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Location: South Western Slope
Alignment: Dove Creek to Naturita via Slick Rock
(current SH 141)
History:
SH 80 is an original 1920s state highway. From
Dove Creek it was northeast to Naturita along what is now SH
141. By 1939 a spur had been added which went southwest from
Dove Creek. By 1958 the whole northern section of the
highway was turned back so that it went only both north and
south for ~2mi from Dove Creek.
By 1958 SH 80 had been brought back on its
historic routing, going from Dove Creek to Naturita. By 1961
the first section was paved around Slick Rock. It was
entirely paved by 1965. SH 80 was renumbered as a
southward extension of SH 141 in the purge of 1968 to avoid
duplication with I-80S. Previously SH 141 had its
south end at Naturita.
SH 80 was one of the few highways from the 1920s
which violated the even east-west, odd north-south rule.
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Location: North Metro Denver > North Eastern
Plains
Length: 184mi
SW End: Jct I-25 Exit 216 north of Denver
NE End: Nebraska
border northeast of Julesburg (link to Chris Geelhart's
site)
Nationally: Continued northeast in Nebraska for two
miles to end at I-80 south of Big Springs
Places: Commerce City, Hudson, Keenesburg,
Wiggins, Fort Morgan, Brush, Sterling, Julesburg
History:
Original number for I-76. Changed in 1975 to conform to
AASHTO's policy against letter suffixes. See I-76
for a complete history. When the changed occurred in 1975,
I-80S still was not completed from I-70 to I-25, from
Barr Lake to Hudson, or between Wiggins and Fort Morgan.
Trivia: In the 1971 route log, it's referred to as "S.H.
80", with no S.
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Location: Northeast Metro Denver > North
Eastern Plains
Length: 66mi
SW End: Jct US 40 at Colfax Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
in Denver
NE End: Jct SH 2 at Wiggins
Places: Denver, Commerce City, Hudson, Keenesburg,
Wiggins
History:
Was the original state number for current US 6/I-76 from
Denver northeast to Wiggins. Originally, SH 2 went
from Denver north to Greeley, then east to Wiggins and Fort
Morgan, but about 1939 it was rerouted, taking over all of
SH 81's route from Denver to Wiggins. Former SH
2 from Denver to Greeley was renumbered as an extension
of SH 3, while the Greeley to Wiggins route became an
extension of SH 16.
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Location: Eastern Plains
Alignment: Link from US 24 at Simla due north to SH
86
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Location: Central Mountains
Length*: 85.29mi
W End: Jct I-70 Exit 116 in Glenwood Springs
E End: Jct US 24 east of Twin Lakes
Counties: Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Lake
Places: Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt,
Snowmass, Aspen, Independence Pass, Twin Lakes
See the separate SH 82 page for the remainder of the information.
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Location: South Front Range > Southeast
Metro
Length*: 56.89mi
S End: Jct SH 21/Powers Blvd in northeast Colorado
Springs
N End: Jct SH 2 at Leetsdale Dr. and Colorado Blvd.
in Denver
Counties: El Paso, Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver
Places: Colorado Springs, Franktown, Parker,
Centennial, Foxfield, Aurora, Denver, Glendale
See the separate SH 83 page for the remainder of the information. |
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Location: North Mountains
Length: 27mi
W End: Jct SH 131 at Toponas
E End: Jct US 40 north of Kremmling
History:
SH 84 is the original 1920s number for current SH
134 from Toponas over Gore Pass to US 40. Entirely paved by
1957. Renumbered to SH 134 in the purge of 1968 in order to
avoid duplication with US 84.
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Location: Southern Mountains
Length*: 27.92mi
SE End: New
Mexico border southeast of Chromo (link to Steve Riner's
site)
NW End: Jct US 160 in Pagosa Springs
Nationally: E End: Jct I-95 near Midway, Georgia
(1919mi)
Counties: Archuleta
Places: Pagosa Springs, Chromo
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 1400 at New Mexico border
- 1900 south of CR P.90
- 4700 at US 160, Pagosa Springs
Guide:
Not a whole lot to say here. It starts in Pagosa Springs,
and heads southeast before entering New Mexico. The only
town it passes through is Chromo.
History:
Not an original 1920s US highway in Colorado. Routing
was originally SH 17. US 84 was extended into
Colorado from Shiprock, New Mexico in 1938, but at first
came north into the state concurrent with US 666
(current US 491), ending at Cortez. In 1942, US 84 was
routed on on its current route in Colorado. By 1946 all
except the middle ~8mi were paved, and was entirely paved by
1950.
Related Site: US
84 Endpoints by Dale Sanderson
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Location: South Front Range
S End: Colorado Springs
N End: Jct SH 50 north of Black Forest
History:
This SH 85 is a highway from the 1920s or early
1930s that started in Colorado Springs and went northeast
via Templeton Gap Road and Black Forest Road to end at SH
50 north of Black Forest. By 1936 it had been renumbered
to SH 189.
