Colorado State Highway 109
Encyclopedia
State Highway 109 is a 65.3 mi (105.1 km) long state highway
in southeastern Colorado
.
. From there the road proceeds northward for 55 miles (88.5 km) through remote, sparsely populated land, including a section of Comanche National Grassland
, before reaching La Junta
, the first of only two towns along the route's length. At La Junta, SH 109 intersects U.S. Highway 50. After crossing US 50, the road continues northward, passing the La Junta Municipal Airport
, to the small town of Cheraw
where the road officially ends by becoming a city street called Grand Avenue.
. Several new sections including spurs and extensions were added in 1939. The route was paved in several segments by 1946. In 1954, most of the route was deleted, leaving only a segment from La Junta to Cheraw. The terminus was corrected by 1983. The entire route was paved by 1965.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in southeastern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Route description
The road begins in the south at its junction with U.S. Highway 160 roughly two miles north of KimKim, Colorado
The Town of Kim is a Statutory Town located in Las Animas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 65 at the U.S. Census 2000.Rodeo star Lane Frost was born in La Junta in 1963 but spent his first days with his mother and grandparents in Kim, while his father was on tour.-Geography:Kim...
. From there the road proceeds northward for 55 miles (88.5 km) through remote, sparsely populated land, including a section of Comanche National Grassland
Comanche National Grassland
Comanche National Grassland is a National Grassland located in southeastern Colorado, United States. It is the sister grassland of Cimarron National Grassland and contains both prairie grasslands and canyons. It is separated into two sections, each operated by a local ranger district, one of which...
, before reaching La Junta
La Junta, Colorado
The City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During...
, the first of only two towns along the route's length. At La Junta, SH 109 intersects U.S. Highway 50. After crossing US 50, the road continues northward, passing the La Junta Municipal Airport
La Junta Municipal Airport
La Junta Municipal Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles north of the central business district of La Junta, in Otero County, Colorado, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of La Junta.Although most U.S...
, to the small town of Cheraw
Cheraw, Colorado
Cheraw is a Statutory Town in Otero County, Colorado, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cheraw is located at ....
where the road officially ends by becoming a city street called Grand Avenue.
History
The route was established in the 1920s, when it began at Karvel and headed eastward to GenoaGenoa, Colorado
Genoa is a Statutory Town located in Lincoln County, Colorado, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Genoa is located at ....
. Several new sections including spurs and extensions were added in 1939. The route was paved in several segments by 1946. In 1954, most of the route was deleted, leaving only a segment from La Junta to Cheraw. The terminus was corrected by 1983. The entire route was paved by 1965.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Animas Las Animas County, Colorado Las Animas County has the largest area of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Las Animas County takes its name from the Mexican Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en Purgatorio, which means "River of the Lost Souls in... |
0.00 | |||
| Otero Otero County, Colorado Otero County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, one of the founders of the town of La Junta and a member of a prominent Hispanic family. The county population was 20,311 at U.S. Census 2000... |
La Junta La Junta, Colorado The City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During... |
56.01 | Spur | |
| 57.43 | ||||
| 63.25 | ||||
| Cheraw Cheraw, Colorado Cheraw is a Statutory Town in Otero County, Colorado, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cheraw is located at .... |
65.33 | 4th Street | Roadway continues as Grand Avenue |