A new roadway project in northwest Douglas County, which will complete a connection from Rampart Range Road to U.S. Highway 85, is now being accelerated after county commissioners gave their approval in an Aug. 18 meeting. 

The road is intended to give residents of Roxborough Village, Chatfield Farms, Roxborough Downs, River Canyon and Sterling Ranch an additional route other than Titan Road when headed to and from Highway 85. 

In the Aug. 25 meeting, Douglas County commissioners unanimously approved the $13 million project, which is a collaboration with Sterling Ranch.

The nearly 3-mile road will extend from the current portion of West Waterton Road, pass through Roxborough Park Road and continue north to the area of North Moore Road where recently-opened Southern Connector meets the road.

“The combination of these two roadways will provide residents an alternative to Titan Road,” said county engineer Matt Williams in the meeting. “This will help us get a much needed connection in the Chatfield Area, something that has been on our transportation plan for at least 20 years.”

The county’s transportation plan, reaching to 2040, is available on their website by searching “2040 Transportation Master Plan.”

The extension is expected to begin construction in the spring of next year and be completed by the end of 2022, Williams said.

The Southern Connector, connecting Moore Road to Highway 86, was phase one of the Waterton Road extension.

The county will pay to accelerate the project and will oversee construction. The Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board will be in charge of pre-construction activities like grading, utility relocations and any major drainage crossings. The community will also pay back the county for the project with interest. 

“We’ve known for years the challenges that the whole northwest part of the county has had...this will open up opportunities for them to see less congestion, less traffic, less travel time,” Commissioner Roger Partridge said.