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Location: North Western Slope
Alignment: Spur southwest from US 40 at Steamboat
Springs
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Location: Southern Front Range > Metro Denver >
Northern Front Range
Length*: 127.94mi marked; approximately 309mi total
S End: New
Mexico border at Raton Pass on unmarked overlap with I-25 (link
to Steve Riner's site)
N End: Wyoming
border north of Nunn (link to Andy Field's site)
Nationally: S End: El Paso, Texas; N End: Canadian border near
Fontana, North Dakota (1479mi)
Counties: El Paso, Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver, Adams,
Weld
Places: Fountain, Security-Widefield, Castle
Rock, Sedalia, Littleton, Englewood, Denver, Commerce City, Brighton,
Fort Lupton, Platteville, Gilcrest, La Salle, Evans, Garden City,
Greeley, Eaton, Ault, Pierce, Nunn
See the separate US 85
page for the remainder of the info.
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Location: South Metro Denver > Eastern
Plains
Length*: 61.46mi
W End: Jct I-25/US 85 Exit 184 in north Castle Rock
E End: Jct I-70 Exit 352 northwest of Limon
Counties: Douglas, Elbert
Places: Castle Rock, Franktown, Elizabeth, Kiowa
Expressway: Four-lane divided around the northeast side of Castle Rock, but with a lower speed limit
Roadway Names: Bypass around the northeast side of Castle Rock is Founders Parkway
Milepost Guide:
- 100.00: I-25/US 85 interchange at Founders Pkwy/Meadows Pkwy, Castle Rock (begin SH
86 in Douglas County)
- Milepost equation at Founders Pkwy/Ridge Rd/5th St due to reroute: 104.34 Back = 1.87 Ahead
- 6.82: SH 83, Franktown
- 12.26: Enter Elbert County
- 58.99: I-70 Exit 352 interchange (end SH 86)
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 12,200 at Rock St., Castle Rock (no longer part of SH 86)
- 13,800 east of Founders Pkwy.
- 11,100 east of SH 83, Franktown
- 9000 east of CR 65/Flintwood Ave.
- 12,300 at Elizabeth St., Elizabeth
- 4900 east of CR 21
- 2600 at Ute Ave., Kiowa
- 1400 east of CR 61.6
- 690 east of CR 77
- 470 at I-70
Guide:
SH
86 begins at the busy I-25 Exit 184 interchange on the north side of
Castle Rock, Founders Pkwy/Meadows Pkwy. SH 86 heads east on Founders
from the interchange while US 85 heads west on Meadows. SH 86 then uses
Founders Pkwy, a four-lane divided sorta-expressway to loop around the
northeast side of Castle Rock, going east up a hill then south. It
meets its historic alignment at Founders Pkwy/Ridge Rd and turns east.
It then goes as a two-lane road east through Franktown, out onto the
plains and through Elizabeth and Kiowa. East of Kiowa all the way to
I-70 there are no towns, SH 86 crosses the rolling prairie with
occasional creek crossings and farmsteads. History:
SH 86 is an original
1920s highway. At first the west end was in downtown Castle Rock at at
US 85-87 at 5th and Wilcox Streets, from there SH 86 continued east up
a hill and out of town out onto the plains as now. But the east end of
SH 86 used to use current Elbert CR 118 east to River Bend at US 40,
rather than passing north of River Bend. That was realigned in the
1960s. SH 86 was paved east to Kiowa by 1954, to 10mi before I-70 by
1963, and all the way to I-70 by 1972.
After I-25 was built,
Wilcox Street became BL I-25,
but that was turned back to Castle Rock sometime in the 1990s, so SH 86
had its western end at no other highway. In 1997, CDOT turned back the
0.57mi of SH 86 between Wilcox Street and Rock Street, so SH 86 had its
western end at a somewhat random spot on the hill on the east side of
town. SH 86 was then rerouted onto the Founders Pkwy bypass around the
northeast side of Castle Rock in early 2006.
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Location: South Metro Denver
S End: 1920s-1945 & 1954-1968: Jct US 85 at Santa
Fe Dr./Bowles Ave.; 1946-1954: Bowles Ave. at
Arapahoe/Jefferson line
N End: 1920s-1959: Jct SH 1/US 85 at Iowa
Ave./Broadway; 1960-1968: Jct SH 70 at Hampden
Ave./Broadway
History:
SH 87 appears to be an original 1920s state
highway. It started at Santa Fe Dr., headed east on
Littleton Blvd. to Broadway, then north on that to Iowa
Ave., ending at SH 1/US 85. By 1946 the southwest end
had been extended west along Bowles Ave., ending at the
Arapahoe/Jefferson County line. By 1955, that section had
been turned back, so it again ended at Santa Fe. The north
end was trimmed back to end at SH 70 at Hampden
Avenue by 1960. SH 87 was renumbered as an extension
of SH 75 in the purge of 1968.
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Location: South Front Range > Metro Denver >
North Front Range
Length: 300mi
S End: New
Mexico border concurrent with I-25 south of Trinidad
(link to Steve Riner's site)
N End: Wyoming
border concurrent with I-25 south of Cheyenne (link to Andy
Field's site)
Nationally: S End: Port Lavaca, Texas; N End: Jct US
2 at Havre, Montana (1998mi)
Guide:
US 87 technically doesn't exist in Colorado except on maps.
CDOT sources do not mention any highway 87. According to
maps, it is concurrent with I-25 the entire time in
Colorado, except while using the two BL I-25 loops in
Walsenburg and Colorado Springs. In fact, except for a few
scattered stretches, US 87 is on either I-25 or I-90 all the
way from Raton, NM to Billings, MT. Here, I will discuss
only the signing and history.
