Applegreen Commits $70M to New Roadside Service Plazas Along Denver’s E-470 Corridor

Applegreen, the Dublin-based global roadside services operator, is expanding its U.S. presence with a $70 million investment to construct and operate four full-service plazas in the Denver metro area. The project will breathe new life into former toll plaza sites along the E-470 highway, transforming them into modern facilities for today’s travelers.

Demolition of the decommissioned toll booths and construction on the first site in Parker will begin in the coming weeks. Additional locations in Commerce City and Aurora will follow, pending permit approvals. The project is a partnership between Applegreen, the E-470 Public Highway Authority, and the municipalities of Parker, Aurora, and Commerce City.

“This project has been years in the making and represents a bold new chapter for E-470 and our region,” said Joe Donahue, executive director of the E-470 Public Highway Authority.

“We’re transforming underutilized infrastructure into something that will directly benefit our customers and communities by providing services they need today and building in flexibility for the future of travel. And we’re proud to be making it a reality without relying on any toll revenue or tax dollars.”

The new plazas will feature:

• Fast EV charging stations
• Fuel pumps
• Three food and beverage outlets per plaza
• Applegreen convenience stores
• Modern restrooms and seating areas

Under a 50-year operating agreement with E-470, Applegreen will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the plazas. Local firm Shames Construction will act as the design-builder and contractor for the project.

“Applegreen and Shames Construction, our local construction partner, are thrilled to have this opportunity to deliver a new world-class roadside hospitality experience for the travelling public in the Denver area,” said Joe Barrett, Applegreen CEO.

“The Parker Southbound Service Plaza is expected to be operational by [fourth-quarter] 2026, while the two locations in Commerce City, serving the traffic going to and from Denver International Airport, and Aurora, will follow shortly afterwards.”

The sites were previously used as toll collection points before E-470 transitioned to fully cashless, electronic tolling. Instead of letting the infrastructure sit idle, E-470 officials began working over five years ago to plan and coordinate a new vision for the corridor’s future.

“From day one, this has been a collective effort grounded in a shared, future-focused vision,” said Francoise Bergan, Director Board Chair and Aurora City Council Member.

“These plazas will do more than serve travelers, they’ll strengthen our communities, support economic growth in Aurora and beyond and enhance the customer experience across the E-470 corridor.”

The 47-mile E-470 forms the eastern half of the beltway around metro Denver. It is funded entirely by toll revenues and does not receive local, state, or federal operating subsidies.

This project adds to Applegreen’s aggressive U.S. expansion strategy. Since entering the market in 2014 with sites in New York, Applegreen has invested over $1.16 billion. The company is nearing completion of a $450 million upgrade of 27 service plazas on the New York State Thruway and recently secured rights to redevelop 18 plazas in Massachusetts, a $750 million project.

However, Applegreen’s Massachusetts expansion has drawn scrutiny. Rival Global Partners, owner of Alltown Fresh and other brands, is challenging the contract award process and has asked Governor Maura Healey to investigate.

“We’re pushing for transparency and a more fair RFP process,” said Reid Lamberty, senior communications advisor at Global Partners.

Applegreen currently operates 113 U.S. service plazas, with approximately 440 locations worldwide, 1,385 EV charging ports, and 700+ food and beverage offerings. It ranked No. 47 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 list of convenience store chains by store count, while Global Partners holds the No. 25 spot.

With this Colorado initiative, Applegreen is not only scaling its U.S. presence but helping reshape highway travel infrastructure into a more future-ready, traveler-friendly experience.

Originally reported by Greg Lindenberg in CSP Daily News.