City officials have planned for a relocation of part of Havana Street in the central Castle Pines area, hoping to improve future traffic flow in a part of town that is expected to see more commercial development.

Havana Street meets Castle Pines Parkway just east of a ramp onto Interstate 25 from Castle Pines Parkway. The intersection sits close to an existing large commercial area on the other side of I-25.

The Havana Street realignment will intersect with Castle Pines Parkway further to the east, intended to line up with a future intersection that is planned for The Canyons, currently a large housing development. A commercial area is expected to develop in The Canyons.

“The realignment will reduce and consolidate intersections along Castle Pines Parkway while providing for full access movement into the commercial portion of The Canyons property,” a city staff report says.

The City of Castle Pines will own and maintain the new road portion and will “vacate” the area where the road used to be to a developer, as the new city-owned road will be located on land that was zoned, or authorized, for commercial development.

“In short, the current road and area zoned for commercial development will switch locations following the realignment,” said Camden Bender, spokesperson for the city.

The project aims to improve access to the future commercial area, south of Castle Pines Parkway. Eventually, Havana and Castle Pines Parkway will be a four-way intersection after the southern part of the intersection is built by the developer along with the future commercial area, Bender said.

“By realigning the street now, it will (address) future congestion that could result from having (too) many stoplights in a short area,” Bender said.

Officials have also planned to add a traffic signal at the Havana and Castle Pines Parkway intersection. 

The timeline for adding the traffic lights and for the commercial area to be built is unclear.

“The city is not currently aware of a construction timeline. Construction timing will be driven by the developer who is paying for the realignment,” Bender said. “The city will issue permits and approvals, as appropriate, as a part of the construction process.”

Buildout of the commercial area will be driven by the developer and the market, Bender said.

The relocation of Havana Street will require infrastructure and intersection improvements that will be paid for by North Canyons LLLP, Bender said.

“Long term, it is believed the realignment of S. Havana St. with The Canyons commercial area will provide for easier access, resulting in increased visitations and subsequent spending/sales tax generation,” the city staff report says.