Chambers Road Extension & Mainstreet Extension
State highways and major arterial roadways that run predominately north and south that carry traffic from Douglas County subdivisions to employment centers and other destinations in the Denver metro area were a rarity, especially east of I-25 until recently. Except for the State highways, which are limited to SH 83 (Parker Road) and I-25, there were no other improved arterial roadways serving this part of the County. All of these highways are highly congested and with continued growth throughout Douglas, Elbert and El Paso Counties, the need to improve these north-south corridors and more importantly, provide alterative routes (develop a grid system) is essential.
Due to the statewide traffic demand on these roadways, it is not uncommon to find SH 83 and I-25 heavily congested with traffic. In order to provide alternate routes for local traffic, Chambers Road, Jordan Road, and Peoria Street are a few of the corridors that have been identified by the Town of Parker, Douglas and Arapahoe Counties to address these concerns. Significant improvements to these corridors have already occurred. These roads are the components that make up the backbone of the transportation network that serve the commuters traveling north / south in the northeast portion of Douglas County.
Chambers Road has recently been constructed so that it connects with Potomac and Arapahoe Road on the north; and extends to the south into Douglas County to a new Interchange at E-470 and as far south as Main Street. In addition to the funds that the adjacent developers invested in this corridor, the County has spent $15.5 Million (which includes approximately $5.8 Million for the new interchange at E-470).
Full width grading and paving three lanes of Chambers Road, south of Lincoln Avenue to Mainstreet, have just been completed, as well as major improvements to Mainstreet between Jordan Road and Chambers Road. The improvements along Mainstreet include paving a four lane arterial road section, constructing channel improvements and a three span bridge over Newlin Gulch, as well as installing a traffic signal at Newlin Gulch Parkway.
The portion of Chambers Road between Lincoln Avenue and Mainstreet and the portion of Mainstreet between Bradbury Ranch and Chambers Road was funded by Douglas County utilizing our Road Sales and Use Tax (4/10ths of one cent of every dollar spent) to partner with the Town of Parker, adjacent developers, and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District as follows: approximately $8.0 Million from Douglas County, approximately $3.0 Million from the Town of Parker, $0.5 Million from Urban Drainage, and $0.5 Million from the developers along Mainstreet.
Additionally, the County executed an agreement with the developer and property owners located west of the Stonegate subdivision regarding right-of-way acquisition and funding for future additional improvements to Chambers Road between Lincoln Avenue and Mainstreet.
Mainstreet between Bradbury Ranch (west of Jordan Road) to Third Street; and Third Street between Mainstreet and Lincoln Avenue, opened to traffic in August, 2007. The portion of Mainstreet west of Chambers Road and all of Third Street were constructed and funded by the developers of Meridian Village. This connection should help distribute some of the traffic that would otherwise utilize Jordan Road.
The next critical link in extending Chambers Road south to SH 83 is to construct the link between Mainstreet and Hess Road. Some of the improvements required for this stretch of roadway have been completed through extensive coordination between the Town of Parker, Douglas County, the design engineer, and adjacent developments.
Aspects yet to be completed include constructing a 180-foot bridge structure that will span Newlin Gulch, implementing a box culvert that will serve as a pedestrian walkway under Chambers Road, developing water quality ponds that will treat water runoff from the roadway, and finishing the pavement needed to open this section of roadway. The right-of-way (ROW) acquisition for the segment between Mainstreet and Newlin Gulch Parkway will be costly with the current tree farm operation. However, if the property is developed, the necessary ROW will be dedicated and the developer will likely contribute to funding the improvements.
As you can see Parker is planning well for future growth.
Until next time,
Marianne Bandy
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