CDOT Access Permits

The Colorado Department of Transportation Access Permit is the documentation the state uses to catalogue and control accesses onto the state highway system. The City of Boulder is the issuing authority that approves and processes the access permits. An Access Permit Application Form must be submitted to the city with any new or modified access onto a state highway that meets the following criteria:

  1. The access is new or physically relocated or modified in terms of size.
  2. The anticipated traffic volume using an existing access is increased by 20 percent above existing uses.
  3. The site being served by the access is expected to generate in excess of 10 trips per day.

Application Requirements

An access permit application must include one original and four copies of each of the following materials.

  • Colorado Department of Transportation State Highway Access Permit Application
  • Site plan
  • Engineering plans prepared by a Colorado registered professional engineer (if applicable)
  • Legal description of site

For a site that is expected to generate more than 100 vehicle trips per hour, a traffic impact assessment sealed by a Colorado registered professional engineer is also required. Additional requirements may need to be met for particular conditions for individual sites. Please refer to the CDOT access code.

Review Process

The review process for obtaining an access permit is conducted by city staff before being sent to the CDOT access manager. Comments may be issued or a meeting may be conducted with the applicant to discuss any pertinent issues. After all concerns have been fully addressed, an access permit is issued. The access permit serves as an agreement that the proposed access meets the access code and the city of Boulder standards. However, construction cannot be undertaken until a Notice to Proceed is issued. The Notice to Proceed requires detailed construction plans for proposed work required for completion of the access. Plans suitable for issuance of the Notice to Proceed generally require a higher level of detail than plans suitable for the access permit itself. Upon approval of construction plans and issuance of the Notice to Proceed, construction of the access may be undertaken.

Design Waivers

In certain cases, the design of an access to a state highway may be limited by physical or geometric constraints that cannot be overcome. As part of the access permit application, a waiver that would allow a variance to the CDOT Access Code may be requested. Waivers are required to reference the section of the CDOT Access Code being considered for variance and to what extent the Code is being varied. Five (5) sets of waiver application materials are required for each section of the access code for which a variance is requested. Waivers are considered with the review of the access permit application and may be accepted or rejected at city of Boulder or CDOT staff's discretion.

CDOT Utility Permits

Application Requirements

The Colorado Department of Transportation requires a permit for all utility work within rights-of-way for state highways. All applications must conform to the CDOT “Standard Provisions for Utility Permit Operations.” The applicant must locate all utilities prior to application and show them on the plans. Permits are to be submitted to the city of Boulder and not to CDOT. Five (5) collated application sets that include the following materials are required:

  • Application Fee payable to the city of Boulder
  • Letter of Request on letter head of utility company explaining the nature of work and location
  • Plans - marked in red and showing the following:
    • Distance from right-of-way fence.
    • Distance from state highway milepost and intersecting streets.
    • Distance line will be in right-of-way, or crossing length.
    • Type of installation (water, sewer, gas, phone, power, optic cable, etc.) e. Buried, overhead, or attached to highway structure. If attached to highway structure, the structure number, a drawing of the structure, and method of attachment is required on a separate sheet.
  • Traffic Control Plan
    • Must conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.
    • Traffic control is required on all projects.
  • Insurance Policy
    • The types and minimum amounts of insurance acceptable to the Department of Transportation are as follows:
      • Workers Compensation Insurance in accordance with prevailing laws.
      • Comprehensive General Public Liability and Property Damage Insurance: Combined Bodily Injury and Property Damage $150,000 per person/$600,000 each occurrence
      • Comprehensive Auto Liability and Property Damage Insurance: Combined Bodily Injury and Property Damage $150,000 per person/$600,000 each occurrence.

Colorado State Highways within City Limits

Map displaying state highways located with City of Boulder limits
A black-and-white map titled "Colorado State Highways within City Limits" depicting highways in and around the city of Boulder, Colorado. Major highways are labeled, including US 36, US 36E, SH 52, SH 57, SH 93, and SH 119. Solid and dashed lines distinguish different highways, with a key in the bottom right corner explaining the symbols. City limits are shaded in light gray. Key locations where highways begin and end within the city are marked, such as "Begin US 36," "End US 36E," and "Begin SH 93." A north arrow and scale bar indicating miles are located in the bottom left corner.