Prior to the Environmental Assessment (EA), Boulder County identified SH 7 as a priority transportation corridor in the Consortium of Cities Transportation Study, completed in 1998. As part of the study, preferred improvements were identified. As a result, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) initiated an Improvement Assessment Study to evaluate those transportation alternatives.

The results of the Improvement Assessment study led to two main decisions:

1) Reconstruct the 75th Street and SH 7 intersection. Construction was completed in November 2006.

2) Perform the Environmental Assessment (EA) to address transportation alternatives for the remainder of the corridor between Cherryvale and 75th Street .