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Location: South Front Range
Length*: 7.19mi
W End: Jct SH 115 east of Florence
E End: Jct US 50 just west of the Fremont/Pueblo
County Line
Counites: Fremont
Places: Portland
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 910 at SH 115
- 220 at US 50
Guide:
SH
120 is to me just a goofy highway. After starting at SH 115 on the east
side of Florence, it heads east, curving around side to side on a ridge
top. After a few miles it heads downhill to the south bank of the
Arkansas River. It then goes through what maps label Portland, which is
an industrial complex for a huge quarry operation. Overhead conveyors
and rail tracks crisscross back and forth across SH 120 numerous times.
SH 120 then has an old, one-lane bridge across to the north side of the
Arkansas. It heads east a couple more miles, takes a sharp turn to the
north and ends at US 50. History:
SH 120 is an original 1920s state highway, and went from
Caņon City northeast, ending at SH 115 north of
Penrose. By 1950, US 50 was rerouted on to a new Florence
bypass and SH 120 was shifted to US 50's old alignment from
from SH 115 eastward. By 1957 there was a slight realignment
of the east end, moving it west along US 50 to its current
location.
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Location: Southwest Metro Denver > Northwest
Metro Denver
Length*: 30.83mi
S End: Lockheed Martin plant at Kassler
N End: Jct US 287 in Broomfield
Counites: Jefferson, Denver, Broomfield
Places: Kassler, Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge,
Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield
NHS: Entire length.
Expressway:
- Kassler north to about Hampden Ave (US 285).
- About 88th Ave. north to US 287. Interchange at US
287.
Roadway Names:
- Wadsworth Boulevard: SH 470 to 52nd Ave. & 64th
to 88th Ave.
- Wadsworth Bypass: 52nd Ave. to 64th Ave.
- Wadsworth Parkway: 88th Ave. to US 287
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: Lockheed Martin plant, Kassler (begin SH
121 in Jefferson County)
- 4.41: SH 470 interchange
- Mileposts reset to due SH 121 previously ending at
SH 470
- 0.00: SH 470 interchange
- 4.59: Enter Denver County
- 4.96: Enter Jefferson County
- 5.57: Enter Denver County
- 6.54: Enter Jefferson County
- 7.49: US 285/Hampden Ave. interchange
- 8.15: Begin Denver/Jefferson County split
- 8.71: Enter Jefferson County
- 9.06: SH 8/Morrison Rd., Lakewood
- 12.44: US 6/6th Ave. interchange
- 13.59: US 40/BL I-70/Colfax Ave.
- 16.79: I-70 Exit 269 interchange, Arvada
- 24.76: Enter Broomfield County
- 25.82: SH 128/120th Ave., Broomfield
- 26.02: US 36 interchange
- 26.42: US 287 interchange (end SH 121)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 22,100 at Kassler
- 25,600 north of SH 470
- 34,500 north of Ken Caryl Ave.
- 47,400 north of Bowles Ave.
- 49,800 south of US 285, Lakewood
- 57,300 north of Mississippi Ave.
- 57,800 south of US 6
- 41,700 north of US 40/Colfax Ave.
- 42,300 north of 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge
- 61,900 north of I-70, Arvada
- 39,500 north of 88th Ave.
- 26,200 south of SH 128
- 48,500 at US 287, Broomfield
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Guide:
Part of an e-mail from Joe Herter:
The divided highway portion of 121 south of
C-470 was constructed as such because at the southern
terminus is the Martin-Marietta Aerospace Plant. It is
right at the mouth of Waterton Canyon and the highway
turns right into the entrance. You have to leave the
highway to head toward Roxborough.
Although always known as Wadsworth Blvd, some maps
refer to the western bypass past Southwest Plaza as Carr
St.., and I believe that there is a Carr St. sign at one
junction of 121 down there, even if retailers advertise a
Wadsworth address.
SH 121 starts at the locale known as Kassler on the South
Platte River south of Chatfield Reservoir. From the gate of
Lockheed Martin Aerospace Plant -- shown as a "military
facility" on NHS maps -- SH 121 goes north as a divided
expressway along the South Platte, passing by the west side
of Chatfield Reservoir. An interesting note from Jack Unitt
is that SH 121 through that area is actually on Corps of
Engineers property (which built Chatfield) and the state has
only a lease to operate the highway.
North of Chatfield Reservoir SH 121 goes through an
interchange with SH 470. There SH 121 becomes Wadsworth
Blvd. It continues north, through densely populated eastern
Jefferson County, then is in Denver for a brief period past
Marston Reservoir. At Quincy Ave. it crosses into Lakewood.
There is an interchange with Hampden Ave. (US 285), and
another one with 6th Ave. (US 6). At West 26th Ave., SH 121
passes from Lakewood into Wheat Ridge, then continues north
and goes through I-70 Exit 269. That interchange also blends
in with the I-76 interchange.
