Colorado Highways: US 50

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Location: Central Western Slope > Central Mountains > Southern Front Range > Arkansas Valley
Length*: 441.48mi signed; 467.58mi implied
W End: Utah border on unmarked overlap with I-70
E End: Kansas border east of Holly (link to Richie Kennedy's site)
Nationally: W End: Jct I-80 in Sacramento, Califonia; E End: Ocean City, Maryland (3011mi)

Counties: Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Saguache, Chaffee, Fremont, Pueblo, Otero, Bent, Prowers
Places: Grand Junction, Delta, Olathe, Montrose, Gunnison, Monarch Pass, Poncha Springs, Salida, Howard, Cañon City, Penrose, Pueblo West, Pueblo, Fowler, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, Swink, La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar, Granada, Holly

NHS:

• I-70 northwest of Grand Junction east to I-25 at Pueblo
• SH 47-96 in east Pueblo to Kansas
  

Freeway: Short concurrent section with I-25

Expressway:

• I-70 southeast into Grand Junction, including interchanges at Redlands Pkwy. and the BL 70/US 6 split
• Downtown Grand Junction to entering Delta. Includes interchanges at Riverside Pkwy and CR B.5. Alternates between 4-lane divided and 5-lane undivided.
  
• Delta to Montrose, alternating between 4-lane divided and 5-lane undivided
• Poncha Springs to Salida, 5-lane undivided
  
• Parkdale to west side of Cañon City
• East side of Cañon City to I-25, including an interchange at SH 115
  
• I-25 to east SH 96 junction, including interchanges at SH 96-47, Pueblo Airport and Pueblo Chemical Depot
  
• Manzanola to Rocky Ford, 4-lane undivided
  
• Rocky Ford to east of La Junta. Includes lower-speed sections through Swink and La Junta
  
• Las Animas to SH 183 at Fort Lyon, including a partial interchange with SH 194
• US 287 west of Lamar into Lamar

Business Routes:

• Olathe
• Pueblo

• Truck US 50, local-maintained route bypassing downtown Lamar
  

Broken Route: US 50 is nonexistent west of Grand Junction, disappearing at I-70 Exit 26.

Mountain Passes: West of Poncha Springs, Monarch Pass (11,312ft; 6.4% grade).

Scenic & Historic Byways:

• Dinosaur Diamond (I-70 Exit 26 to Grand Junction)
• West Elk Loop (SH 92 to SH 135)
• Collegiate Peaks (US 285 to SH 291)
• Gold Belt Tour (SH 9 to Cañon City)
• Santa Fe Trail (US 350 to Kansas)

Milepost Guide:

Begin US 50 in Mesa County at I-70 Exit 26 northwest of Grand Junction 31.76: Westbound BL 70 at Ute Ave. and 5th Ave., Grand Junction 31.83: Eastbound BL 70/Pitkin Ave 38.50: West jct SH 141 41.13: East jct SH 141, Whitewater 52.95: Enter Delta County 71.00: SH 92, Delta 71.42: SH 348/6th St., Delta 77.88: Enter Montrose County 81.56: North jct BR US 50, Olathe 82.61: SH 348, Olathe 83.14: South jct BR US 50 91.87: US 550 at San Juan Ave/Townsend Ave, Montrose 100.54: SH 347 east of Montrose 116.68: Enter Gunnison County 131.12: SH 92 west of Sapinero 148.05: SH 149 west of Gunnison 157.39: SH 135/Main St., Gunnison 165.60: SH 114 west of Parlin 181.60: Enter Saguache County 190.61: Enter Gunnison County 199.28: Enter Chaffee County, Monarch Pass 216.77: North jct US 285, Poncha Spgs 217.35: South jct US 285 222.38: SH 291, Salida 225.58: Enter Fremont County 252.66: SH 69, Texas Creek 269.13: SH 9 278.70: SH 115/9th St., Cañon City 285.63: SH 67 north of Florence 289.76: SH 115 interchange, Penrose 294.33: SH 120 296.15: Enter Pueblo County

