U.S. 85 South - Denver to Castle Rock

U.S. 85 separates from I-25 along Platte River Drive south along the South Platte River. The northbound direction follows Santa Fe Drive east of the river.

08/28/04

S Platte River Drive branches southwest from U.S. 85 to the Ruby Hill and College View / South Platte neighborhoods in Denver. U.S. 85 spans the South Platte River east to combine with Santa Fe Drive.

08/28/04

Santa Fe Drive extends south from Florida Avenue as a controlled access arterial. A SPUI links U.S. 85 with Evans Avenue a half mile beyond the signal at Iowa Avenue east.

08/28/04

The left lane in both directions of U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) is restricted to HOV traffic.

08/28/04

Evans Avenue runs east between the Platt Park and Rosedale neighborhoods to the University of Denver. West across the South Platte River the five lane boulevard continues to SH 88 (Federal Boulevard) and the Harvey Park community.

08/28/04

While the exchange along Santa Fe Drive is much newer, the viaduct taking Evans Avenue across U.S. 85 and the parallel Union Pacific Railroad line dates back to 1972.

08/28/04

A six-ramp parclo interchange with U.S. 285 (Hampden Avenue) follows Dartmouth Avenue on U.S. 85 southbound.

08/28/04

West from U.S. 85, U.S. 285 constitutes a controlled access expressway across the city of Sheridan and a freeway from Fort Logan in Denver to SH 8 in the town of Morrison.

08/28/04

East of the exchange with U.S. 85, U.S. 285 (Hampden Avenue) transitions into a six lane commercial boulevard through the city of Englewood. U.S. 285 continues along the Denver city line at the Wellshire and University Hills neighborhoods to I-25 at SH 30.

08/28/04

Right in right out ramps link U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) south with S River Point Drive at the River Point at Sheridan retail complex.

07/04/12

RTD Oxford Light Rail Station lies along parallel Windermere Street by the intersection joining U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) with Oxford Avenue.

07/04/12

A RIRO intersection links Santa Fe Drive southbound with Quincy Avenue to adjacent Natches Court.

07/04/12

SH 88 (Belleview Avenue) converges with U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) at a SPUI in one half mile.

07/04/12

Santa Fe Drive runs between industrial areas in Sheridan and Englewood south to Union Avenue.

07/04/12

A RIRO intersection with Santa Fe Circle precedes the crossing of Big Dry Creek along southbound U.S. 85.

07/04/12

SH 88 follows Belleview Avenue east to Interstate 25 at the Denver Tech Center and west to Federal Boulevard in Sheridan. The urban route originates at U.S. 40/287 (Colfax Avenue) west of Downtown Denver.

07/04/12

U.S. 85 spans SH 88 (Belleview Avenue) with four general travel lanes and two HOV-2 lanes.

07/04/12

Prince Street angles southeast by the Riverwalk golf course community and across the South Platte River to intersect U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) north of Geneva Park.

07/04/12

Advancing south from Prince Street through Littleton, U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) runs along the east side of the South Platte River.

07/04/12

Bowles Avenue east and Littleton Boulevard west come together at U.S. 85 outside the historic Downtown Littleton.

07/04/12

Bowles Avenue west from U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) was formerly part of SH 75 to Columbine Valley and S Platte Canyon Road at Columbine.

08/28/04

U.S. 85 crosses Littles Creek ahead of this confirming marker.

07/04/12

Santa Fe Drive intersects Church Avenue at Arapahoe Community College.

07/04/12

Sumner Street heads south from Arapahoe Community College to U.S. 85 at the traffic light with Vinewood Street to The Hudson Gardens & Event Center.

07/04/12

U.S. 85 south at Lee Gulch.

07/04/12

Aspen Grove Way ties into U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) from the Aspen Grove retail complex.

07/04/12

A pedestrian span links the Littleton/Mineral Station Park and Ride lot with the Littleton / Mineral RTD light rail station.

07/04/12

Mineral Avenue intersects U.S. 85 just beyond RTD Littleton / Mineral Station.

07/04/12

South from Mineral Avenue, U.S. 85 continues to a diamond interchange with C-470, the Denver Belt Line.

07/04/12

Funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA),¹ $23.3 million in construction added a flyover ramp directly connecting U.S. 85 south with C-470 eastbound and added a second turn lane from Santa Fe Drive north for C-470 west.²

07/04/12

C-470 (Centennial Parkway) constitutes a 27.41 mile long freeway loop northwest to Ken Caryl Ranch, Morrison and Lakewood and east to Centennial and Lone Tree.

07/04/12

C-470 encircles the Denver metropolitan area northwest to I-70 and U.S. 6 at Golden.

08/29/04

Work on the flyover from Santa Fe Drive south to C-470 east commenced in June 2010.¹ The project was anticipated for completion in February 2011, and the ramp ultimately opened on December 12, 2011.²

07/04/12

C-470 runs just south of the Arapahoe / Douglas County line east to Interstate 25 and E-470.

08/29/04

Shifting west of Santa Fe Drive, the Union Pacific Railroad crosses over U.S. 85 south of Blakeland Drive.

08/29/04

Curving southeast from Chatfield Lake, U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) proceeds to a diamond interchange with Titan Parkway.

08/29/04

Titan Parkway heads west to Rampart Range Road, which leads south toward Roxborough State Park. Chatfield Lake State Park lies to the northwest.

08/29/04

Segment E of SH 67 runs 10.10 miles west from U.S. 85 at the unincorporated town of Sedalia to Rampart Range Road within Pike National Forest.

08/29/04

U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) progresses south into the Town of Castle Rock, where the route dog legs east along Meadows Parkway to rejoin Interstate 25.

08/29/04

Meadows Parkway extends southwest from U.S. 85 (Santa Fe Drive) to The Meadows master planned community. U.S. 85 lines Meadows Parkway east 0.45 miles to I-25 at SH 86 (Founders Parkway).

08/29/04

Meadows Parkway leads east through a heavily commercialized stretch to a six-ramp parclo interchange with I-25/U.S. 87.

08/29/04

U.S. 85 combines with I-25 south along an unmarked concurrency to Colorado Springs. SH 86 begins east from the exchange.

08/29/04

U.S. 85 previously joined Interstate 25 at a wye interchange further south. Those ramps were subsequently removed and Santa Fe Drive realigned to intersect Front Street at Black Feather Trail.

11/11/03