CDOT to begin construction of CO 7 intersection improvements in Lafayette

Travel Advisory

Boulder County - The Colorado Department of Transportation and construction partner Zak Dirt of Mead will begin work to widen and repave Colorado Highway 7 at the Willow Creek Drive, Park Lake Drive and CO 42 (Arapahoe Road) intersections, bringing critical safety improvements for travelers in the City of Lafayette.

The project is located between Mile Points 58 and 60 along CO 7 at and around the intersections of Willow Creek Drive, Park Lake Drive and CO 42.

The CO 7 corridor experiences significant traffic congestion during peak rush-hour traffic, specifically westbound in the morning and eastbound in the evenings, resulting in unreliable travel times and safety concerns.

To address these issues, the intersections at Willow Creek and Park Lake will receive dedicated left-turn lanes to separate turning traffic from the through lanes and improve safety and flow. The larger intersection at CO 7 and CO 42, also known as Arapahoe Road and 95th Street, will gain additional east-west travel lanes, longer turn lanes and new transit-priority lanes for Regional Transportation District services. These improvements will create a modern, safer transportation corridor that will better support growing multimodal travel volume.

Additional improvements will include expanded bus platforms with lighting and ticket machines, 12-foot-wide shared-use paths, signalized pedestrian crossings and improved connections to nearby neighborhoods, businesses and existing walking and bicycling networks.

Pre-construction activities have been focused on utility relocations and preparing and clearing work areas for installation of temporary paved lanes on CO 7. Erosion control measures were installed ahead of project work. Construction of intersection improvements will immediately follow utility relocation completion.

Beginning stages of project work will begin in early November at the intersection of CO 7 and Willow Creek with removals of curbs and ramps to prepare for upgrades and updates to drainage for the Dry Creek Davidson Ditch crossing. Traffic on CO 7 will be shifted to temporary paved lanes to the south to minimize travel impacts. Temporary barriers will be in place, and flaggers may be on site to help guide traffic.

Similar traffic shifts to the south should be anticipated near the intersection of CO 7 and Park Lake as work progresses in late 2026. Traffic shifts at the intersection of CO 7 and CO 42 will begin in early 2027. The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2027.

"This is an extremely important transportation corridor for commuters in Boulder County, and these improvements will create safer, more reliable intersection access for all modes of travel," said CDOT Northeast Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. "Better yet, these improvements will also support local businesses and create new, stronger connections to the surrounding community."

This $16.2 million project is made possible due to CDOT 10 year plan funds, Denver Regional Council of Governments' Subregional Share program funds, FASTER safety funds with an additional $1.3 million local contribution from Boulder County.

Planned Improvements

• Dedicated left-turn lanes at Willow Creek and Park Lake intersections
• Additional east-west travel lanes and longer turn lanes
• Transit-priority lanes to support RTD services and the future 35-mile bus rapid transit route between Brighton and Boulder
• New 12-foot-wide shared-use paths and improved pedestrian and bicycle intersection crossings and signal operations
• Expanded bus platforms with shelters, lighting and secure bicycle parking

Traffic Impacts

Construction is expected to begin in early November. To stay up to date with road closures and conditions, visit COtrip.org or download the COtrip app on your device.

• East and westbound traffic on CO 7 will be shifted to the south in work areas with temporary barriers beginning at Willow Creek and Park Lake intersections
• Flaggers will be on site to help guide traffic
• Normal working hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with intermittent night and weekend activities

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Project webpage: www.codot.gov/projects/co7intersectionlafayette

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to "know before you go." Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• Check scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!

About CDOT

The Colorado Department of Transportation's mission is to provide the best multi-modal transportation system that most effectively and safely moves people, goods and information. CDOT maintains more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,400 bridges and 35 mountain passes. Our team of employees works tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. CDOT leverages partnerships with a range of private and public organizations and operates Bustang, an interregional express bus service. Find more details at codot.gov.