312.08: SH 45, west Pueblo 314.60: I-25/SH 47 Exit 101 interchange, Pueblo 315.71: I-25 Exit 100A interchange 318.70: SH 47-96 interchange 322.13: SH 233 324.22: SH 231, Divine 329.33: SH 96 west of North Avondale 332.24: BR US 50 east of Avondale 335.76: Jct SH 209 348.84: Enter Otero County 350.90: SH 167/Main St., Fowler 359.71: SH 207/Park St., Manzanola 366.97: West jct SH 71 368.10: SH 202, Rocky Ford 368.93: East jct SH 71/SH 266 378.41: SH 10, west La Junta 378.82: US 350/Grant Ave. 380.23: Spur SH 109/Bradish Ave. 388.75: Enter Bent County 398.76: SH 101/Carson Ave., Las Animas 400.16: SH 194 interchange north of Las Animas 404.62: SH 183 420.74: SH 196 426.71: Enter Prowers County 427.73: US 287 interchange northwest of Lamar 435.39: US 287-385/Olive and Main Sts., Lamar 452.76: US 385/Main St., Granada 463.50: SH 89, Holly 467.58: Kansas border (end US 50)

Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):

27,900 on BL 70 southeast of I-70 37,500 on BL 70 southeast of CR 24.5 32,700 on BL 70 southeast of SH 340 35,200 south of BL 70 14,800 southeast of CR B.5 12,000 southeast of SH 141, Whitewater 8900 southeast of CR 6.5 18,800 south of SH 348, Delta 13,500 south of Pioneer Rd. 11,000 north of SH 348, Olathe 16,000 south of Falcon Rd. 17,000 northeast of San Juan Ave. 3500 east of SH 347 3000 east of CR V81 2500 east of SH 92 3500 east of SH 149 11,500 west of SH 135, Gunnison 2600 east of SH 114 1800 at Monarch Pass 2600 east of CR 240 4100 on US 50-285, Poncha Springs 11,700 east of 16th St., Salida 4300 east of SH 291 2900 west of SH 69 6300 east of SH 9 24,300 east of SH 115, Cañon City

11,900 east of SH 67, Florence 8100 west of SH 120 12,600 east of West McCulloch Blvd., Pueblo West 39,200 east of Purcell Blvd. 45,700 west of I-25/SH 47, Pueblo 62,400 on I-25/US 50 32,600 east of I-25 19,600 east of SH 47-96 6800 east of SH 231 4800 east of BR 50 5600 east of SH 167, Fowler 4700 east of CR 5.5 5200 east of Catalpa St., Manzanola Southeast of Main St., Rocky Ford (2 one-way streets): 5100 eastbound, 7200 westbound 10,200 at Swink Dr. 16,300 east of SH 10, La Junta 3300 east of CR 31 5700 east of Ash Ave., Las Animas 3600 east of SH 194 2500 west of SH 196 7800 east of US 287 North 16,300 north of US 287-385, Lamar 6000 east of US 287 South 2400 east of CR 22.5 2600 east of US 385, Granada 4100 west of SH 89, Holly 1800 at Kansas border

Guide:
The first place US 50 appears is I-70 at Exit 26, where it heads southeast toward Grand Junction with US 6 and BL 70. Closer in to downtown, US 6 breaks off at an interchange and heads east on North Ave., while US 50/BL 70 continue southeast as a suburban semi-expressway that includes an interchange with Redlands Pkwy. In downtown, they curve east, and split onto two one-way streets. Eastbound is on Pitkin Ave., and WB on Ute Ave. At 5th St., US 50 turns due south and heads over the Colorado River. From there, US 50 is an almost-freeway through suburbia to SH 141, with a full interchange at Riverside Pkwy and partial interchange at B.5 Road.

From Grand Junction, US 50 heads southeast through near-desert along the Gunnison River to Delta. It's 65 mph expressway petty much the whole way. At Delta US 50 turns south onto Main St. and heads right through downtown. Then, it's expressway southeast toward Montrose, passing through Olathe, where there is a bypass to the east of town, with old US 50 marked as a business route. In Montrose, US 50 heads southeast into town on Townsend Ave. Northeast of downtown at San Juan Ave and US 550, US 50 takes a turn east and uses San Jan Ave to bypass around the northeast side of downtown. East of downtown US 50 turns northeast on Main St and heads out of town.

US 50 then heads east from Montrose, a ways south of the Gunnison River, and providing access to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park via SH 347. East of SH 347, US 50 climbs up and over Cerro Summit, a high point dividing the Cedar Creek valley from the Cimmaron River basin to the east. East of Cerro Summit US 50 spends awhile not following any defined valleys, instead curving and skipping around until finally dropping down next to the Gunnison River near Blue Mesa Dam.

