This spring, E-470 will begin the process of expanding an eight-mile stretch of the tollway between Parker Road and Quincy Avenue, widening the road from two lanes to three lanes in each direction.
The approximately $80 million project will include a multi-use pedestrian and bike trail. The project is not funded with taxpayer dollars.
The E-470 Public Highway Authority is hosting an informational public open house about the project from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club, 23155 E. Heritage Parkway in Aurora.
The work is currently planned to be accomplished in roughly four two-mile stages, starting at Parker Road and proceeding north, so not all eight miles are under construction simultaneously. All the new lanes are scheduled to open by January 2018.
The road widening project was authorized by the board of directors of the E-470 Public Highway Authority. The widening is being constructed now in order to get ahead of the curve on future traffic growth, which in the eight-mile stretch has increased 13 percent in each of the past two years. A study commissioned by E-470 indicated that widening of this segment of the road was needed. The project will be financed, constructed, operated and governed by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.