Federal judge to rule on noise walls along C-470 widening route

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. - Drivers who regularly commute on C-470 through Douglas and Jefferson Counties can expect some traffic headaches as construction continues to widen the highway, doubling the amount of traffic and widening the highway from four lanes to eight.

Those living around the construction zone are concerned about the increase in noise that the widening will bring and how CDOT went about studying the noise. 

“CDOT is charged with the responsibility on behalf of the citizens to do a noise study that’s properly validated, we’re dealing with a computer noise model that needs actual field noise measurements to validate that model,” said Carter Sales, who’s the President of the Highlands Ranch Neighborhood Coalition. “We talk about quality of life and trying to carry on a conversation with your neighbors, with a barbeque, even inside, that noise does affect the quality of life in a negative manner.”

Sales argues that CDOT didn’t actually go out in person and measure the noise from the backyards of homes adjacent to the highway and instead just used computerized noise models.

CDOT officials argue they had noise mitigation walls in the original plans, but after taking a break from the project, the federal regulations changed regarding the use and requirement of noise walls. CDOT said those walls aren’t required anymore for this area.

On Tuesday, a federal judge heard the case and both arguments as Sales and his organization ask for a temporary injunction on the project.

The judge said a timeline to decide on the case hasn’t been laid out.

Sales hopes the walls will be built, saving property values and quality of life in their Highlands Ranch neighborhood.