Blue Mesa Dam is west of Sapinero, and SH 92 goes across the dam and intersects US 50. US 50 parallels the south shore of the massive Blue Mesa Reservoir for a while then crosses over the north side via a long bridge. Curecanti National Recreation Area surrounds Blue Mesa Reservoir and US 50.

East of the end of Blue Mesa Reservoir, US 50 enters Gunnison, heading east through town on Tomichi Ave. US 50 then follows the Tomichi Creek hay-making valley southeast to Sargents, then goes northeast via Agate Creek. Climbing Monarch Pass, US 50 has a fairly straight alignment, with few sharp corners. The east side down the South Arkansas River features an even straighter alignment than the west side. The crest of Monarch itself is at 11,312 feet, and features a large parking area and general store that makes a handy rest stop. Nearby there's a gondola that can take you the last 500 feet to the top of Monarch Ridge.

US 50 becomes a divided expressway as it goes over the rolling terrain north of Royal Gorge, then comes down a hill and warps down to a city street as it enters the west side of Cañon City. US 50 goes through town on Royal Gorge Blvd. (which is appropriate) passing one block to the south of the main part of downtown. US 50 then becomes expressway on the east side of town, all the way to Pueblo. Much of the stretch is fairly desolate, with Penrose about halfway along it. Eventually US 50 comes to the expanse of suburbia in Pueblo West, then meets I-25 Exit 101 on the north side of Pueblo. US 50 goes south on I-25, but, if you're planning on simply driving through and are going to La Junta or something, it would be best to simply head through the interchange, and go onto SH 47, and take that southeast to US 50 on the east side of Pueblo.

US 50 leaves I-25 at Exit 100A, and heads east through the northern part of Pueblo as a divided expressway. At the 4th St interchange SH 96 joins US 50 and head east out onto the heavily irrigated and farmed Arkansas valley plains along SH 96's historic routing along the north side of the river. Meanwhile, BR US 50 starts at SH 96 at 4th St. and Santa Fe Ave. in downtown Pueblo, and heads south, and then east. US 50 goes past the Pueblo Airport and through Baxter and Devine, remaining an expressway. At the entrance to the Pueblo Chemical Depot there's a trumpet interchange, and immediately east of that SH 96 breaks off to the northeast and US 50 warps down to a two-lane road. US 50 crosses over the south side of the Arkansas, and east of Avondale BR 50 meets US 50 and ends.

US 50 and SH 96 are on opposite sides of the Arkansas until US 50 hits Fowler, at which point SH 96 curves northeast. US 50 continues following the Arkansas Valley across the plains, passing through Fowler and Manzanola. From Manzanola to Rocky Ford US 50 features a four-lane section with a narrow painted median, while sandwiched in between the BNSF railroad on the south and crop fields on the north.

At Rocky Ford US 50 splits onto two one-way streets through town, with EB on Elm Ave. and WB on Swink Ave. A short section on the west side of town has the two directions several blocks apart, but just one block apart in the main part of town. Heading southeast toward Swink, US 50 becomes a divided expressway and just west of town swoops down and under the BNSF railroad.  On the east side of Swink US 50 continues as a divided expressway southeast to La Junta.

US 50 goes east through La Junta on 1st St, a five-lane street passing between downtown and northside rail yards. SH 109 in town is not directly met because a bridge takes SH 109 over US 50, the railroad and the river, so a jog south and east on city streets is needed to get to it. East of La Junta US 50 has a somewhat odd section of divided highway. The eastbound and westbound roads feature different vertical alignments, with the westbound road continually dipping and climbing while the eastbound road has a more consistent elevation. The expressway ends about 4 miles east of town.

US 50 then goes to Las Animas, where it heads east into town on Thompson Blvd, then turns north at Bent Ave. It follows that north out of town and across to the north side of the Arkansas, turning east at the SH 194 interchange. US 50 has a short divided section to the SH 183 intersection at Fort Lyon, and north of John Martin Reservoir finally settles into an arrow-straight due east alignment. It passes though the crossroads burg of Hasty then comes to the US 287 interchange south of Wiley. US 287 joins US 50 at that trumpet interchange and an expressway takes them east then south and across the Arkansas (again).

US 50-287 enters Lamar, heading south on Main St. to Olive St., where US 50 turns east and goes concurrent with US 385. A local-maintained Truck US 50 provides a bypass around the busiest part of downtown. They continue east to Granada, where at Goff Ave. and Main St. US 385 heads north on Main. That is also the western end of US 400, and US 50-400 continues east. Halfway between Granada and Holly, they cross over to the Arkansas' north side (again), then go through Holly on Colorado St. From there, it's four short miles east to the Kansas line.

