State Highway 470 West

West

The initial three exits of the C-470 beltway serve the unincorporated Highlands Ranch community in northern Douglas County. 08/11/16

C-470 leads west with six overall lanes from the four-level interchange at I-25 and E-470 to Quebec Street. 08/11/16

A lane drop takes place along C-470 westbound at the diamond interchange with Quebec Street in one half mile. 08/11/16

Quebec Street leads north to the Centennial neighborhoods of Willow Creek and Castlewood in Arapahoe County and south from Lone Tree through eastern reaches of Highlands Ranch. 08/11/16

A decorative overpass carries Quebec Street above the 470 beltway. The freeway leaves the Lone Tree city limits here. 08/11/16

With just four lanes, C-470 continues west toward Littleton. 2015 traffic counts topped out at 111,000 vehicles per day between I-25 and Broadway. 08/11/16

Four exits depart from C-470 west in quick succession starting with University Boulevard north to Centennial. 08/11/16

SH 177 follows University Boulevard north from C-470, serving the Southglenn area of Centennial north to the cities of Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills. Upon reaching U.S. 285 (Hampden Avenue), the state highway ends, but University Boulevard continues north into the City of Denver, passing by Denver University before crossing I-25/U.S. 87 at Exit 205. 08/11/16

Apartments and single family home subdivisions line both sides of the C-470 freeway west from the Colorado Boulevard overpass to the diamond interchange with University Boulevard. 08/11/16

Westbound C-470 reaches the off-ramp for SH 177 north and University Boulevard. University Boulevard curves southeast through Highlands Ranch toward Lone Tree. After crossing Quebec Street, University Boulevard changes into Lincoln Boulevard, which meets I-25 at Exit 193. 08/11/16

The next exit on the freeway west is with Broadway. Like University Boulevard, Broadway is another arterial street that originates in Downtown Denver. Broadway then travels due south through the Denver communities of Baker, Platt Park and Overland. 08/11/16

Confirming marker for C-470 west posted after University Boulevard. 08/11/16

County Line Road and its associated development accompanies the north side of C-470 west to U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive). Plaza Drive parallels the south side from Broadway west to Highlands Ranch Business Park and Lucent Boulevard. 08/11/16

C-470 curves southwest through the diamond interchange with Broadway. Broadway south serves central Highlands Ranch, intersecting Highlands Ranch Parkway after passing the community recreation center and Northridge Park. 08/11/16

C-470 west spans Dan Clark Gulch on the one mile approach to Lucent Boulevard. Originally known as Highlands Ranch Boulevard, the arterial was renamed Lucent Boulevard due to the proximity of the Lucent offices. 08/11/16

West from Lucent Boulevard, C-470 leaves Highlands Ranch to meet U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) at south Littleton. Centennial Parkway reaches the Columbine Hills community in 3.5 miles. 08/11/16

Reassurance shield preceding the diamond interchange with Lucent Boulevard. 08/11/16

Unlike most the previous arterials that have crossed C-470 thus far, Lucent Boulevard does not travel north into the Denver city street grid, instead ending just north of C-470 at County Line Road and McLellan Reservoir. 08/11/16

The ensuing exit westbound departs in one mile for Santa Fe Drive. U.S. 85 is an expressway like road north of C-470, following a heavily traveled commuter route through Littleton, Englewood and Sheridan before entering the city/county of Denver. RTD light rail lines parallel U.S. 85 for a significant portion of the expressway route. 08/11/16

The 470 beltway briefly enters the Littleton city limits after this shield assembly and north of Fly-n-b Park. 08/11/16

Beyond Santa Fe Drive, C-470 wraps around Chatfield State Park to SH 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard), three miles to the west. 08/11/16

Travelers bound for U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) part ways with the beltway westbound. U.S. 85 angles southeast from Highlands Ranch back toward I-25, serving Sedalia along the way. I-25/U.S. 87 and U.S. 85 rejoin at Castle Rock; the three routes combine south from there into El Paso County. 08/11/16

The freeway descends into the South Platte River Valley; U.S. 85 closely parallels the South Platte River through western Douglas County. 08/11/16

A flyover from Santa Fe Drive south to C-470 east accompanies the diamond interchange connecting the beltway with U.S. 85. 08/11/16

C-470 kinks north across the South Platte River, briefly nipping Arapahoe County. 08/11/16

A right in right out (RIRO) connection links the westbound lanes of C-470 with adjacent SH 75 (South Platte Canyon Road) in one mile. 08/11/16

This confirming shield for C-470 stands as the freeway travels south of South Platte Park Reservoir, ahead of milepost 16. 08/11/16

Bending back to the south, C-470 west crosses into Jefferson County, where it will stay for the remainder of the route northwest to Golden. 08/11/16

The turnoff for South Platte Canyon Road follows this shield assembly for SH 75. Kendall Boulevard stems north from the RIRO through the Columbine Hills community while Chatfield Avenue heads west to Chatfield Estates and SH 121. 08/11/16

