Interstate 76 (west) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway that runs from Interstate 70 in Arvada, Colorado

Arvada, Colorado

The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...

(near Denver

Denver, Colorado

The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

) to an intersection with Interstate 80 near Big Springs, Nebraska

Big Springs, Nebraska

Big Springs is a village in Deuel County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 418 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Springs is located at ....

Route description

|-
|CO
|184.86
|297.50
|-
|NE
|2.48
|3.99
|-
|Total
|187.34
|301.49
|}

Colorado

I-76 begins at an interchange with I-70

Interstate 70 in Colorado

Interstate 70 is a transcontinental Interstate Highway in the United States, stretching from Cove Fort, Utah to Baltimore, Maryland. In Colorado, the highway traverses an east–west route across the center of the state. In western Colorado, the highway connects the metropolitan areas of Grand...

in Arvada

Arvada, Colorado

. From I-70, the freeway heads east to an exit at SH 95, known as Sheridan Boulevard. The route heads northeastward across US 287, known as Federal Boulevard, to an interchange with I-25

Interstate 25 in Colorado

In the U.S. state of Colorado, Interstate 25 follows the north–south corridor through Colorado Springs and Denver. It replaced U.S. Highway 87 and most of U.S. Highway 85 for through traffic....

. Running roughly parallel to the nearby Clear Creek

Clear Creek (Colorado)

Clear Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long, in north central Colorado in the United States. The creek flows through Clear Creek Canyon in the Rocky Mountains directly west of Denver, descending through a long gorge to emerge on the Colorado Eastern Plains where it...

, I-76 meets another interchange with Interstate 270

Interstate 270 (Colorado)

Interstate 270 is a long highway in the northeastern part of the Denver–Aurora Metropolitan Area in the U.S. state of Colorado. It overlaps U.S. Highway 36 for its entire length. The western terminus of I-270 is at the interchange with I-25 and US 36...

in Welby, Colorado

Welby, Colorado

Welby is a census-designated place in Adams County, Colorado, United States. The population was 12,973 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Welby is located at ....

, where the Clear Creek joins the South Platte River, which is crossed by I-76. After an interchange at SH 224

Colorado State Highway 224

-Route description:SH 224 runs , starting at an interchange with , heading south on Broadway, then east on 70th Avenue. The highway crosses the South Platte River to an interchange with and ends at a junction with .-Major intersections:...

, I-76 joins US 85 and US 6

U.S. Route 6 in Colorado

In the U.S. state of Colorado, U.S. Route 6 is an east–west highway stretching from Colorado to Nebraska. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.- Route description :...

at Brighton Boulevard. Past Derby, US 85 veers away from I-76 at Dayton Way. The combined routes of US 6 and I-76 head northeastward, crossing SH 2

Colorado State Highway 2

State Highway 2 is a state highway of the U.S. state of Colorado. It runs for approximately north–south entirely within the urbanized environment of the Denver Metropolitan Area. It is one of the major north–south thoroughfares of east Denver, where it is known as Colorado Boulevard.-Route...

, named Sable Boulevard, before meeting an exit at E-470

E-470

E-470 is a 46-mile limited-access tollway traversing the eastern portion of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The toll road is not a state highway, but is instead maintained by the E-470 Public Highway Authority.-Route description:...

, a toll road. Past E-470, the freeway exits the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area

Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area

The Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in the State of Colorado that includes the City and County of Denver and nine suburban counties. The Census Bureau estimates that the population was 2,357,404 on...

.

Passing just west of Barr Lake, the freeway heads northeastward east of Brighton

Brighton, Colorado

Brighton is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Adams County. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 31,380 in 2008.-Geography:...

. Near Lochbuie

Lochbuie, Colorado

Lochbuie is a Statutory Town located on the border of Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 2,049 at the U.S...

, the freeway crosses SH 7

Colorado State Highway 7

State Highway 7 in the U.S. state of Colorado is a state highway. Approximately long, it is located in the north-central portion of the state, traversing the mountains on the east of the continental divide south of Estes Park as well as portions of the Colorado Piedmont north of Denver...

before crossing into Weld County

Weld County, Colorado

As of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...

. I-76 meets SH 52

Colorado State Highway 52

State Highway 52 is a long state highway in northeastern Colorado.-Route description:SH 52 begins near Niwot, winding east from its western terminus past US 287 to I-25, near the towns of Dacono, Frederick, and Firestone The highway has interchanges with US 85, then continues east to I-76 in Hudson...

in Hudson

Hudson, Colorado

Hudson is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hudson is located at ....