Photo Gallery:
- US
87 Sign. Northbound I-25 south of 58th Ave. in
north Denver. This is the only US 87 sign anywhere in
Colorado now. (December 1997)
- US
85-87/SH 115 Sign, Colorado Springs. BL I-25 in
Colorado Springs (Nevada Ave.) southbound where it hits
I-25 at Exit 140. Greg Miller of Security first reported
this sign to me, and I have since gotten this photo of
it. This is indeed a vintage sign. The lettering and US
shields are made of button copy, and the pre-1967
Colorado shield is a real treasure. This sign is now gone
due to Exit 140 reconstruction in 2001. (February 2001)
- Closeup.
A close-up of the sign. You can even make out where it
used to say "TO [122]" on the right. Photo
courtesy Russell Kroll. (June 2001)
- I-25/US
85-87 in Denver. Northbound I-25 in Denver just
past the point where US 85 (Santa Fe Dr.) has a left
entrance (Exit 207). This sign no longer exists. It was
replaced in Spring or Summer 2000 with a new assembly
that included only US 85 and I-25, not US 87. Photo
courtesy of Mike Ballard.
History:
US 87 is not an original 1920s US highway. Instead, it
appeared in 1935, running concurrent with US 85 from New
Mexico to Wyoming. By 1936, it was rerouted north of Denver
taking the route of current US 287 from Denver through
Broomfield, Longmont and Fort Collins, then along SH 1
through Wellington to Wyoming and to Cheyenne. US 87 has
always been concurrent with US 85 south of Castle Rock, so
for history on that go to the US 85
listing.
North of Castle Rock, US 87 was rerouted off of US 85 and
onto the alignment of SH 185 (current I-25) by 1954.
It was also the early '50s that the Valley Highway started
to be built in Denver, marked as SH 185/US 87. In
1954 from Castle Rock US 87 followed the current alignment
of I-25 up to Colorado Blvd., north to Colfax Ave., west to
23rd St., northwest to the Valley Highway, north to
Broadway, north to 70th Ave., east to Washington St., then
north out of the metro. By 1956 more of the Valley Highway
was complete from 70th to 120th Ave., so US 87 was moved off
of Washington onto that. The expressway between Castle Rock
and Lincoln Ave. was complete by 1957. By 1960 US 87 was
freeway from north of Castle Rock all the way to 58th Ave.,
and from SH 52 to SH 66. The freeway was complete from
Denver north to US 34 by 1963.
See the I-25, US
85, and SH 185
listings for more.
Related Site: The
Last US 87 Marker in Colorado, and other US/Interstate
marker issues, by Dale Sanderson
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Location: Metro Denver
Length*: 21.73mi total; 18.76mi marked
NW End: Jct US 40-287 interchange at Colfax Ave. and
Federal Blvd. in Denver
SE End: Jct SH 83 at Arapahoe Rd. and Parker Rd. at
Foxfield
Counties: Denver, Arapahoe
Places: Denver, Sheridan, Littleton, Englewood,
Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Centennial,
Foxfield
NHS:
- Colfax Ave. south to Hampden Ave. (US 285)
- Santa Fe Dr. (US 85) east along Belleview to
I-25
- I-25 east along Arapahoe Rd. to Parker Rd. (SH
83)
Expressway:
- Quasi suburban expressway along Belleview Ave. from
east of Broadway to I-25.
- Six- and eight-lane undivided on Arapahoe Road east
of I-25.
Broken Route: Discontinuous due to an unmarked
overlap with I-25 from Exits 199 to 197.
Roadway Names:
- North-south section: Federal Boulevard
- East-west section west of I-25: Belleview Avenue
- East-west section east of I-25: Arapahoe Road
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 40-287 interchange, Denver (begin SH
88 in Denver County)
- 1.09: US 6/6th Ave. interchange
- 1.97: SH 26/Alameda Ave.
- 5.69: Enter Arapahoe County
- 6.01: US 285/Hampden Ave. interchange, Sheridan
- 8.71: US 85/Santa Fe Dr., Littleton
- 11.56: SH 177/University Blvd.
- 14.13: Begin Denver/Arapahoe County split
- 14.73: North jct I-25 Exit 199 interchange (end SH
88)
- 17.00: South jct I-25 Exit 197 interchange, Centennial (begin SH 88 in Arapahoe County)
- 21.73: SH 83/Parker Rd., Foxfield (end SH 88)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 37,400 at US 40-287, Denver
- 42,800 north of SH 26/Alameda Ave.
- 37,800 south of Jewell Ave.
- 33,100 south of US 285/Hampden Ave., Sheridan
- 25,900 north of Belleview Ave.
- 38,500 east of US 85/Santa Fe Dr., Littleton
- 32,800 east of SH 177/University Blvd.
- 41,000 west of I-25
- 59,600 east of I-25, Greenwood Village
- 62,500 east of Havana St., Centennial
- 54,900 at SH 83, Foxfield
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Guide:
SH 88 starts at the partial cloverleaf interchange that
is the Federal Blvd./Colfax Ave. intersection in Denver,
then heads due south on Federal for 8mi. Along the way,
there are interchanges at 6th Ave. (US 6) and Hampden Ave.
(US 285), and it passes through Denver, Sheridan and
Littleton. At Belleview Ave., SH 88 abruptly turns east, and
heads east along that for 6.5mi to I-25 Exit 199. Along the
way, it goes through Littleton and Englewood and then forms
the border between Cherry Hills Village on the north and
Greenwood Village on the south from Washington St. clear to
I-25. East of Broadway Belleview can be described as a
suburban expressway, four-lane divided, with a 40mph speed
limit and lined with sound walls.
