The first of three new “continuous flow intersections” designed to improve roadway traffic and safety is slated to open in Douglas County on Thursday morning.

Travelers along U.S. 85 in Highlands Ranch can expect a new, innovative design allowing vehicles to move through the middle of an intersection simultaneously.

Specifically, the continuous flow intersection (CFI) places the left turn lane to the outside edges of the road, increasing the number of vehicles that pass in a stop light cycle, according to Douglas County traffic officials.

“The project is in the process of reconstructing three intersections to include innovative continuous flow intersections to improve traffic operations and handle additional traffic volumes,” officials said in a news release.

The first of three CFI’s to open is southbound U.S. 85 to eastbound Highlands Ranch Parkway. Lanes in the area will be closed overnight Wednesday to Thursday.

“The new intersections will permanently relocate high-volume left-turn movements to allow left-turning traffic and through traffic to move simultaneously,” Douglas County officials said.

Douglas County is installing the three intersections as part of Highlands Ranch U.S. 85 Widening Project:

• Southbound U.S. 85 to eastbound Highlands Ranch Parkway; opening Thursday
• Southbound U.S. 85 to eastbound Town Center Drive; opening Wednesday, March 26
• Northbound U.S. 85 to westbound C-470 traffic; opening slated for early/mid April.

Opening of all new intersections are weather dependent. Officials on Tuesday delayed the Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection opening from Wednesday to Thursday because of high winds.

This Douglas County segment of U.S. 85, located south of C-470, serves 45,000 vehicles daily. Traffic experts anticipates county growth will nearly double traffic by 2040, when around 80,000 vehicles expect to pass daily, according to Douglas County officials.

Officials explained how to approach the new-look intersection:

“U.S. 85 drivers turning left at the new CFI intersections will cross through traffic using a new signal prior to the intersection signal and proceed to the far-left side of the road, then make a left turn at the main intersection while through traffic proceeds as it would in a typical intersection. Right-turning traffic will use new dedicated right turn bypass lanes that allow right turns on red while the displaced left-turn movement proceeds.”