U.S. Route 6 in Colorado

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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
Mesa0.0000.000
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
Eagle133.384–
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)
Summit190.095305.928190Shrine 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 Creek229.896
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
Lakewood276.998445.785Indiana Street
277.002445.792Union Boulevard / Simms Street
277.310446.287 SH 391 (Kipling Street)
278.795448.677Garrison Street
280.830451.952 SH 121 (Wadsworth Blvd)
281.984453.809 SH 95 (Sheridan Blvd)
282.330454.366Knox 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
AdamsWeld
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
Morgan63.883
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
Washington383.254616.788
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