SH 88 disappears at Exit 199, then reappears again at
Exit 197. It then heads east along a huge, wide expanse of
asphalt known as Arapahoe Road through Centennial. Arapahoe
Road is six-lane undivided with a 55mph limit most of the
way from I-25 east to Parker Road (SH 83). SH 88 ends there
at Foxfield. The intersection there includes of of the
triple left turns in the metro, for turning from EB to NB.
It is an intersection to be avoided during rush hour.
Eventually a mini-interchange will be built with a direct
ramp from EB to NB.
The commercial corridor that Arapahoe Road is turning
into was one of the major issues leading to the
incorporation of Centennial in 2000. Greenwood Village
wanted to annex it, and that sparked the incorporation
effort by area residents.
Photo Gallery:
- I-25/SH
88 Markers. A sign assembly on eastbound
Belleview Avenue (SH 88) at the I-25 interchange, which
bucks normal CDOT practice and sort of marks a state
highway along an Interstate. (February 2003)
- Arapahoe
Road Overhead Sign. An overhead sign on eastbound
Arapahoe Road where a C-D road splits off at the I-25
interchange. (February 2003)
- Triple
Left, Double Through, Single Right. Lane
assignment sign on eastbound Arapahoe Road (SH 88) on the
approach to Parker Road (SH 83). (February 2003)
- Arapahoe/Parker
Intersection. Looking toward the west down on the
SH 88-83 (Arapahoe-Parker) intersection. SH 88 as
Arapahoe Road heads off to the west toward the top right
of the picture. In the intersection you can see the hokey
span wire signal setup Arapahoe County has here. You can
also sorta-kinda make out the triple left, with the blue
and white SUVs in the middle of the picture in the right
2 lanes of it, and the third lane for it on the other
side of the white SUV. Also in the middle right edge of
the picture you can see another signal, which is where
the three-lane ramp from SB 83 feeds onto WB 88.
(December 2001)
History:
SH 88 is an original 1920s state highway. At first it
went along Belleview from Santa Fe Dr. east to Parker Rd. By
1939, it was extended east, and went east along Quincy Ave.
into the now defunct Lowry Field Bombing Range. According to
Jack Unitt the section west of Parker Road was abandoned by
the state when Chatfield Reservior was constructed.
Belleview Avenue had an old wooden bridge over Cherry Creek
which was destroyed by a fire about 1950 after the state had
abandoned the road.
By 1954 SH 88's west end was moved to Broadway. The west
end was then moved back to Santa Fe by 1956. The section
along Arapahoe from the Valley Highway (SH 185/US 87)
to Parker Rd. was added by 1960, and at first was a gravel
road. It was paved within a year. The section along Federal
Blvd. was originally SH 75, and was renumbered as an
extension of SH 88 probably in the purge of 1968. The
expressway east of I-25 was built east to Peoria St. by
1977, and east to Parker Rd. by 1990.
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Location: Arkansas Valley
Length*: 34.34mi
S End: Jct SH 116 at Lycan
N End: Jct US 50-400 at Holly
Counties: Baca, Prowers
Places: Lycan, Holly
Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: SH 116, Lycan (begin SH 89 in Baca County)
- 5.98: Enter Prowers County
- 34.34: US 50, Holly (end SH 89)
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 160 at SH 116, Lycan
- 320 north of CR N
- 420 north of CR S
- 1100 at US 50, Holly
History:
SH 89 is an original 1920s state highway, and at first
went from Holly south via Bartlett ending at SH 51 at
Stonington. By 1939 it was extended north to SH 96 at
Towner, and by 1946 a spur northward from Towner was added.
By 1954 SH 89 was significantly scaled back, and was only a
spur from Holly south to Cheney Center. By 1970 it went from
Lycan to Holly, and the portion north of Cheney Center had
been paved. Entirely paved by 1975.
Cheney Center (at the present-day SH 89/CR S intersection)
apparently no longer exists except as a historical placename. The USGS
doesn't recognize it or have it on topo maps, but some maps still show
it. The postal service lists Cheney Center in its ZIP code database,
but only to say it's not a valid town name and Holly should be used
instead.
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Location: Western Slope
Length*: 41.72mi; 89.95mi Utah to Montrose
Counties: Montrose
Places: Paradox, Bedrock, Vancorum, Oak Grove,
Montrose
Broken Route: Middle section turned back.
- Western Section
Length*: 33.87mi
W End: Utah border, connecting with UT
46 (link to Dan Stober's site)
E End: Jct SH 141 in Vancorum
Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: Utah border (begin SH 90 in Montrose County)
- 33.87: SH 141 (end SH 90)
- Eastern Section
Length*: 7.85mi
SW End: Intersection of CRs 59 & 90 southwest
of Montrose
NE End: Jct US 50-550 at Main St. and Townsend
Ave. in Montrose
Milepost Guide:
- 82.00: CRs 59 & 90 (begin SH 90 in Montrose County)
- 89.85: US 50-550 (end SH 90)
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 240 at Utah border
- 430 at SH 141, Vancorum
- 180 at CRs 59 & 90
- 1200 northeast of CR P, Oak Grove
- 5900 east of Spring Creek Road
- 14,900 northeast of CR 64.5/Dave Wood Road
- 13,000 at US 50-550, Montrose
Guide:
SH 90 starts at the Utah border west of Paradox, and has
a connection with UT 46. It follows the La Sal Creek east
for only a few miles, then turns north and has a few
switchbacks going over some ridge. It then drops down into
Paradox Valley, passes south of the town of Paradox, and
then follows Paradox Valley east through Bedrock, and
finally ending at SH 141 at Vancorum.
