Applegreen Travel Plazas Take Shape Along Colorado's E-470 Corridor

Applegreen Travel Plazas Take Shape Along Colorado’s E-470 Corridor

If you’ve been wondering about the construction activity along E-470, there’s exciting news on the horizon for Colorado travelers. Four new Applegreen Travel Plazas are under development in Aurora, Commerce City, and Parker, bringing convenient access to fuel, food, coffee, and travel amenities to one of Colorado’s busiest transportation corridors.

The developments, led by Shames Construction, represent a significant investment in Colorado’s transportation infrastructure and will support the growing number of commuters, commercial drivers, and travelers who rely on the E-470 corridor every day. CGRS is proud to be performing the fuel system installations at all four locations.

Working alongside Shames Construction, CGRS is furnishing and installing complete fueling infrastructure for gasoline and diesel fueling while meeting environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements. Together, the four developments will improve access to essential travel services while supporting continued growth throughout the Denver metropolitan area.

Technical Scope

CGRS is responsible for the installation of the fueling systems at each location. The scope includes underground fiberglass storage tanks, fuel dispensers, piping networks, approximately 750 linear feet of 4-inch LCX remote fill piping, tank monitoring technology, submersible turbine pumps, containment systems, leak detection equipment, vapor recovery systems, emergency shut-off controls, and associated electrical and safety infrastructure.

Each site incorporates multiple layers of environmental protection and monitoring designed to support safe, reliable operations and regulatory compliance. The systems include secondary containment, overfill prevention devices, hazardous-location electrical components, corrosion protection measures, and advanced monitoring technology to help ensure long-term operational performance.

In addition to fueling system installation, the projects require extensive below-grade construction activities, including excavation, trenching, structural backfill, pipe bedding, containment installation, utility coordination, and monitoring infrastructure. Successful execution requires careful sequencing among multiple trades and strict adherence to petroleum storage regulations, manufacturer specifications, environmental safeguards, and NEC Article 514 hazardous-location standards.

Project Locations

The Applegreen Colorado Service Area Development Program includes four locations strategically positioned along the E-470 corridor:

Parker Southbound
14470 Highway E-470 Southbound, Parker, Colorado

Commerce City Northbound
9022 Highway E-470 Northbound, Commerce City, Colorado

Commerce City Southbound
9021 Highway E-470 Southbound, Commerce City, Colorado

Aurora Northbound
2600 Highway E-470 Northbound, Aurora, Colorado

The Parker location supports continued growth in one of the Denver metropolitan area’s fastest-developing communities. The paired Commerce City Northbound and Southbound facilities provide fueling access for traffic traveling in both directions along a heavily traveled section of E-470, creating a coordinated service-area presence within the corridor. The Aurora location expands the network into the eastern Denver metropolitan area, helping improve accessibility for commuters, commercial traffic, and regional travelers throughout Colorado’s Front Range.

Project Progress Update

CGRS has completed underground storage tank installation at all four locations and continues work on the fueling infrastructure as construction progresses across the corridor.

The work requires close coordination with Shames Construction, subcontractors, inspectors, Colorado OPS, local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and project stakeholders to support the safe, compliant installation of each fueling system.

Safety and environmental protection continue to be priorities throughout CGRS’s work. The fueling systems incorporate double-wall fiberglass storage tanks, double-wall piping systems, containment sumps, remote fills, and advanced tank monitoring technology designed to support environmental protection and long-term operational reliability. Engineered shoring systems are also being utilized during excavation activities to maintain safe working conditions throughout below-grade construction operations.

Project Impact

When complete, the Applegreen Colorado Service Area Development Program will expand access to fuel, food, and travel services along E-470 while showcasing the coordination, technical expertise, and infrastructure investment required to deliver modern fueling facilities at scale.

As construction continues, CGRS looks forward to sharing future milestones related to our work and celebrating the completion of these important fueling infrastructure installations.

To learn more about our fueling infrastructure construction services and capabilities, visit www.cgrs.com or contact our team.