, the next city alog the freeway. Past Hudson, the combined routes of US 6 and I-76 turn slightly eastward into Keenesburg

Keenesburg, Colorado

Keenesburg is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 855 at the 2000 census. The population has grown exponentially.-Geography:Keenesburg is located at ....

, which is served by a business loop (I-76 BUS). I-76 then turns northeast and east into Roggen

Roggen, Colorado

Roggen is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The Roggen Post Office has the ZIP Code 80652....

, where it meets County Road 73. The highway heads away from the farmland it was formerly running through and traverses a large grassland area. Just south of the Empire Reservoir, the freeway turns back east, crossing into Morgan County

Morgan County, Colorado

Morgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...

within circular fields. Heading east, I-76 heads into Wiggins

Wiggins, Colorado

Wiggins is a Statutory village in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 001 at the 2000 census.The community was established in 1882 as the Burlington railroad depot of Corona. Around 1900, Corona was renamed in honor of Oliver P. Wiggins, who served as a guide and scout for...

, near which I-76 joins US 34

U.S. Route 34 in Colorado

U.S. Route 34 in Colorado is a segment of U.S. Route 34. Its west end is at U.S. Route 40 in Granby and its east end is at the Nebraska border east of Laird, Colorado.-Route description:-Granby to Rocky Mountain National Park:...

. The three combined routes head east through farms.

The freeway heads east toward Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan, Colorado

The City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:...

, spawning another business loop that carries US 34 away from I-76. The freeway heads east into Fort Morgan, meeting SH 52

Colorado State Highway 52

, now running again near the South Platte River

South Platte River

The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...

. Still running between the South Platte River to the north and its business loop to the south, I-76 heads just north of Brush

Brush, Colorado

The City of Brush is a Statutory City located in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brush is located at ....

, where it meets a cloverleaf interchange

Cloverleaf interchange

A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...

with SH 71

Colorado State Highway 71

State Highway 71 is a long state highway passing several other highways in northern and central Colorado. The route runs south from the Nebraska border to La Junta.-Route description:...

. US 34 veers away from the business loop as I-76 turns back east, crossing over the business loop, which does not terminate at the freeway. I-76 BUS carries US 6 toward Hillrose

Hillrose, Colorado

Hillrose is a Statutory Town in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 254 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hillrose is located at ....

. Bypassing that city, I-76 traverses northeast into Washington County

Washington County, Colorado

Washington County is the 12th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 4,926 at U.S. Census 2000. The county was named in honor of the United States President George Washington...

, with farms to the north along the river and grasslands to the south. Passing the Prewitt Reservoir

Prewitt Reservoir

Prewitt Reservoir is an irrigation and recreation reservoir in Washington and Logan counties in northeastern Colorado. When full, the reservoir's surface area is 2,340 acres...

, the freeway heads into Logan County

Logan County, Colorado

Logan County is the 23rd most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for General John A. Logan. The county population was 20,504 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Sterling...

. Heading northeasterly, the route crosses SH 63

Colorado State Highway 63

State Highway 63 is a long state highway in northeastern Colorado.-Route description:SH 63 begins in the south at a junction with U.S. Highway 36 at Anton and proceeds north through remote, sparsely populated land for roughly before reaching a junction with U.S. Highway 34 at Akron...

, which serves Atwood

Atwood, Colorado

Atwood is a census-designated place in Logan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 133 at the 2010 census. The Atwood Post Office has the ZIP Code 80722.-Geography:Atwood is located at ....

. I-76 BUS then enters Sterling

Sterling, Colorado

The City of Sterling is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Logan County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 14,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sterling is located at...

, which is near I-76. The business loops turns abruptly east within the city, carrying US 6. US 6 continues past the interchange with the business route.

I-76 continues parallel to the South Platte River, surrounded by farms to the northwest and plains to the southeast. Northwest of the river is US 138

U.S. Route 138

U.S. Route 138, commissioned in 1926, is a short east–west highway in Colorado and Nebraska that runs predominantly northeast to southwest paralleling the South Platte River and Interstate 76. Like all spurs of the former U.S. Route 66 and U.S. Route 199, U.S. Route 138 is an orphan route....

, which serves several towns bypassed by the freeway. I-76 has an exit at SH 55

Colorado State Highway 55

State Highway 55 is a highway that connects Crook, Colorado to I-76.-Route description:SH 55 runs , starting at a junction with U.S. Route 138 in Crook, then south across the South Platte River to I-76...

which serves the town of Crook

Crook, Colorado

Crook is a Statutory Town in Logan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 128 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was named for General George Crook, officer during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Geography:...