As you can see, there is also another section of SH 90.
To link to it from Vancorum, one would have to head east on
SH 141, then east of Naturita turn northeast on FR 540, and
take that a looonnnggg way through Piñon, Ute, over
the Uncompahgre Plateau, and to a point southwest of
Montrose. SH 90 then starts again, and heads east, north to
Oak Grove, east, north, then east into Montrose. It ends at
the intersection of Townsend Ave. and Main St., and this is
also the north end of US 550 at US 50.
History:
SH 90 is an original 1920s state highway, and went from
Utah to Montrose, with no gap. It also originally went
through Paradox, rather than passing south of it as now. By
1954 almost all of it had been turned back, and SH 90 went
only from Montrose southwest for 8mi (current eastern
section). By 1963 the Utah-Vancorum section was brought
back, and was paved and bypassed south of Paradox.
Related Site: US
550 Endpoints by Dale Sanderson. Includes neat pictures
of SH 90 signs.
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Location: Central Mountains
Length*: 22.57mi
S End: Jct US 24 north of Leadville
N End: Jct I-70 Exit 195 at Copper Mountain west of
Frisco
Counties: Lake, Summit
Places: Leadville, Climax, Fremont Pass, Copper
Mountain
Mountain Passes: Fremont Pass (11,318ft; 5.7%
grade).
Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 24, Leadville (begin SH 91 in Lake County)
- 12.08: Enter Summit County
- 22.57: I-70, Copper Mountain (end SH 91)
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 4200 at US 24, Leadville
- 3300 north of Fremont Pass/Climax
- 6900 at I-70
Guide:
SH
91 starts at US 24 just north of Leadville, then follows the valley of
the North Fork of the Arkansas River north to Fremont Pass. It isn't
too much of a climb to the top of the pass, and the one switchback is a
long, swooping, 40mph curve. At the summit of the pass, SH 91 passes by
the imposing industrial complex of the Climax molybdenum* mine,
mothballed in the mid-1980s. SH 91 then has a fairly flat alignment for
a couple miles, passing some massive tailings ponds from Climax. It
then picks up Tenmile Creek, and it's one long continuous downhill
grade the 10 or so miles to I-70. At I-70, SH 91 passes by the Copper
Mountain ski resort, which causes a lot of congestion at the
interchange on winter weekends.
SH 91 and US 24 serve as a detour when I-70
over Vail Pass is closed.
* Pronounced "muh LIB deh num", it's a metal ore used in steel.
Photo Gallery:
- Climbing Fremont Pass.
Northbound on SH 91 climbing up the south side of Fremont Pass, looking
toward Climax, visible in the left middle. (October 2004)
- Northbound at Clinton Creek.
The view after a fall snowstorm looking north on SH 91 at Clinton
Creek. This is north of Climax as SH 91 descends Tenmile Creek.
(September 2006)
- Descending Tenmile Creek. Northbound on SH 91 north of Climax as it falls with Tenmile Creek toward I-70. (October 2004)
History:
SH 91 is an original 1920s state highway, and went from
Leadville northeast over Fremont Pass to Frisco, over
Loveland Pass, then east through Georgetown ending at US 40
in Empire. By 1936 the section from Leadville to Climax had
been paved, and by 1939 the eastern end had been moved to US
40 east of Empire, rather than turning north into town. By
1946 it was all paved except for the summits of Fremont and
Loveland passes, which were paved by 1954.
SH 91 in its entirety from Leadville to Empire became the
routing for US 6 in 1938. US 6/SH 78 over Vail Pass
was completed in 1941 and US 6 was removed from SH 91 from
Copper Mountain southward. In the late 1960s I-70 started
taking over SH 91 route's between Copper Mountain and
Empire, and by 1969 SH 91 was marked only from Leadville to
Copper Mountain.
Before the development of the Copper Mountain Resort, the
junction of SH 91 and US 6 was known as Wheeler Junction.
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Location: Western Slope
Length*: 73.29mi
NW End: Jct US 50 at Crawford Ave. and Main St. in
Delta
SE End: Jct US 50 west of Sapinero
Counties: Delta, Montrose, Gunnison
Places: Delta, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Blue Mesa Dam
Expressway: US 50 at Delta east to the
intersection with SH 65.
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 50, Delta (begin SH 92 in Delta County)
- 3.81: SH 65 east of Delta
- 20.72: SH 133, Hotchkiss
- 34.33: Enter Montrose County
- 56.47: Enter Gunnison County
- 73.29: US 50 west of Sapinero (end SH 92)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 14,400 at US 50, Delta
- 5100 east of SH 65
- 4400 east of Redlands Mesa Road
- 7900 west of SH 133, Hotchkiss
- 2300 east of CR F.5
- 1300 in Crawford
- 350 southeast of CR 73/Clear Fork Road, Maher
- 580 at US 50, Blue Mesa Reservoir
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Guide:
SH 92 starts at US 50 in Delta, then heads northeast
through Austin, along the Gunnison River, to Hotchkiss,
south to Crawford, then is extremely curvy as it follows the
side of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison along the north
side of the Gunnison River. It then crosses the Gunnison
River at the dam that holds back Blue Mesa Reservoir, and
ends at US 50 on the south side of the reservoir west of
Sapinero.