For a story of life along US 50, check out the July 7, 1997 issue of Time Magazine.

Photo Gallery:

• 24.5 Road. Westbound BL 70/US 50 approaching 24.5 Road in west Grand Junction's commerical strip. (September 2011)
  
• BL 70/US 50 Approaching SH 340. Blurry picture of overhead signs on westbound BL 70/US 50 in west Grand Junction as it comes up to the SH 340 intersection. There's a somewhat awkward curve to the left as you go through the intersection, which CDOT notes with the sign. (September 2011)
  
• BL 70/US 50 Intersection. Overhead signs in downtown Grand Junction where eastbound US 50 turns off BL 70 at 5th St. The intersection features a double right turn. (July 2005)
• US 50/BL 70 East Intersection. Heading west on US 50 (north on 5th St) as it comes up to eastbound BL 70 on one-way Pitkin. Hmm...I think those are supposed to be business loop markers, not interstate. (September 2011)
• US 50/BL 70 West Intersection. Sitting at Pitkin you can see the intersectioin one block ahead where US 50 turns left with westbound BL 70 on Ute. (September 2011)
• SH 141 Overhead Sign. Westbound US 50 as it comes up to the SH 141 north intersection, there's this overhead sign. We're still pretty far from I-70 but already getting advice on which way to go depending on our destination. (September 2011)
• Southeast of Whitewater. A view of the eastbound US 50 expressway near Lands End Road, Milepost 45. (July 2005)
• Northwest of Delta Expressway. Using a lot of the camera's zoom to look down the westbound US 50 expressway northwest of Delta. (September 2011)
  
• Downtown Delta. Eastbound US 50 at 3rd Street in downtown Delta. US 50 takes a cozy, tree-lined trip through downtown. (July 2005)
• Downtown Montrose. A view of eastbound US 50 in downtown Montrose, a couple blocks east of the US 550/SH 90 intersection, when Main Street was still part of US 50. (July 2005)
• Cerro Summit. At the summit looking west. The top of Cerro Summit features an overhead aquaduct which is the outlet from nearby Montrose Reservoir. (September 2011)
• Cerro Summit Eastbound Descent. Eastbound US 50 as it drops down the east side of Cerro Summit along Squaw Creek toward the Cimarron River. (September 2011)
  
• Blue Mesa Bridge: View West • View North • East Side. Part way along Blue Mesa Reservoir's length US 50 makes a jump from its south to north shoreline via a long steel plate girder bridge. (August 2009)
  
• Blue Mesa Reservoir Shoreline. US 50 spends a good deal of time near the Blue Mesa Reservoir shore. This is west of SH 149 as US 50 hugs Blue Mesa's north side. (August 2009)
  
• West of SH 149. Shot on westbound US 50 west of SH 149 in an area where it is not adjacent to Blue Mesa Reservoir. (August 2009)
  
• Old Gunnison Truss Bridge: Eastbound • Old and Newer Bridges • Plaque. On the west side of Gunnison two old truss bridges that used to take US 50 over the Gunnison River still exist, serving a US 50 northside frontage road now. The second picture shows the old bridge along with the newer current US 50 off to its south side. (August 2009)
  
• West Side of Monarch Pass. Picture looking up US 50 as it climbs the west side of Monarch Pass. (August 2009)
  
• Monarch Pass Truck Runaway Ramp. Westbound US 50 descending Monarch Pass features one very stout, well constructed truck runaway ramp. (August 2009)
  
• Monarch Pass Summit View East and Marker. Two shots taken at the top of Monarch Pass, one of the view east and one of the Forest Service marker. (August 2009)
• Monarch Pass East Side 14ers View. About 2 miles east of the Monarch Pass summit, this view on eastbound US 50 features Tabeguache Peak and Mount Shavano (right side of photo). Photo by David Herrera. (May 2013)
  
• Poncha Springs Overhead Signs. A shot of overhead signs on EB/SB US 50-285 approaching the southern intersection in Poncha Springs where US 50 turns left toward Salida. (September 2004)
• East of Salida. Westbound on US 50 about 1 mile east of Salida where it breaks out of the Arkansas River canyon. (September 2004)
• Arkansas River Canyon East of SH 69. The canyon as seen on eastbound US 50 a couple miles east of SH 69. (May 2013)
• Arkansas River Canyon West of Parkdale. Another canyon view on eastbound US 50 about 7 miles west of Parkdale. (May 2013)
• Parkdale Arkansas River Crossing. As seen on eastbound US 50, this bridge at Parkdale takes US 50 over to the north side of the Arkansas and allows US 50 to swing up to the north around the Royal Gorge portion of the river, which start off the right side of the picture. (May 2013)
  
