By Chris Michlewicz

A multi-phase project to reconstruct Castle Pines Parkway is expected to begin later this year.

The City of Castle Pines is planning to reconstruct a busy portion of the arterial roadway from Yorkshire Drive to Monarch Boulevard and is on pace to award the construction contract this spring. The road project will coincide with the replacement of an adjacent 12-inch water line by the Castle Pines North Metro District, which will reduce construction costs for both entities, according to Larry Nimmo, public works director for the City of Castle Pines.

This first phase of construction – still in the design phase – involves the removal and replacement of concrete in both directions along the nearly mile-long stretch of Castle Pines Parkway and grading beneath the road surface. The duration of the road project’s initial phase and specific costs have not yet been determined. An initial estimate in July from the American Concrete Pavement Association, which is on the City’s website, projected the cost of all proposed roadway reconstruction and rehabilitation on Castle Pines Parkway in the coming years at approximately $15.5 million.

Lane closures and traffic delays are anticipated, and the City plans to host community meetings to inform nearby homeowners about project details and answer questions. More public communications are planned as details are solidified, so motorists know what to expect and when.

The section of road between Yorkshire Drive and Monarch Boulevard is 36 years old, 16 years beyond its design life, Nimmo said. Additionally, snow and ice fighting materials have changed significantly over the years, and the roads were not made to withstand some of those materials. An analysis of the roadbed, however, revealed that it is in good condition, limiting the potential scope of work, Nimmo said.

The City wants to eventually reconstruct Castle Pines Parkway from Forest Park Drive to Village Square Drive, but the section from Yorkshire Drive to Monarch Boulevard will be the first to undergo construction. The City also plans to rehabilitate concrete on Castle Pines Parkway from Buffalo Trail to Forest Park Drive, as well as the section between Village Square Drive and Beverly Boulevard, but the timing for those projects has not been determined. There are also preliminary plans to reconstruct and rehabilitate sections of Monarch Boulevard.

Voters rejected a proposed mill levy increase (Question 2A) in November to fund infrastructure improvements in Castle Pines, meaning the Castle Pines Parkway reconstruction project will be done in multiple phases over a longer duration and will likely cost more. Respondents to recent surveys as part of an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan cited road improvements as a top priority.

A separate, less-intensive road improvement effort, the 2020 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, began last June and was completed in November. The City maintains more than 35 miles of roadway.

To learn more about the planned work, visit www.castlepinesco.gov, click on the ‘City Services’ tab, then click on ‘Public Works’ under the ‘City Departments’ heading. Select the ‘Current Projects’ window, then click on the link that says ‘Castle Pines Parkway / Monarch Reconstruction Analysis and Costs (Future Project).’