U.S. Route 6 in Colorado

From the AARoads Wiki: Read about the road before you go
Jump to navigation Jump to search

U.S. Highway 6

Grand Army of the Republic Highway
US 6 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length467.284 mi[1] (752.021 km)
Major junctions
West end I-70 / US 6 / US 50 at the Utah state line
Major intersections
East end US 6 at the Nebraska state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountiesMesa, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Denver, Adams, Weld, Morgan, Washington, Logan, Phillips
Highway system
  • Colorado State Highway System
← SH 5→ SH 7

U.S. Highway 6 (US 6) is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that travels from Bishop, California, to Provincetown, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of Colorado, US 6 is an east–west highway stretching from Utah to Nebraska. Much of the route overlaps other highways in Colorado, and, as a result, much of US 6 is unsigned.

Route description

The 6th Avenue Freeway in Denver, looking east from Knox Court

US 6 is concurrent with Interstate 70 (I-70) for a significant portion of its length from the Utah state line to Denver. When the highway enters the western Denver suburbs, US 6 coincidentally aligns with 6th Avenue in the grid system, where it is known as 6th Avenue Freeway. Once it reaches I-25, US 6 travels north briefly, then follows I-76 for most of its length east of Denver. It is unsigned while it is overlapped.

Loveland Pass in 1964

The highest altitude along US 6 is 11,990 feet (3,650 m) at Loveland Pass, where it crosses the Continental Divide. It continues down the Clear Creek valley until it reaches I-70, where it is briefly overlapped until I-70 leaves the Clear Creek valley. US 6 continues down Clear Creek and into Denver, where it turns into a freeway with six lanes. East of Denver, it continues east while joined with I-76 until it reaches Sterling, where it diverges from the Interstate. The last town in Colorado through which it passes is Holyoke.

US 6 in Lakewood
US 6 in Summit County

History

In the original 1926 US Highway plans, US 6 didn't exist west of Chicago, Illinois. Its current route west of Chicago instead consisted of U.S. Route 32 between Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska, and U.S. Route 38 between Omaha and Greeley. By 1931, US 6 replaced these highways, now extended to Greeley. By 1938, US 6 was rerouted to head southwest at Wiggins instead of turning west-northwest to Greeley, traveling along the South Platte River to Denver. It was also extended west to Utah, following the same corridor as what is now Interstate 70. West of Denver, I-70 has replaced much of US 6's route. US 6 served as a temporary I-70 while the Interstate was finished in segments through the mountains during the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. Northeast of Denver, much of US 6's route was replaced by Interstate 76.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Mesa​0.0000.000
 I-70 west (US 6 / US 50 west) – Salina		Continuation into Utah
​1.8142.9192Rabbit ValleyExit number follows I-70
Mack11.10617.873
 I-70 east		Eastern end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 11
Loma15.13224.353
 SH 139 to I-70 – Loma, Rangely		To I-70 via SH 139 south
Fruita19.95532.114

 SH 340 east (Coulson Street) to I-70		Western terminus of SH 340
Grand Junction26.08041.972
 I-70 BL begins / I-70 – Denver, Utah		Western end of I-70 BL overlap; I-70 exit 26; diverging diamond interchange
28.24445.454Patterson Road / 24 Road
Redlands Parkway south		Partial interchange
30.44749.000
 I-70 BL / US 50 east – Montrose		Eastern end of I-70 BL/US 50 overlap; no westbound exit
34.85956.100
 I-70 BL west		Western end of I-70 BL overlap
Clifton37.26759.975
 SH 141 south		Northern terminus of SH 141
37.72660.714

 I-70 BL east to I-70 – Utah, Denver		Eastern end of I-70 BL overlap
​46.510
43.682		74.851
70.299
 I-70 west		Western end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 44; westbound left exit and eastbound left entrance; mileposts change to reflect I-70 mileage
​45.33272.95546CameoExit numbers follow I-70
​46.86775.42547James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park, Island AcresFormer port of entry
​49.01578.88249


