Adams County has secured nearly $1.5 million in federal funding to move one of its highest-priority transportation projects closer to construction.
The county was awarded $1,499,000 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD, program for the planned U.S. 85 and East 120th Avenue interchange.
The grant will fund the remaining pre-construction work, including final design, continued public and agency engagement, and required state approvals. The money will not pay for construction, but it will place the project in a stronger position to compete for future federal, state and regional construction funding.
The project would replace the existing at-grade intersection and Union Pacific Railroad crossing with a grade-separated interchange. Bridges and ramps would separate local traffic, highway traffic and railroad operations, reducing conflicts along one of Adams County’s busiest transportation corridors.
Preparations for the future interchange have already included the acquisition of property near the intersection. In February 2023, the Colorado Department of Transportation acquired the property at 11010 East 120th Avenue, located at the corner of East 120th Avenue and CanAm Highway, for $4 million through eminent domain.
The property includes an approximately 8,068-square-foot Class C general retail building and sold for roughly $496 per square foot. The site is located within the area where roadway widening and other interchange improvements are expected to take place. Timothy Thoms was identified as the seller.
“Adams County is thrilled and grateful to receive this BUILD grant and excited to begin taking steps toward the interchange at U.S. 85 and 120th Avenue and for the positive impact it will have on our residents and economy,” Adams County Board of Commissioners Chair Julie Duran Mullica said. “This is one of our region’s most critical corridors, and this project will support better safety, sustainability and mobility for both daily commute and freight use.”
Once completed, the interchange is expected to improve safety, reduce congestion and travel delays, and make it easier for freight to move through the region. The project would also strengthen connections between nearby communities and employment centers while improving pedestrian and bicycle access to Riverdale Regional Park.
U.S. 85 serves as an important transportation and freight corridor through Adams County, supporting the movement of agricultural products, energy commodities and other goods. County officials said the interchange would reduce existing transportation barriers while supporting economic development throughout the area.
“This grant provides the momentum needed to move the project into its next phase,” Adams County Public Works Director Janet Lundquist said. “The funding will allow us to complete the remaining design work and required approvals that position the project for future construction funding.”
The county also credited its federal, state and regional partners for supporting the application, including Congressman Gabe Evans, who submitted a letter of support for the BUILD grant request.
A construction timeline and full funding package have not yet been announced. However, the earlier property acquisition, combined with funding for final design and approvals, represents another meaningful step for a project Adams County and its regional partners have pursued for years.