A 3.23 mile long route, SH 75 extends north from C-470 along South Platte Canyon Road to the town of Columbine Valley and Bowles Avenue. The portion east along Bowles Avenue to U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) in Littleton was truncated from the state highway system. 08/11/16

The C-470 right of way cut into the original plat of the Herrick Dale subdivision just west of SH 75. 08/11/16

SH 121, which follows Wadsworth Boulevard through the Denver metropolitan area, converges with C-470 near Milepost 14. 08/11/16

Interchange sequence sign posted for the succeeding exits west at the Meadow Ranch and Ken Caryl Ranch communities. 08/11/16

Chatfield State Park features hiking, biking, camping, swimming, hot air ballooning and many other activities. The Chatfield Reservoir was created by the damming of the South Platte River. Waterton Canyon is accessible south of the Lockheed Martin plant and end of SH 121, along South Platte River Road in Pike National Forest. 08/11/16

Entering the diamond interchange with SH 121 on C-470 west. SH 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard) travels 30.83 miles overall through the cities of Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada and Westminster north to U.S. 287 in Broomfield. 08/11/16

The ensuing off-ramp (Exit 12) from C-470 west departs one mile ahead for Kipling Parkway. This is the first numbered exit along westbound. 08/11/16

C-470 makes a gradual northward turn ahead of Deer Creek Canyon to run alongside the Hog Back. 08/11/16

This confirming marker stands along C-470 by the Chatfield Bluffs subdivision and Hildebrand Ranch Park. 08/11/16

A swath of industrial and business parks stretches northwest along Chatfield Avenue, from Kipling Parkway to Ken Caryl Avenue, within the vicinity of the succeeding two exits. 08/11/16

Kipling Parkway ends just south of the diamond interchange (Exit 12) with the 470 beltway by the Jefferson Corporate Center. Northward, Kipling Parkway continues beyond an adjacent retail area to the neighborhoods of Ken Caryl Ranch Plains and Stony Creek. 08/11/16

Arcing northwest, C-470 runs alongside Deer Creek Golf Club at Meadow Ranch to a diamond interchange (Exit 10) with Ken Caryl Avenue. 08/11/16

Ken Caryl, Bowles and Quincy Avenues constitute west-east arterials joining C-470 with the unincorporated Jefferson County suburbs over the next 4.75 miles. 08/11/16

Exit 10 leaves C-470 west for Ken Caryl Avenue by the Ken Caryl Business Center. Ken Caryl Avenue serves Ken Caryl Ranch Plains, Columbine Knolls and Columbine Hills to the east and The Valley community of Ken Caryl Ranch to the west. 08/11/16

Advancing north from Ken Caryl, travelers next meet Bowles Avenue at Exit 7 in one mile. Bowles Avenue ends just west of the freeway at Eldridge Street north to the Bergen Reservoirs. 08/11/16

Dutch Creek cuts a valley into the adjacent the Hog Back beyond this pair of signs warning of potential deer. 08/11/16

A diamond interchange joins C-470 with Bowles Avenue in 0.75 miles. Exit 6 for Quincy Avenue follows at the Friendly Hills community. 08/11/16

East from Exit 7, Bowles Avenue serves the neighborhoods of Powderhorn, Foothill Green, Governors Ranch and Leawood among others, as well as Southwest Plaza Mall and Bowles Crossing Shopping Center. Bowles Avenue passes a third of a mile north of Columbine High School at Pierce Street. Columbine was the location of one of the most infamous school shootings in American history. Two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher on April 20, 1999, just before they committed suicide. 08/11/16

Quincy Avenue stems north from Belleview Avenue (CR 48) to curve eastward across C-470 at a folded diamond interchange (Exit 6) just south of the U.S. 285 freeway at Exit 5. 08/11/16

C-470 makes a sweeping curve between the Berger Reservoirs and Mountain West Business Center west of parallel Alkire Street. 08/11/16

Forthcoming U.S. 285 angles northeast from south Morrison to Lakewood. C-470 enters the Morrison town limits at the subsequent exit with SH 8 (Exit 4). 08/11/16

Belleview Avenue ascends onto the Hog Back west from Quincy Avenue toward Mount Lindo Park, Kingfisher Lake, Willow Springs Reservoir and Red Rocks Country Club. 08/11/16

Quincy Avenue parallels U.S. 285 east to the Harriman Park and Lakehurst neighborhoods, eventually reaching the Denver city line at the Marston community. 08/11/16

A weaving traffic pattern ensues from the Quincy Avenue on-ramp to the adjacent cloverleaf interchange (Exits 5B/A) with U.S. 285 to Denver and Fairplay. 08/11/16

Exit 5B departs from C-470 west for the freeway along U.S. 285 to Lakewood, Englewood and Denver. U.S. 285 concludes in 13.7 miles at Interstate 25 and SH 30 (Hampden Avenue) at University Hills in southeast Denver. 08/11/16