• Arkansas River Bridge Demolition Before - During - After. According to Michael McMullen this bridge near Cañon City had the end of its truss hit after a truck driver fell asleep. It happened in very cold weather so there were brittle fractures in the truss. Since it wasn't certain where else there were fractures the bridge was demolished and replaced in a hurry. Photos courtesy Michael McMullen.
• SH 67 View. The view, with an oversize reassurance marker, west on US 50 from the SH 67 intersection north of Florence. (September 2012)
  
• Where the Deer and Pronghorn Play. Westbound US 50 east of Penrose is a fairly desolate stretch, with just grassy rangeland to look at. (May 2009)
  
• Minimum Speed 55. US 50 has a 65 mph speed limit with a 55 minimum from the outskirts of Pueblo West east into Pueblo. (May 2009)
  
• SH 45 Junction. Here as westbound US 50 leaves Pueblo its two directions split for the SH 45 intersection, a layout for a potential future interchange. (May 2009)
  
• US 50 Eastbound at I-25. A shot of a sign on eastbound US 50 approaching the SPUI at I-25 in Pueblo. Traffic is advised to use SH 47 as a Pueblo bypass. Photo courtesy Steve Riner.
• US 50 Westbound at I-25. A picture of the huge overhead signs on westbound US 50 approaching I-25 in Pueblo. Note the overlap of US 50 going onto NB I-25 is well marked. (May 2004)
  
• Destroyed Pedestrian Overpass. This picture shows a pedestrian overpass east of Troy Ave. in east Pueblo that was partially destroyed in fall 2003. A truck driver dropped his lunch pail on the lever raising the bed of the truck, and the bed hit the bridge as the truck passed underneath. (May 2004)
• Westbound at SH 47-96. Overhead signage on westbound US 50 approaching the SH 47-96 interchange on the east side of Pueblo. (May 2004)
• Westbound Business Junction. Here on westbound US 50 a sign announces the upcoming split for the Pueblo-Avondale business route. (May 2009)
• Fowler and SH 167 Intersection. Westbound US 50 through Fowler at SH 167. (May 2011)
  
• US 50 Manzanola. The view of Manzanola on westbound US 50 at SH 207. (May 2011)
  
• US 50 Four-Lane Undivided. US 50 between Rocky Ford and Manzanola features a four-lane undivided section sandwiched in between the BNSF line and farm fields. (May 2011)
  
• Rocky Ford One-Way Westbound. US 50 westbound through Rocky Ford on the westbound-only Swink Ave near SH 202. (May 2011)
• Rocky Ford One-Way Eastbound. US 50 eastbound on the eastbound-only Elm Ave near 9th St downtown. (May 2013)
  
• SH 71-266 Intersection. Westbound in Rocky Ford has this marker assembly for the intersection at SH 71-266. The 266 markers features an extra-wide sign panel. (May 2011)
  
• West La Junta Railroad Underpass. On the west end of La Junta US 50 dives down and under the BNSF La Junta-Trinidad rail line. (May 2011)
  
• SH 109 Spur Intersection. Westbound in La Junta this sign points left on Spur 109 for traffic to get to SH 109, which crosses US 50 on a bridge. (May 2011)
• Eastbound Overhead Sign. The SH 109 overpass is visible behind the sign. (May 2013)
  
• Split Alignment East of La Junta. This view on westbound US 50 east of La Junta shows a segment of divided highway where the two directions follow different vertical alignments, with the eastbound side much smoother than the roller coaster westbound side. (May 2011)
  
• Old US 50 Near Las Animas Picture 1 & Picture 2. Two photos of an old concrete section of US 50 west of Las Animas by Marty Blaise.
• Las Animas, Thompson Boulevard. Westbound US 50 heading west along a tree-lined Thompson Blvd in Las Animas. (May 2011)
  
• Las Animas, Bent Avenue. Westbound US 50 heading south on Bent Avenue through central Las Animas. (May 2011)
  