. With farms on the south part of the freeway as well, I-76 enters Sedgwick County

Sedgwick County, Colorado

Sedgwick County is the northeasternmost of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for Fort Sedgwick, a military post along the Platte Trail, which was named for General John Sedgwick. The county population was 2,379 at U.S. 2010 Census...

, crossing SH 59

Colorado State Highway 59

State Highway 59 is a long state highway in eastern Colorado.-Route description:SH 59 begins in the south at a junction with U.S. Highway 40 in Kit Carson. From there, the road proceeds northward for before intersecting Interstate 70 at that highway's exit 405 just south of the Seibert city...

which heads to Sedgwick

Sedgwick, Colorado

Sedgwick is a statutory town in Sedgwick County, Colorado, United States. The population was 191 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was named for Fort Sedgwick, which was named after John Sedgwick, who was a Major General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Geography:Sedgwick is...

. The freeway then veers eastward before turning back northeast toward Julesburg

Julesburg, Colorado

The historic town of Julesburg is a statutory town that is the county seat of Sedgwick County, Colorado, United States. The town is located on the north side of the South Platte River. The population was 1,467 at the U.S. Census 2000...

. I-76 comes to an exit at U.S. Route 385, which heads northwest to Julesburg. I-76 then heads northeast to the Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

state line.

Nebraska

In Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

, I-76 stretches just over three miles (5 km). It is signed as a north–south direction, as opposed to the east–west designation in Colorado. Its entire route is located in Deuel County

Deuel County, Nebraska

-History:Deuel County was formed in 1889. It was named after Harry Porter Deuel, an early pioneer in this area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,098 people, 908 households, and 601 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were...

, parallel to the South Platte River

South Platte River

and U.S. Highway 138. Its only interchange is at Interstate 80

Interstate 80 in Nebraska

In the U.S. state of Nebraska, Interstate 80 runs west from Omaha to the Wyoming state border, ultimately terminating in San Francisco, California. When it completed construction of the stretch of Interstate 80 spanning the state on October 19, 1974, Nebraska was the first state in the nation to...

, numbered exit 102 based on I-80's mileage.

History

Until 1975, both the western segment of Interstate 76 and a portion of the eastern Interstate 76

Interstate 76 (east)

Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....

were signed as Interstate 80S. In July 1976, the already-completed route, I-80S, was renumbered to I-76 in accordance with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...

(AASHTO) policy to remove the letter suffixes from Interstate routes and to avoid the confusion of this route with Interstate 80. This prompted the replacement of around 500 signs in eliminating I-80S.

I-76 was conceived in August 1958. The Colorado portion was planned and built first. In December 1969, the Nebraska Department of Roads

Nebraska Department of Roads

The Nebraska Department of Roads is the state government agency charged with building and maintaining the state and federal highways in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The main headquarters of the agency is located in Lincoln, the capital city...

worked together with the Colorado Department of Highways to open a three-mile (5 km) long route connecting Interstate 80 with the rest of I-80S in Colorado. The original western terminus of I-76 was at I-25, as planned. The western extension to Interstate 70

Interstate 70

Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...

was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s. By its completion in November 2002, the total cost was about $45.5 million.

In 1968, Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 85 was open to the general traffic to the Denver

Denver, Colorado

vicinity after all the structures located throughout the route were completed, as well as meeting the criteria of the Interstate standards. Structures connected several interchanges; each one connecting Interstate 270

Interstate 270 (Colorado)

, U.S. Highway 85, Dahila Street, Washington Street, 74th Avenue, and York Street. The completion also included structures in which each cross the Burlington Canal, Platte River

Platte River

The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...

, and the Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific Railroad

The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....

. By October 24, 1970, the route was open to traffic from Sedgwick

Sedgwick, Colorado

to Julesburg

Julesburg, Colorado

, as well as the completion of the route, connecting from its western terminus of I-25 in Colorado to its eastern terminus at I-80 near Big Springs, Nebraska

Big Springs, Nebraska

Big Springs is a village in Deuel County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 418 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Springs is located at ....

.

Beginning in 1990, six additional miles were planned and constructed west of I-25. By October 2002, all of I-76 was open, and the highway reached Interstate 70

Interstate 70

at Arvada, Colorado

Arvada, Colorado

, which is now the current western terminus of I-76.

Exit list

{|class="wikitable"
!County
!Location
!Mile
!#

Exit number

An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....

