E-470 Widening (Quincy Avenue to I-70)
Benesch provided construction management, construction inspection (CMCI) and materials testing services for this eight-mile project that added a third lane in each direction between Quincy Avenue and I-70.
Originally constructed in the mid-1990s, the E-470 Tollway has seen a steady increase in ridership. This project started in the summer of 2019 and is a $99 million project that was funded entirely by E-470, with no local, state or federal funds, and without increasing toll rates. More than 7,200 cubic yards of structural concrete was poured and delivered by approximately 900 concrete trucks. 180,000 tons of asphalt was placed and 15 miles of new or reset wildlife fencing was installed along the roadway.
Additionally, 800,000 cubic yards of earthwork was completed. Also part of this project was the widening of 14 bridges and a reconfiguration of the Quincy Avenue on- and off-ramps from a standard diamond configuration to a hook configuration to function more efficiently with the new Partial Continuous Flow Intersection at nearby Quincy Avenue & Gun Club Road.
As a parallel project, E-470 also extended the regional high plains trail, which runs along the west side of E-470 by approximately six miles. This new trail features a 10-foot wide concrete path for ample bike and pedestrian use. The original project phasing plan indicated a cast-in-place “half-and-half” approach to constructing the trail underpass at Jewell Road.
The original schedule showed this process taking approximately four months. The Benesch team worked with the contractor and the City of Aurora to implement a pre-cast box culvert solution, resulting in a $50k savings to the project and a one-week closure for installation.
This Construction Manager/General Contractor project included roadway widening, cement subgrade stabilization, construction of new on and off ramps, the widening of 14 bridges, the construction of a new concrete trail, new storm sewer, guardrail and safety improvements, as well as new tolling equipment.
Coordination with the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Buckley Airfield and the Union Pacific Railroad was required for this project. It is Benesch’s largest active construction management project in the state of Colorado.