AUGUST 15, 2019
MEAT-FREE, PLEASE Alternatives grow in popularity at grocery stores, restaurants P14
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Cars travel west on RidgeGate Parkway from the Parker area during morning rush hour Aug. 12. The two-lane road will soon be expanded to four once the RidgeGate Parkway Widening Project finishes in 2021. NICK PUCKETT
RidgeGate Parkway is being widened as big development approaches BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
he frequent traffic backups along RidgeGate Parkway are something to be expected these days. With just two lanes — one in each direction — for through traffic, backups can reach half a mile from the stoplight at the RidgeGate and I-25 interchange. Recent counts show the traffic in that area to
be between 26,00 and 28,000 cars per day, according to Lone Tree’s public works director, Justin Schmitz. The city does regular counts of traffic. That range is an average over an entire week. Typically, it is recommended that a road be expanded to four lanes once it hits about 16,000 cars per day, Schmitz said. A count of roughly 36,000 cars per day typically calls for expanding to six lanes. To address the problem, the City of Lone Tree has spearheaded the RidgeGate Parkway Widen-
ing Project, a nearly $27 million expense shared by several funding partners. By 2021, plans call for the road to be expanded to four lanes, with bike paths and sidewalks. From I-25 to Peoria, the road will eventually widen to six lanes as needed. “This has been an ongoing need for the region,” Schmitz said. SEE ROAD, P6
303-328-3087 50 off ANY SERVICE
$
Repair Services for the Homeowner
CCM-SC
INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 21 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
LoneTreeVoice.net
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 27