 SH 65 south to SH 330 east – Grand Mesa, Collbran
​61.648
64.249		99.213
103.399
 I-70 east		Eastern end of I-70 overlap;[2] I-70 exit 62; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
GarfieldParachute72.284–
72.688		116.330–
116.980		 I-70 / Frontage RoadDumbbell interchange; I-70 exit 72
Rifle88.895143.063 I-70I-70 exit 87
91.240146.837
 SH 13 north – Meeker, Craig		East end of state maintenance;[3] west end of SH 13 overlap


 SH 13 south to I-70		East end of SH 13 overlap; westbound access via Whiteriver Avenue
Chacra110.806
109.000		178.325
175.418
 I-70 west		West end of state maintenance;[3] western end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 109; mileposts change to reflect I-70 mileage
​111.328179.165111South CanyonExit number follows I-70
Glenwood Springs114.295
116.898		183.940
188.129
 I-70 east / Gilstrap Court / Midland Avenue / Mel Ray Road / Highway 6 west – Glenwood Springs Mall		Dumbbell interchange; east end of state maintenance; Highway 6 west is former US 6/ US 24 west; I-70 exit 114; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
118.645190.941Devereaux RoadWest end of state maintenance[4]
118.983
116.380		191.485
187.295

 SH 82 east (Grand Avenue) / I-70 west / E. 6th Street / Laurel Street – Aspen		Partial dumbbell interchange with I-70; western end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 116; western terminus of SH 82; mileposts change to reflect I-70 mileage
​118.640190.933119No NameExit numbers follow I-70
​120.954194.657121Grizzly Creek to Hanging LakeHanging Lake appears only on westbound signage
​122.660197.402123ShoshoneEastbound exit and westbound entrance
​125.061201.266125Hanging LakeEastbound exit and westbound entrance
​125.269201.601Hanging Lake Tunnel
​128.317206.506129Bair Ranch Road
Eagle​133.384–
134.053		214.661–
215.737		133Dotsero
Gypsum139.533
141.818		224.557
228.234
 I-70 east – Denver		Eastern end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 140; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
141.993228.516Frontage Road / Trail Gulch RoadRoundabout; east end of state maintenance;[5] Frontage Rd. is former US 6 west
Eagle149.718240.948
 Church Street / Eby Creek Road (I-70 BS north) to I-70		Roundabout; west end of state maintenance;[6] southern terminus of I-70 BS
Wolcott159.500256.690
 SH 131 north – Steamboat Springs		Western end of SH 131 overlap
​159.889257.316

 SH 131 south to I-70		Eastern end of SH 131 overlap
Eagle-Vail172.185277.105
 I-70 east		I-70 east exit 169; no access to I-70 west
​174.541
171.105		280.897
275.367
 I-70 west – Aspen

 US 24 east – Minturn, Leadville		Western end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 171; western terminus of US 24; mileposts change to reflect I-70 mileage
Vail173.319278.930173West VailExit numbers follow I-70
176.057283.336176Vail Ski Area – Vail Museum
179.866289.466180East Vail
Vail Pass189.981305.745Elevation 10,662 feet (3,250 m)
Summit​190.095305.928190Shrine Pass Road – Vail Pass rest area
​195.298314.302195
 SH 91 south – Copper Mountain, Leadville		Northern terminus of SH 91
​197.854318.415198Officers Gulch
Frisco200.995323.470201Main Street
202.352325.654203
 SH 9 south – Frisco, Breckenridge		Western end of SH 9 overlap
Silverthorne205.423
208.659		330.596
335.804

 SH 9 north (Blue River Parkway) / I-70 east – Silverthorne		Eastern end of I-70/SH 9 overlap; I-70 exit 205; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
Loveland Pass225.552362.991Elevation 11,990 feet (3,650 m)
Clear Creek​229.896
216.185		369.982
347.916
 I-70 west – Grand Junction		Western end of I-70 overlap; mileposts change to reflect I-70 mileage
​218.346351.394218Herman Gulch RoadExit numbers follow I-70
​221.297356.143221Bakerville
Silver Plume225.719363.260226Silver Plume
Georgetown227.910366.786228Georgetown
​231.889373.189232
 US 40 west – Empire, Granby		Western end of US 40 overlap
​223.047358.959223LawsonEastbound exit only
​234.209376.923234Downieville, Lawson
​235.005378.204235DumontWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
​237.680382.509238Fall River Road
Idaho Springs238.885384.448239
 I-70 BL east – Idaho Springs
239.652385.683240
 SH 103 south / Mount Evans Scenic Byway – Mount Evans		Northern terminus of SH 103
241.125388.053241
 I-70 BL west / County Road 314
​242.980391.038243Hidden Valley, Central City
​244.260
257.079		393.098
413.729		 I-70 – DenverInterchange; eastern end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 244; no ramp to I-70 east.; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
​257.296414.078


