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
tollway from I-25 to an interchange with US 36 (the former Denver-Boulder Turnpike) near Flatiron Crossing Mall
Flatiron Crossing Mall
FlatIron Crossing Mall is a shopping mall, owned by Macerich Property Group, in Broomfield, Colorado. The mall is designed to reflect the active, outdoor lifestyle of Colorado. FlatIron Crossing features almost of retail space set in a two-level enclosed shopping mall, and an adjoining . outdoor...
. This section of the tollway is known as the Northwest Parkway
Northwest Parkway
The Northwest Parkway is an toll road running from the intersection of I-25 and E-470 to US 36 at 96th Street. Both termini are in Broomfield, Colorado, northwest of Denver. In combination with E-470 and SH 470 , the Northwest Parkway forms a partial beltway of approximately around the...
, and is administered, similarly to E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
, by its own quasi-governmental agency. In combination with E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
(47 miles) and SH 470 (27 miles), the Northwest Parkway brings the total length of the completed portion of the beltway around the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area
The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...
to approximately 85 miles (136.8 km). The uncompleted portion, from the west end of the Northwest Parkway to the northwest end of SH 470, is 19 miles (30.6 km) along existing streets.http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&mo=ma&un=m&1rc=I1AAA&cl=EN&qq=8sZ2eXZGPCFEMLp9VGzGfEpt%252fFydj92e8q7d1Dr6ZlEsP%252fVPzrIp0Bja4Yeu0N7cgtLtTLltxl3um0FUqgJBhlubJ7QG2ncUomb1pZlH0WsN4O9iAWSWfJKnIY3cA8XoIOTFe%252bZ09Z1EWCYy4FiJxKv2ihPxuG5tLcW%252bnIJrbwCmNl8MRLzYpSWTKzp8aFbUiIOaBwqXwHAIMIIbNPDQuaW2OABx8RvrcRCKB6%252bnpbYGMTf%252fbnTlfkCAyDHS0QITnBFFVSDVT2vOBJ8cdMBaxMtHFX6tJSTAJiqWJtqc0fo6V2vIR0bRlsXIlMXwlsr5MU8HxowyEaa%252bFcMM2iowUEqQZ4DQHSFT7I1wnWLhX2fexqWieRSPgWJtdQPeSs5uc3%252bgDpZiyfsBE%252fblz4g2BObLvfaMbCiGwUv6f32GFzyHGitDCo5kci1QKV6uHPFxwTTlXv5rAiogp6DWCFBpPCpcV3VcBbtJ3ebGApbTV2vFO8yv5GvaZLSOck3sMeSl4jbYJaLEzCLz7O%252b%252byMw05gHkwTZQOvEC1ZbeLj4cfy7WnO2s5RAT%252frgS3r6djjjXRo9ZjUh1bPM%253d&ct=NA&r=s&1si=tana&did=1171406112&rsres=1&1y=US&1ffi=&1l=Xj%252bQNUSTFEvd6GFNSCEIHQ%253d%253d&1g=cO%252f%252fKJbLhBMns9cXm3F%252f4Q%253d%253d&1pl=&1v=INTERSECTION&1n=BROOMFIELD+COUNTY&1pn=&1a=Us+Hwy+36+%26+Northwest+Pkwy&1c=Broomfield&1s=CO&1z=80020&2y=US&2ffi=&2l=&2g=&2pl=&2v=&2n=&2pn=&2a=Us+Hwy+6+%26+State+Hwy+470&2c=Golden&2s=CO&2z=80401&panelbtn=2]
Proposed
W-470 As of August 2003, CDOTColorado Department of Transportation
The Colorado Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the State of Colorado of the United States. CDOT is responsible for maintaining 9,144 mile highway system, including 3,429 bridges with over 28 billion vehicle miles of travel per year...
made a compromise with the cities of Westminster
Westminster, Colorado
Westminster is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol. The United States Census Bureau that the city population...
, Arvada
Arvada, Colorado
The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
and Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
to do an environmental impact study, the first step in an attempt to complete the beltway by 2010. The last segment of the beltway would be another tollway, tentatively called W-470, and would connect the west end of the Northwest Parkway
Northwest Parkway
The Northwest Parkway is an toll road running from the intersection of I-25 and E-470 to US 36 at 96th Street. Both termini are in Broomfield, Colorado, northwest of Denver. In combination with E-470 and SH 470 , the Northwest Parkway forms a partial beltway of approximately around the...
to the northwest end of SH 470. Some observers estimate that W-470 is more likely to be completed in 2020 than in 2010.
Jefferson Parkway
The Jefferson Parkway is the planned extension to the beltway to begin at the Northwest Parkway and end at SH 93Colorado State Highway 93
State Highway 93 is a highway in Colorado that connects Golden and Boulder.-Route description:SH 93 runs , starting at its southern junction with U.S. Highway 6 at the entrance to Clear Creek Canyon in Golden...
. It is currently in its planning phase. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
, Broomfield
Broomfield, Colorado
The City and County of Broomfield is a prominent suburb and tier of the Denver metropolitan area in the State of Colorado of the United States. Broomfield has a consolidated city and county government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The...
and Arvada
Arvada, Colorado
The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
have formed the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority to construct the highway.
Exit list
Note: Exits on SH 470 are currently unnumbered.{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=12|Jefferson
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
|rowspan=3|Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; west end of SH 470
|-
|0.001
|
|
|-
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|0.001
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|1.842
|
|-
|Morrison
Morrison, Colorado
The historic Town of Morrison is a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The population was 430 at the 2000 census...
|4.248
|
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Lakewood
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
|5.699
|
|
|-
|6.250
|Quincy Avenue
|
|-
|7.901
|Bowles Avenue
|
|-
|10.192
|Ken Caryl Avenue
|
|-
|12.449
|Kipling Parkway
|
|-
|
|13.902
|
|
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|15.443
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Westbound exit and entrance
|-
|rowspan=7|Douglas
Douglas County, Colorado
Douglas County is the eighth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado, in the United States. The county is located midway between Colorado's two largest cities: Denver and Colorado Springs...
|Littleton
Littleton, Colorado
Littleton is a Home Rule Municipality contained in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Littleton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area. Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and the 20th most populous city in the state of...
|17.000
|
|
|-
|
|18.458
|Lucent Boulevard
|
|-
|
|19.599
|Broadway
|
|-
|
|21.069
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lone Tree
Lone Tree, Colorado
Lone Tree is a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,873 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lone Tree is located at . It is on the northern border of Douglas County, and directly adjacent to Arapahoe County...
|24.144
|Quebec Street
|
|-
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|25.574
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Yosemite Street
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|26.195
|
|East end of SH 470; continues east as E-470
E-470
E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...
|-