• US 50-287, Lamar Intersection Southbound. Southbound on Main Street in Lamar showing the overhead signs at the Olive Street intersection. For some reason the US 385 marker includes a black border around it. (May 2011)
• US 50-385, Lamar Intersection Eastbound. Eastbound Olive Street in Lamar at Main, with the nice, shiny overhead sign approaching the intersection. (May 2011)
  
• US 50-385-400, Granada. A marker assembly on eastbound US 50-385 in Granada. Here US 385 turns north, while US 400 starts and heads east with US 50. Not sure why they chose to include SH 196. Photo by Steve Riner. (July 2005)
  

History:
US 50 is an original 1920s US highway. It has remained pretty much on the same alignment in the rural areas of Colorado. However, it, along with US 6, originally went into Utah west of Mack via current CR M.8, rather than along the alignment of I-70. By 1938 all of US 50 was paved except for Monarch Pass, which was paved by 1946.

In Pueblo and Pueblo County US 50 has undergone a lot of changes over the years. Originally US 50 came from its current alignment at the Fremont/Pueblo County line and drifted southeast into what is now Pueblo West, crossing the Turkey Creek arroyo near present-day Corrizo Springs Ave. US 50 then shot straight east through present-day Pueblo West on a section line that lines up with the westbound road of US 50 at the SH 45 intersection (some maps show a phantom line along this alignment, even though development in Pueblo West has obliterated any road that was along this alignment at one time). From the current US 50/SH 45 intersection US 50 originally went southeast on Wild Horse Rd (a.k.a. Baker Steamer Rd) into Pueblo, then using 29th St (and maybe 24th St at one time) east to Elizabeth St. From Elizabeth St US 50 went south and east through Pueblo using 25th St, Court St, 15th St, Main St, 4th St and Santa Fe Ave. From Santa Fe Ave US 50 went east out of town on the current business route. [Some info from Dale Sanderson and Steve Riner]

The first major change for US 50 in Pueblo County came about 1934. The routing was changed so it no longer went through present-day Pueblo West, instead from the Pueblo/Fremont line US 50 was moved to its current alignment all the way to the north side of Pueblo, intersecting US 85-87 at Elizabeth St and then heading south as before. In Pueblo itself the route US 50 used through town was changed by 1947 using Elizabeth St heading south, then east on 9th St and south on Santa Fe Ave and out east as before.

By 1951 the routing of Us 85-87 on the north side of Pueblo had been moved to an expressway alignment along current I-25, and US 50 used that heading south into town. That road fed onto 13th/14th Streets (which appear to be two one-way streets) that took US 50-85-87 west to Grand Ave., US 50 then went south to 9th St, east to Santa Fe Ave., south and then east out of town. By 1954 things had been switched around again, now US 50-85-87 came south into town to 13th St then continued south on Santa Fe Ave, with US 50 continuing south on Santa Fe Ave then east out of town. The current route of US 50 north of Pueblo east of I-25 was built about 1957, with the former route along Santa Fe Ave and east of town becoming the business route.

East of Cañon City, US 50 and SH 120 were originally reversed from what they are now, with US 50 going through Florence and Portland. They were bypassed with US 50 being moved to the north by 1950. By 1958 the expressway east of La Junta was in place. By 1960 it was expressway from Rocky Ford to La Junta. Expressway from Delta half way to Olathe opened by 1974, and from Olathe to Montrose opened by 1975. By 1977 the Olathe expressway bypass opened, as well as the sections from Cañon City to east of SH 120 and from west of SH 45 to I-25. The expressway from US 287 southeast into Lamar opened by 1988, with the interchange at US 287 being built the same time. The gap in the expressway northwest of Olathe was closed by 1994. Expressway segements between Grand Junction and Delta were done in multiple phases in the early 2000s with completion in 2004.

In Montrose, US 50 originally came south on Townsend Ave and turned east on Main St. That meant that intersection was turn in US 50 as well as the ends of US 550 and SH 90. In May 2010 CDOT rerouted US 50 around the northeast side of downtown on San Juan Ave. Main St from Townsend to San Juan was turned back to the city while US 550 was extended north to San Juan to still meet US 50. The San Juan Ave bypass was built by the city in the 1990s was was signed as a local-maintained US 50 truck bypass until the transfer happened.

Alvin Edlund, Jr. of Salida has written an extensive article on the history of US 50 in Colorado. It is available on Route50.com, Wulf Berg's site.

Related Site: Route50.com, from Wulf Berg of Virginia.

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Page created 30 May 2005
Last updated 9 March 2014