History:
SH 92 is an original 1920s state highway. By 1939 it was
paved from Delta halfway to Hotchkiss, and was extended west
from Delta along CR G paralleling US 50 on US 50's south
side, ending at US 50 west of Delta. By 1946 it was paved
east to Hotchkiss, the section west of Delta was eliminated
by 1954, and was paved southeast to Crawford by 1956. By
1965 it was paved southeast to Maher, and by 1966 the
construction of Blue Mesa Reservoir had led to the
realignment of SH 92's end at US 50 slightly westward. By
1975 the expressway west of SH 65 was in place, and SH 92
was finally paved entirely southeast to US 50.
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Location: Northwest Metro Denver
Length*: 18.84mi
S End: Jct US 6/SH 58 in Golden
N End: Jct SH 119 in at Broadway and Canyon Blvd.
in Boulder
Counties: Jefferson, Boulder
Places: Golden, Marshall, Boulder
NHS: US 6/SH 58 north to Baseline Rd. (Spur US 36)
in Boulder.
Expressway: Five-lane undivided north of SH 170
into Boulder.
Roadway Names:
- Foothills Road north of Golden
- Broadway in Boulder
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 6-SH 58 (begin SH 93 in Jefferson County)
- 7.57: SH 72
- 10.71: Enter Boulder County
- 11.78: SH 128
- 13.61: SH 170, Marshall
- 17.42: Spur US 36/Baseline Rd., Boulder
- 18.84: SH 119, Boulder (end SH 93)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 23,900 at US 6/SH 58, Golden
- 21,300 north of Golden Gate Canyon Rd.
- 18,500 north of SH 72
- 18,300 north of SH 128
- 23,900 north of SH 170, Marshall
- 36,400 north of Table Mesa Dr., Boulder
- 33,800 north of Spur US 36/Baseline Rd.
- 26,200 at SH 119
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Guide:
This is a major link in the northwest metro, as
evidenced by those traffic counts, and for a two-lane road
it is straining under the pressure. In Golden, it starts at
the US 6/SH 58 intersection on the west side of town, and
then heads north, raising and falling over the rolling
terrain, with climbing lanes, and then climbs the ridge one
last time to the intersection with SH 72. There one can spy
one of the relics of the Cold War, the Rocky Flats DOE site.
North of there, SH 93 flattens out and goes through Marshall
(intersection with SH 170), then starts to warp down to an
urban arterial street for the trip through south Boulder. SH
93 picks up Broadway, and follows that northwest. At
Baseline Rd., SH 93 skirts the west side of the US
36/Baseline Rd. interchange, and there is a Spur US 36
(unmarked) that goes west from the interchange to Broadway.
SH 93 continues northwest on Broadway to downtown, finally
ending at the intersection of Broadway and Canyon Blvd. (SH
7-119).
Photo Gallery:
- Broadway
at CU. View north on Broadway (SH 93) in Boulder
as it passes CU near 18th Street. (August 2003)
History:
SH 93 is an original 1920s state highway, but at first
it went from Morrison north along the hogback road to
Golden. It was paved by 1939, and that same year it was
extended north to Marshall. By 1954 it went only from
Marshall to Boulder, and wasn't paved. By 1955 SH 93 was
extended south to SH 72, and was paved. It remained that way
until 1984, when it was extended south to Golden, via
Washington Street, to SH 58. The west Golden bypass, making
SH 93 hook up with the US 6/SH 58 intersection, was opened
about 1992.
Suggestions:
Make the entire thing an expressway.
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Location: South Front Range > Eastern
Plains
Length*: 85.99mi
W End: Jct US 24 in east Colorado Springs
E End: Jct US 40-287 at Aroya
Counties: El Paso, Lincoln, Cheyenne
Places: Colorado Springs, Ellicott, Yoder, Punkin
Center, Aroya
Roadway Names: 94th Infantry Division Memorial
Highway
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 24 (begin SH 94 in El Paso County)
- 35.01: Enter Lincoln County
- 54.58: SH 71, Punkin Center
- 83.63: Enter Cheyenne County
- 85.99: US 40-287 (end SH 94)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 5300 at US 24
- 12,000 east of Space Village Ave.
- 4500 east of CR 441
- 2700 east of Ellicott
- 1300 east of Yoder
- 430 east of CR 11, Hall Station
- 320 east of SH 71, Punkin Center
- 320 at US 40-287, Aroya
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Guide:
SH 94 starts off at US 24 just northeast
of Peterson Air Force Base. Heading east from Colorado Springs it is an
important highway, serving Schriever Air Force Base east of town.
However, once you get past Schriever the traffic drops off and SH 94
takes on the form of a rural plains highway. On its way east, Ellicott,
Yoder, Rush and Punkin Center are passed through, of which Ellicott is
the largest. Some maps show Hall Station, but there's nothing there.
Punkin Center is a few buildings scattered around the SH 71
intersection. After heading east for a long ways, SH 94 ends at US
40-287.
Photo Gallery:
- Pikes Peak Filling Your Windshield.
