Northwest Parkway

The last toll collector in Colorado handed in their coin tray for the last time 10pm Dec 31 as the Northwest Parkway went cashless with all-electronic tolling. The parkway's big sister E470 went cashless in the first half of 2009, and the last cash was collected July 3. I-25 HOT Lanes operated by Colorado DOT have always been cashless.

Doug Watt a visitor to Denver was not impressed by service on the Northwest Parkway. "You are the most rinky dink operation I have seen in my life," he declared in an email to the Parkway. Watt said he "sat forever in a line of cars" as each driver tried to figure out an IOU form that is left in a rack beside a booth for motorists using the tollroad between 10pm and 6am when the mainline plaza is unmanned.

Steve Hogan exec director of the Northwest Parkway says they are shooting for a financial close with Brisa on their toll concession Nov 19, 20 or 21. He says the delays have been partly from Brisa, the signed-up concessionaire, and partly the mechanics of the defeasance process - lining up the details of how to pay off the existing debt.

The Northwest Parkway Public Highway Authority (NWPPHA) today signed a $603m 99 year lease concession agreement with Portugal-based toll operator Brisa and its Brazil partner CCR.

Brisa the Portugese/Brazilian toll operators have made their $500m+ deal to take over the Northwest Parkway in the Denver area dependent on local government political support for extensions. At a minimum they want support from the City of Broomfield to allow them to extend the tollroad about 5km (3 miles) south over US36 to CO128 which fronts onto Jefferson County Airport, also known as Rocky Mountains Metropolitan Airport.

A joint venture of the largest toll operators in Portugal and Brazil has been selected as preferred concessionaire to take over the Northwest Parkway in Denver Colorado. The Brisa/CCR team comprises dominant toll operators in Portugal and Brazil.