Crossing over I-70 takes SH 121 into Arvada. From 52nd to
64th Aves., SH 121 takes Wadsworth Bypass, which was built
on the east side of original Wadsworth. Old Wadsworth Blvd.
still exists, passing through what can be called downtown
Arvada at 58th Ave.
SH 121 continues north, and at 88th Ave. crosses into
Westminster. There also, SH 121 swerves west on Wadsworth
Parkway, while old Wadsworth continues north. Near the
Jefferson County Airport, SH 121 crosses into Broomfield,
goes through an interchange with the Boulder Turnpike (US
36), then immediately north of that ends at a "sorta"
trumpet interchange with US 287 (120th Ave.).
History:
SH 121 is an original 1920s highway. The north end has
always been at US 287, but at first the south end was at
Hampden Ave. (SH 70). By 1938 it was paved from
Morrison Road to Ralston Road and was entirely paved by
1949. The Arvada expressway bypass was in place by 1958. In
1965 a section was added to SH 121 from SH 75 at Deer
Creek Junction north to Ken Caryl Ave. The section between
Ken Caryl and Hampden, at first called Carr St. on maps, was
added the next year, 1966. The Wadsworth Parkway expressway
bypass was complete by 1970. By 1973 the southwest bypass
was expressway north of Bowles Ave. and south of Ken Caryl
Ave., and was all expressway by 1974. When SH 470 was built,
that chopped SH 75 in half (because before it went
south to Kassler), so about 1991 the highway from Kassler to
SH 470 was renumbered as SH 121.
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Location: West Colorado Springs
Length*: 1.50mi
E End: Jct US 85-87/SH 115 at Lake Ave. and Nevada
Ave. in south Colorado Springs
W End: Lake Circle in Broadmoor near the World Figure
Skating Hall of Fame
History:
SH 122 was an original 1920s highway. At first,
it went from US 85-87 west to Broadmoor, then had a
projected (not built) section west to Cripple Creek. By 1936
it was paved to Broadmoor, and by 1939 the state gave up on
ever extending it to Cripple Creek, removing that section
from the maps. By 1957 it was widened to expressway. Turned
back in 1997, but still signed in a couple spots a few years
later.
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Location: North Front Range
Length: 30mi
S End: Jct SH 14 at Ted's Place
N End: Wyoming border northwest of Virginia Dale
Alignment: Current US 287 (Ted's Place, Livermore,
Virginia Dale)
History:
Original 1920s number for current US 287 from Ted's Place
(SH 14) north to Wyoming. First taken over by US 285
in 1927, changed to US 287 in 1935. SH 123 was a de
facto carrier route for US highway from the mid-1920s
onward, and was eliminated with the other carrier routes in
the purge of 1968.
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Location: Southeast Metro Denver
SW End: Jct US 285 south of Tiny Town
NE End: 1920s-1938: Jct US 85-87 in Littleton;
1939-1953: Jct SH 75 southwest of Littleton
Alignment: Deer Creek Canyon, Platte Canyon Road
History:
SH 124 is an original 1920s highway, which
started at US 285 south of Tiny Town, and went east via
Phillipsburg (current Jefferson CR 124) and Deer Creek
Canyon Road to current SH 470, then up Platte Canyon Road
(current SH 75) to downtown Littleton. By 1939, SH 75 had
been extended south to Kassler and SH 124 ended at SH 75 at
the current SH 470-121 complex. Gone by 1954.
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Location: Northern Mountains
Length*: 75.40mi
S End: Jct US 40 west of Granby
N End: Wyoming border northwest to Cowdrey,
connecting with WY
230 (link to Andy Field's site)
Counties: Grand, Jackson
Places: Granby, Rand, Walden, Cowdrey
Mountain Passes: Going over the Continental
Divide, SH 125 goes over Willow Creek Pass (9683ft; 6.3%
grade).
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 40 (begin SH 125 in Grand County)
- 21.61: Enter Jackson County, Willow Creek Pass
- 52.02: South jct SH 14 south of Walden
- 53.28: North jct SH 14/6th St., Walden
- 66.55: SH 127 north of Cowdrey
- 75.40: Wyoming border (end SH 125)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 710 at US 40
- 270 north of CR 27
- 2300 on SH 125-14, Walden
- 3500 at 5th St.
- 710 south of SH 127, Cowdrey
- 320 at Wyoming border
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Guide:
SH
125 starts at US 40, then heads north, and picks up Willow Creek
northwest through Routt National Forest. It then goes over Willow Creek
Pass, and goes down the
Illinois River and through Rand. It has a long straight section through
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, and hits SH 14 just to the southwest
of
Walden. Together, they head northeast into town on Main St., and at 6th
St., SH 14 breaks off and heads east. SH 125 continues north along the
plain of the Michigan River through the crossroads town of Cowdrey.
North of Cowdrey SH 125 intersects SH 127 and turns northwest. SH 125
then continues over the rolling terrain of the northern end of the
North Park valley to Wyoming.