Westbound SH 94 has the fortune of being oriented directly at Pikes
Peak. This shot shows the view looking west near Blaney Road as SH 94
drops down into the Jimmy Camp Creek valley. (February 2008)
- Entering Punkin Center.
Eastbound SH 94 as it comes toward the SH 71 intersection. The few
buildings in the shot are all of Punkin Center. (February 2008)
- SH 71 Destinations. Eastbound SH 94 approaching SH 71, with the destination sign. (February 2008)
History:
SH 94 is an original 1920s state highway. At first it
went from US 24 east of Colorado Springs east along its
current route, but then at a point north of Karval it
swerved north then east, ending at Boyero. By 1938 SH
63 had been extended south, and SH 94 ended at it at
Boyero. The first section to be paved was east to Yoder, by
1949, and was paved to Rush by 1950. By 1954 the eastern
portion of it had been turned back, and it ended at a point
directly south of Hugo. By 1965 SH 94 was paved east to SH
71, and to the east end north of Karval by 1967. By 1970 it
was extended to US 40-287 at Aroya, and was entirely paved.
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Location: Metro Denver
Length*: 14.32mi
S End: Jct US 285 at Hampden Ave./Sheridan Blvd. in
Denver
N End: Jct US 36 in Westminster
Counties: Denver, Jefferson, Adams
Places: Denver, Lakewood, Edgewater, Mountain View,
Lakeside, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Westminster
Roadway Names: Sheridan Boulevard
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 285/Hampden Ave. interchange (begin SH 95 in Denver County)
- 1.00: Begin Jefferson/Denver County split
- 1.50: Enter Denver County
- 2.01: Begin Jefferson/Denver County split
- 3.97: SH 26/Alameda Ave.
- 5.01: US 6/6th Ave. interchange
- 6.03: US 40/BL I-70/Colfax Ave.
- 9.01: I-70 Exit 271A interchange, Lakeside
- 9.05: Enter Denver County
- 9.54: Begin Jefferson/Adams County split
- 9.88: I-76 Exit 1B interchange
- 13.94: Enter Jefferson County
- 14.32: US 36 interchange, Westminster (end SH
95)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 43,400 at US 285/Hampden Ave.
- 34,300 north of Evans Ave.
- 32,900 north of Mississippi Ave.
- 50,800 south of US 6/6th Ave.
- 31,200 north of US 40/Colfax Ave.
- 41,600 north of 32nd Ave.
- 34,000 north of I-70
- 46,800 north of I-76
- 39,000 north of 64th Ave.
- 53,700 at US 36
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Guide:
SH 95 starts at a folded diamond interchange with US 285
at Hampden Ave., then heads due north on Sheridan Blvd.
Sheridan forms the west boundary of Denver City/County all
the way up to 52nd Ave., and borders towns to the west such
as Lakewood, Edgewater, Mountain View, Lakeside and Wheat
Ridge. SH 95 goes through interchanges with 6th Ave. (US 6),
I-70 (Exit 277), and I-76 (Exit 2). SH 95 then goes into
Arvada and Westminster, finally ending at US 36. The US
36/Sheridan area is one of the commercial hubs of
Westminster, always buzzing with traffic.
History:
SH 95 is an original 1920s state highway. The south end
has always been at Hampden Ave. which at first was SH
70 before becoming US 285 about 1970. However the north
end has fluctuated. At first it was at 44th Ave. (SH
58), but for a time was 46th Ave. (SH 72). It was
extended north to 80th Ave., just south of the new
Denver-Boulder Turnpike, about 1954. It was extended from
80th to US 36 in 1974.
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Location: South Front Range > Arkansas
Valley
Length*: 207.45mi
W End: Jct SH 69 at Main St./6th St. in
Westcliffe
E End: Kansas border east of Towner, connecting with
KS
96 (link to Richie Kenndey's site)
Counties: Custer, Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, Kiowa
Places: Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Wetmore, Pueblo,
North Avondale, Boone, Olney Springs, Ordway, Sugar City,
Haswell, Eads, Sheridan Lake, Towner
NHS: Where concurrent with US 50 and US 287
Expressway: Where concurrent with US 50
Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: SH 69 (begin SH 96 in Custer County)
- 16.60: SH 165
- 26.27: SH 67, Wetmore
- 29.20: Enter Pueblo County
- 52.78: SH 45, Pueblo
- 56.09: BR US 50/Santa Fe Ave.,
Pueblo
- 56.91: SH 227/Joplin Ave.
- 58.81: US 50/SH 47 interchange
- 69.48: US 50 west of North Avondale
- 75.49: SH 209, Boone
- 88.05: Enter Crowley County
- 90.14: SH 167
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- 99.58: SH 207
- 105.83: South jct SH 71, Ordway
- 106.35: North jct SH 71
- 119.45: Enter Otero County
- 119.72: Enter Crowley County
- 119.95: Enter Kiowa County
- 165.97: West jct US 287, Eads
- 169.00: East jct US 287 east of Eads
- 193.05: West jct US 385, Sheridan Lake
- 193.85: East jct US 385
- 207.45: Kansas border (end SH 96)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 4600 at SH 69, Westcliffe
- 1700 east of Butler St., Silver
Cliff
- 1200 east of SH 165
- 960 east of SH 67, Wetmore
- 3100 east of Pueblo Reservoir road
- 13,500 east of SH 45/Pueblo Blvd.
- 43,000 east of Abriendo Ave., Pueblo
- 15,600 east of BR 50/Santa Fe Ave.