Exit 5A loops away from C-470 west to join U.S. 285 southbound. U.S. 285 passes through some gorgeous mountain scenery as it heads southwest through Aspen Park and Conifer en route to Kenosha Pass and Park County. 08/11/16

An unmarked RIRO lies just north of U.S. 285 with a section of Hampden Avenue east to Bear Creek Lake Park and the Soda Lakes. 08/11/14

The Soda Lakes recreation area comes into view just east of C-470 (Centennial Parkway). 08/11/16

Mount Morrison rises to the west beyond this reassurance marker by the Soda Lakes. 08/11/16

Suburban development in west Lakewood spreads northward from SH 8 toward Green Mountain to the north. SH 8 (Morrison Road) lines the north side of Bear Creek Lake Park east to Fox Hollow at Lakewood golf course. 08/11/16

The westbound auxiliary lane from U.S. 285 drops at the single point urban interchange (Exit 4) with SH 8 (Morrison Road). 08/11/16

SH 8 west to SH 74 (Bear Creek Road) in Morrison leads to one of Colorado's most famous amphitheaters: Red Rocks. Many top acts have performed at this outdoor pavilion, popular as a music venue for its acoustics and ambience. 08/11/16

Two lanes leave C-470 west for Exit 4 and SH 8 (Morrison Road). 8.68 miles in length, SH 8 overlays former U.S. 285 south from Morrison to Turkey Creek Canyon and east through Lakewood to SH 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard). 08/11/16

Continuing north from SH 8, Centennial Parkway runs alongside Bandimere Speedway and South Dinosaur Open Space Park. 08/11/16

Exit 2 joins C-470 with Alameda Parkway in one mile. Construction on the $22 million diamond interchange started in October 18, 2007. Right of way for the exit was partially donated by the Rooney family, which planned the 2,000-acre Rooney Valley (Solterra) development nearby.1 The exchange opened to traffic on July 1, 2008.2 08/11/16

3.5 miles of C-470 west (north) remain to U.S. 6 at Golden. The freeway is six lanes wide to Interstate 70. 08/11/16

Forthcoming Alameda Parkway winds west onto Dinosaur Ridge to CR 93 and Dinosaur Ridge Park. The nationally recognized park contains a number of dinosaur bones and fossilized tracks. 08/11/16

Alameda Parkway encircles Green Mountain and William Frederick Hayden Park northeast from Exit 2 to the Lakewood Vista at Green Mountain and Green Mountainside communities in Lakewood. 08/11/16

Traffic partitions with a two lane ramp (Exit 1) for Interstate 70 west to Grand Junction and east to Denver in 1.5 miles. 08/11/16

Centennial Parkway winds northward between William Frederick Hayden Park and Thunder Valley Motorcycle Park as it circumvents the west side of Green Mountain. 08/11/16

Prior to 2000, the original 26.20 mile section of C-470, inventoried by CDOT as Route 470A, ended at Interstate 70. The 1.212 mile spur to U.S. 6 is Route 470W. 08/11/16

C-470 west enters the city limits of Golden at the upcoming directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 1) with Interstate 70. 08/11/16

Traffic continuing north on C-470 to U.S. 6 (6th Avenue) in Golden is advised to use the left lane to the separation of Exit 1 for I-70. U.S. 6 constitutes a three mile long expressway from C-470 to SH 93 north toward Boulder. 08/11/16

Interstate 70 west climbs through Mont Vernon Canyon to Genesee Park and El Rancho on the 19 mile drive to Idaho Springs. 08/11/16

Exit 1 leaves Centennial Parkway north for I-70 west 233 miles to Grand Junction and I-70 east 10.4 miles to the Denver city line at Regis. Work to upgrade the trumpet interchange between the two freeways at Exit 1 was not completed until 2006. 08/11/16

Two lanes join Interstate 70 east just ahead of the 6th Avenue freeway (U.S. 6) and Colorado Mills mall. I-70 travels across the north side of Denver en route to Limon and the Great Plains. 08/11/16

Exit 1 forms a collector distributor roadway north to loop ramps from I-70 east and to I-70 west. 08/11/14

West from Golden, Interstate 70 ascends across the central Rocky Mountains to Silverthorne, Vail, Eagle and Glenwood Springs. The remainder of C-470 north spurs north by the Denver Corporate Center and Golden Terrace Village mobile home park. 08/11/16

Speed limits reduce to 55 miles per hour just beyond I-70. Just north from there, C-470 crosses over Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40 (Colfax Avenue) and splits with the unnumbered ramp to U.S. 6 (6th Avenue) east and Johnson Road north. 08/11/16

A two lane flyover shuttles motorists over 6th Avenue and onto U.S. 6 west toward SH 93 and Clear Creek Canyon. 08/11/16

The two-wye interchange with U.S. 6 and Johnson Road north lines the south side of Jefferson County Courthouse and government center. 08/11/16

Photo Credits:

08/11/14, 08/11/16 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 70
U.S. 6
U.S. 285

Page Updated 04-18-2017.