 US 40 east to I-70 east		Eastern end of US 40 overlap
​257.751414.810
 SH 119 north – Black Hawk, Central City		Southern terminus of SH 119
JeffersonGolden271.600437.098

 SH 58 east / SH 93 north – Golden, Boulder		Western terminus of SH 58
273.397439.990
 SH 470 east – Colorado Springs		SH 470 exits 0A-B northbound
275.120442.763 US 40 (Colfax Avenue)
276.003444.184—
 I-70 west – Grand Junction		West end of 6th Avenue freeway; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-70 exit 261 eastbound
Lakewood276.998445.785—Indiana Street
277.002445.792—Union Boulevard / Simms Street
277.310446.287— SH 391 (Kipling Street)
278.795448.677—Garrison Street
280.830451.952— SH 121 (Wadsworth Blvd)
281.984453.809— SH 95 (Sheridan Blvd)
282.330454.366—Knox Court
City and County of Denver283.86456.83— SH 88 (Federal Blvd) / Bryant Street
284.470
209.210		457.810
336.691		—6th Avenue eastNo westbound exit; I-25 exit 209A; 6th Avenue freeway continues east
—
 I-25 south (US 85 / US 87 south) – Colorado Springs		West end of I-25/US 85/US 87 overlap; I-25 exit 209B; mileposts change to reflect I-25 mileage
209.479337.124209C8th AvenueExit numbers follow I-25
210.310338.461210A US 40 / US 287 (Colfax Avenue) – Downtown Denver
210.415338.630210BAuraria ParkwayEastbound exit and westbound entrance
210.532338.818210C17th AvenueEastbound exit and entrance; westbound access is via exit 211
211.109339.74721123rd Avenue / 20th Avenue20th Ave. not signed eastbound
211.464340.318212A-BSpeer Boulevard – Downtown DenverSigned as exits 212A (south) and 212B (north)
212.096341.335212C20th Street
—I-25 HOV/toll lanesSouth end of I-25 reversible HOV/toll lanes; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
212.769342.419213Park Avenue / W. 38th Avenue
213.625
274.062		343.796
441.060		—
 I-25 north (US 87 north) – Thornton, Ft. Collins		East end of I-25/US 87 overlap; I-25 exit 214A
—
 I-70 west – Grand Junction		Western end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 274; mileposts change to reflect I-70 mileage
274.607441.937275AWashington StreetNo exit number eastbound; exit numbers follow I-70
275.252442.975275B
 SH 265 north (Brighton Boulevard)
275.545443.447275CYork Street / Josephine StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
276.080
290.98		444.308
468.29
 I-70 east		Eastern end of I-70 overlap; I-70 exit 276A; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
AdamsCommerce City292.145470.162


 SH 2 south (Colorado Blvd) to I-70 east		Interchange; western end of SH 2 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
292.743471.124 I-270 (US 36) – Boulder, LimonPartial cloverleaf interchange; no eastbound exit to I-270 east; I-270 exits 2A-B
293.42472.21
 SH 2 east (Old)		Interchange; no westbound exit; eastern end of SH 2 overlap; no CDOT maintenance on this stretch of SH 2
293.763472.766Mill RoadInterchange
294.235–
294.651		473.525–
474.195
 SH 265 south
295.000474.756


 SH 224 west (74th Avenue) to I-76 west
​296.32
9.483		476.88
15.261
 I-76 west – Arvada		Interchange; western end of I-76 overlap; westbound left exit and eastbound left entrance; I-76 exit 9; mileposts change to reflect I-76 mileage
​10.46616.8431088th AvenueExit numbers follow I-76
​11.54918.5861196th Avenue
​12.50220.12012
 US 85 north – Greeley, Brighton		Eastern end of US 85 overlap; no eastbound entrance
Brighton16.47726.51716
 SH 2 south (Sable Boulevard) / 120th Avenue – Denver International Airport
18.07929.09518