- 15,100 east of SH 227/Joplin Ave.
- 6700 at US 50/SH 47
- 22,900 on US 50/SH 96 east of SH 47
- 7800 on US 50/SH 96 west of SH 96
- 1800 at US 50, North Avondale
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- 2000 east of SH 209, Boone
- 1300 west of SH 167
- 1600 east of SH 207, Crowley
- 1900 west of SH 71, Ordway
- 640 east of Sugar City
- 450 west of Haswell
- 800 west of US 287
- 2300 on US 287/SH 96, Eads
- 730 east of US 287
- 1300 on SH 96/US 385
- 710 east of US 385, Sheridan Lake
- 340 at Kansas border
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Guide:
SH
96 has humble beginnings in Westcliffe, then heads through Silver
Cliff, then picks up the North Hardscrabble Creek to Wetmore, then
continues east into metro Pueblo. It follows Thatcher Ave. east into
town, then heads northeast on Lincoln Ave. It uses a high viaduct over
the Arkansas River and some rail lines, then curves east on 4th St.
into downtown. SH 96 does not have a direct interchange with I-25,
intead you have to use 1st or 6th Streets to the north or south. SH 96
continues east through Pueblo on 4th St., hits the US 50/SH 47
interchange on the east side of town. The interchange is a diamond
tilted diagonally along US 50, so if come east on SH 96 through the
interchange you end up northbound on SH 47. Continuing on SH 96
requires taking a ramp. SH 96 overlaps with US 50 for 11mi eastward, breaking off just west of North Avondale. SH 96
then heads southeast, paralleling US 50 on the opposite side
of the Arkansas River. It goes through Boone, then at Olney
Springs it breaks off of the Arkansas and heads northeast
through Crowley to Ordway. There is a two-block multiplex
with SH 71 there, then SH 96 continues northeast through
Sugar City, Arlington, Haswell, Galatea, then east to Eads.
There is a two-mile multiplex with US 287, then SH 96
continues east through Chivington, Brandon, and Sheridan
Lake, where there is a multiplex with US 385. The next town
is Towner, then into Kansas.
Photo Gallery:
- Wet Mountain Valley.
This picture faces west on SH 96 a couple miles east of Silver Cliff,
looking out across the Wet Mountain Valley and the towns of Westcliffe
and Silver Cliff. At the horizon are the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
with Spread Eagle Peak in the middle. Photo by David Herrera. (November
2006)
- Old-Style
SH 96 Marker. A 1960's-style SH 96 marker which
is in surprisingly good shape. Southbound Santa Fe Avenue
approaching 4th Street in Pueblo. The marker might be
left over from when Santa Fe was part of BR US 50 north
of 4th, but I don't know for sure whether Santa Fe ever
was part of BR 50 north of 4th. Or the marker might have
been put in since traffic on SB I-25 wanting to get to SH
96 is told to get off at 6th and then has to head south
on Santa Fe two blocks. Photo courtesy Steve Riner.
- Eastbound at US 50.
Marker assembly on eastbound SH 96/4th St. at the interchange with US
50/SH 47. Note the continuation of SH 96 along EB US 50 is marked. (May
2004)
History:
SH
96 is an original 1920s state highway. The routing in Pueblo has never
changed. By 1946 paving of multiple segments was done, from Pueblo to
Boone, Olney Springs to Sugar City, and Haswell to Kansas. By 1954 the
only section not paved was from Silver Cliff to Wetmore. The US 50
expressway bypass was completed by 1957, using SH 96's alignment from
east Pueblo to North Avondale. By 1964 all of SH 96 was paved.
In the early 1970s, planned construction of Pueblo Reservoir
forced a reroute of SH 96. Previously SH 96 was along the Arkansas
River west of Pueblo, but in 1971 a new alignment was constructed to
take SH 96 to the south of the reservoir. Thanks to Ryan Schilling for
the info.
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Location: Western Slope
Length*: 4.58mi
S End: Jct SH 141 at Naturita
N End: Main St./3rd Ave. in Nucla
Counties: Montrose
Places: Naturita, Nucla
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2004):
- 2500 at SH 141, Naturita
- 1500 north of Highland Dr.
- 730 at Nucla
Guide:
SH 97 serves only as a spur from SH 141 into Nucla.
Montrose County operates some satellite offices in Nucla, so
people in that part of the county don't have to trek all the
way to Montrose.
History:
SH 97 is an original 1920s state highway. It was paved
by 1954. From 1939 to about 1953 it had its north end at
SH 350.
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Location: Eastern Mountains
Length: ~4mi
E End: Jct SH 74 at Evergreen
W End: Brookvale
Places: Upper Bear Creek, Troutdale, Rosedale
History:
SH 98 appears to be an original 1920s state
highway. It went from Evergreen up Bear Creek to Brookvale
(called Bendemeer on early '30s maps). By 1954 it was
renumbered as part of SH 74.
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Location: San Luis Valley
Length: 27mi
S End: New Mexico border south of Jaroso
N End: Jct SH 159 at San Luis
Places: Jaroso, Mesita, San Acacio, San Luis
History:
SH 99 appears to be an original 1920s state
highway, and started at SH 159 at San Luis, and went west on
current SH 142, then south through Mesita and Jaroso, ending
at the New Mexico border. In 1953 the north-south portion
was turned back, while the east-west section became an
eastward extension of SH 142.
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