!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=3|Jefferson

Jefferson County, Colorado

Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....

|rowspan=2|Arvada

Arvada, Colorado

|0.000-
0.538
|
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|0.000
|1A
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|1.768
|rowspan=2|1B
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
|rowspan=17|Adams

Adams County, Colorado

Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...

|-
|
|3.223
|3
|
|
|-
|
|4.210
|4
|Pecos Street
|
|-
|
|5.777
|5
|
|Westbound exit to I-25 north is via exit 6B
|-
|
|6.803
|6A
|
|Signed as exit 6 eastbound
|-
|
|6.803
|6B
|
|Westbound exit and entrance only
|-
|
|8.052
|8
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|
|9.483
|9
|
|West end of US 6/US 85 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|10.466
|10
|88th Avenue
|
|-
|
|11.549
|11
|96th Avenue
|
|-
|
|12.502
|12
|
|East end of US 85 overlap; no eastbound entrance
|-
|Brighton

Brighton, Colorado

|16.477
|16
|
|
|-
|Commerce City

Commerce City, Colorado

The city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...

|18.079
|18
|,

Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...

|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=3|Brighton

Brighton, Colorado

|19.723
|20
|136th Avenue
|
|-
|21.081
|21
|144th Avenue
|
|-
|22.407
|22
|Bromley Lane
|
|-
|Lochbuie

Lochbuie, Colorado

Lochbuie is a Statutory Town located on the border of Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 2,049 at the U.S...

|25.145
|25
|
|
|-
|rowspan=7|Weld

Weld County, Colorado

|rowspan=2|Hudson

Hudson, Colorado

Hudson is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hudson is located at ....

|31.480
|31
|
|
|-
|34.412
|34
|Kersey Road
|
|-
|
|38.925
|39
|Keenesburg

Keenesburg, Colorado

Keenesburg is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 855 at the 2000 census. The population has grown exponentially.-Geography:Keenesburg is located at ....

(I-76 Bus. south)
|
|-
|
|47.972
|48
|Roggen

Roggen, Colorado

Roggen is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The Roggen Post Office has the ZIP Code 80652....

|
|-
|
|49.236
|49
|Painter Road
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|57.219
|57
|County Road 91
|
|-
|
|
|60
|
|
|-
|rowspan=13|Morgan

Morgan County, Colorado

|
|63.883
|64
|Wiggins

Wiggins, Colorado

|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|
|66.099
|66A
|
|
|-
|
|66.288
|66B
|
|West end of US 34 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|73.130
|73
|Long Bridge Road
|
|-
|
|75.280
|75
|
|East end of US 34 overlap
|-
|
|78.852
|79
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan, Colorado

|80.139
|80
|
|
|-
|81.648
|82
|Barlow Road – Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan, Colorado

|
|-
|
|85.713
|86
|Dodd Bridge Road
|
|-
|
|88.695
|89
|Hospital Road
|
|-
|
|89.643
|90
|
|Signed as exits 90A (south) and 90B (north)
|-
|
|91.693
|92
|
|East end of US 6 overlap
|-
|
|95.382
|95
|Hillrose

Hillrose, Colorado

Hillrose is a Statutory Town in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 254 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hillrose is located at ....

|
|-
|Washington

Washington County, Colorado

|
|102.086
|102
|Merino

Merino, Colorado

Merino is a Statutory Town in Logan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Merino is located at ....

|
|-
|rowspan=6|Logan

Logan County, Colorado

|
|115.197
|115
|
|
|-
|Sterling

Sterling, Colorado

|124.756
|125
|
|
|-
|
|133.511
|134
|Iliff

Iliff, Colorado

The Town of Iliff is a Statutory Town located in Logan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 213 at the 2000 census. The town's name is shared with the 2300 South block in the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area street system; Iliff Avenue is a major traffic artery in Aurora and has an...

|
|-
|
|140.846
|141
|Proctor
|
|-
|
|148.880
|149
|
|
|-
|
|155.288
|155
|Red Lion Road
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Sedgwick

Sedgwick County, Colorado

|
|164.933
|165
|
|
|-
|
|172.017
|172
|Ovid

Ovid, Colorado

Ovid is a statutory town in Sedgwick County, Colorado, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ovid is located at ....

|
|-
|Julesburg

Julesburg, Colorado

|180.221
|180
|
|
|-
|colspan=6 align="center"|State line
|-
|rowspan=2|Deuel

Deuel County, Nebraska

|
|2.48
|102
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|
|3.15
|
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-

External links

Colorado I-76

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.