 E-470 south to I-70 east – Limon, Denver International Airport		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; E-470 exit 35
19.72331.74120136th Avenue
21.08133.92721Eagle Boulevard
22.40736.06122Bromley Lane
Adams–Weld
county line		Lochbuie25.14540.46725
 SH 7 west – Lochbuie, Brighton
WeldHudson31.48050.66231 SH 52 – Hudson, Fort Lupton
34.41255.38134Kersey Road
​38.92562.64439Keenesburg ( I-76 BS)
​47.97277.20348Roggen
​49.23679.23849Painter RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
​57.21992.08557County Road 91
​59.79996.23760
 SH 144 east – Orchard
Morgan​63.883
343.519		102.810
552.840
 I-76 east		Eastern end of I-76 overlap;[7] no westbound access to I-76 east; I-76 exit 64; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage
​345.928556.717



 SH 52 west / SH 39 north to I-76 west – Goodrich, Hoyt		Western end of SH 52 overlap; southern terminus of SH 39
​346.425
66.288		557.517
106.680		66B
 I-76 west

 US 34 west – Greeley, Estes Park		Exit number is for US 34; exit numbers follow I-76; western end of I-76/US 34 overlap;[7] I-76 exit 66A; mileposts change to reflect I-76 mileage
​73.130117.69173Long Bridge Road
​75.280121.15175
 I-76 BL / US 34 east (SH 52 east) – Fort Morgan		Eastern end of US 34/SH 52 overlap; western terminus of I-76 BL
​78.852126.90079 SH 144 – Weldona
Fort Morgan80.139128.97180 SH 52 – Raymer, Fort Morgan
81.648131.40082Barlow Road – Fort Morgan
​85.713137.94286Dodd Bridge Road
​88.695142.74189Hospital Road
Brush89.643144.26690
 SH 71 to US 34 (I-76 BL) – Brush, Akron, Limon, Snyder
​91.693
371.69		147.566
598.18



 I-76 east / I-76 BL west (US 34 Spur south) to US 34 / SH 71 – Brush		Eastern end of I-76 overlap; western end of I-76 BL overlap; I-76 exit 92; mileposts change to reflect US 6 mileage; US 34 Spur unsigned
Washington​383.254616.788
 County Road Q to I-76
LoganAtwood397.955640.446
 SH 63 south – Akron		Northern terminus of SH 63
Sterling404.644651.211

 US 138 east (3rd Street north) / SH 14 west (Chestnut Street west) – Julesburg, Fort Collins		SH 14 is former US 6 west; western terminus of SH 138; eastern terminus of SH 14
404.734651.356Front StreetInterchange; no westbound entrance
406.568654.308
 I-76 BL ends / I-76 – Fort Morgan, Julesburg		Eastern terminus of I-76 BL; eastern end of I-76 BL overlap; I-76 exit 125
​406.794654.671
 SH 61 south – Otis		Northern terminus of SH 61
Fleming424.964683.913
 SH 55 north (Logan Avenue)		Southern terminus of SH 55
PhillipsHaxtun436.496702.472 SH 59 – Yuma, Sedgwick
Holyoke454.06730.74 US 385 (Interocean Avenue)
​467.284752.021
 US 6 east – Imperial		Continuation into Nebraska
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b Colorado Department of Transportation, Highway Data Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 2007
  2. ^ "Highway 006M between 62.305 and 88.895". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON U.S. ROUTE NUMBERING SPRING 2015 REPORT TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS" (PDF). AASHTO. May 14, 2015. p. 2. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Highway 006K between 0 and 0.338". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Highway 006N between 141.818 and 141.993". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Highway 006E between 149.718 and 174.541". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Highway 006I between 343.519 and 346.697". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 28, 2021.

External links


U.S. Route 6
Previous state:
Utah 		Colorado Next state:
Nebraska
Retrieved from "https://wiki.aaroads.com/w/index.php?title=U.S._Route_6_in_Colorado&oldid=253349"