Photo Gallery:
- Milepost 16, Willow Creek Valley. View north along SH 125 as it travels up the Willow Creek valley. (May 2012)
- South Side Willow Creek Pass. Looking north on SH 125 as it begins the ascent up toward Willow Creek Pass. (May 2012)
- Willow Creek Pass Summit • Southbound View • Signs.
At the top of Willow Creek Pass, the look along southbound SH 125, and
the informative signs that CDOT put on the berm above the east edge of
the road. (May 2012)
- South of Rand.
A few miles south of Rand on northbound SH 125. Off in the distance a
mountain is still snow-covered despite it being Memorial Day. (May 2012)
- Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.
A long section of SH 125 south of Walden is arrow-staright and bordered
on each side by the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. (May 2012)
- SH 125-14 Split, Going to Kremmling or Steamboat?
Then it's the same distance. That's not something you might realize (I
didn't), but from the Muddy Pass intersection, it's the same distance
either direction to Kremmling or Steamboat Springs. (September 2007)
- Markers for the SH 125-14 Overlap. These markers are at the intersection of SH 125-14 and CR 12W just west of Walden. (September 2007)
- Northbound in Walden, SH 125-14 Split • Markers • Towns. As SH
125-14 turns onto Main Street on the south side of Walden, it
immediately encounters the SH 14 turnoff at 6th Street. The markers
photo shows the sign at a funky angle because of the curve just south
of the intersection. The photo of the towns sign shows a goofed-up sign
with different letter heights. (September 2007)
- SH 14 Southbound. The guide sign on southbound SH 125 at the SH 14 intersection at 6th Street. (September 2007)
- Downtown Walden. It's two blocks long. Northbound on Main Street. (September 2007)
- Cowdrey. Northbound on SH 125 as it comes in to Cowdrey. (September 2007)
- Northbound at SH 127.
Kinda blurry picture on northbound SH 125 at SH 127. The intersection
features a sharp curve to the right to SH 127 and a left turn to
continue on SH 125. (September 2007)
- North Platte River Crossing. Northbound SH 125 as it dips down to the North Platte River bridge northwest of SH 127. (September 2007)
- Wyoming Border, Begin SH 125.
Looking along SH 125 back into Colorado at the Wyoming border. The
marker sign has the "south" but is missing the "125". (September 2007)
History:
SH 125 is an original 1920s highway, except the north
end was at the SH 127 intersection. SH 127 used to also have
SH 125's route northwest to Wyoming. By 1946 SH 125 had been
extended along one of the legs of SH 127 northwest to
Wyoming. SH 125 was paved from Rand to Cowdrey by 1946, and
entirely paved by 1956.
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Location: Eastern Mountains
Length: 26mi
NW End: Jct US 285 at Pine Junction
SE End: Jct SH 67 at Deckers
Places: Pine, Buffalo Creek
History:
SH 126 is an original 1920s state highway. It
started at US 285 at Pine Jct. and went southeast to SH 67
at Deckers via Pine and Buffalo Creek (current Jefferson CR
126). It also had a projected spur of itself northeast to
South Platte via current CR 96. By 1939 the spur was
renumbered as part of SH 75. SH 126 was gone in its
entirety by 1954.
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Location: Far Northern Mountains
Length*: 9.20mi
S End: Jct SH 125 north of Cowdrey
N End: Wyoming border southwest of Mountain Home,
connecting with WY
230 (link to Andy Field's site)
Counties: Jackson
Notes: Yes, both SH 125 and SH 127 connect to WY
230.
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008): 590
Guide:
SH 127 is just a short highway, starting at SH 125 north of
Cowdrey, then going northeast to Wyoming. It follows the
Camp Creek most of the way, before climbing up into forested hills as it nears the Wyoming border.
That's not a typo. Both SH 125 and 127 become WY 230 upon
crossing the border. Starting in Laramie, WY 230 heads
southwest, crosses the border and becomes SH 127, hits SH
125, turns right, goes up that and once again is WY 230 when
crossing back into Wyoming.
Photo Gallery:
- SH 125 Approach.
Southbound on SH 127 approaching SH 125. Here they used an oddball
arrangement to mark the turn to northbound SH 125. (September 2007)
- SH 127 Northound. The view on nortbound SH 127 about five miles from SH 125. (September 2007)
- SH 127 Wyoming Border.
Here's SH 127 looking back into Colorado from Wyoming. You can see the
pavement change in the foreground that marks the border. Off to the
left there's a Forest Service sign which has "Welcome to Colorful
Colorado" on the top of it, the first time I think I've seen a USFS
national forest sign also marking a state border. The CDOT "Welcome to
Colorful Coloado" sign is a little further down the road. (September
2007)
History:
SH 127 is an original 1920s highway, but at first it
also had SH 125's route northwest to Wyoming, so it hit the
border twice. By 1946 the western leg of SH 127 had been
renumbered as part of SH 125. Paved by 1954.
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Location: North Metro Denver
Length*: 14.11mi total; 9.91mi marked
W End: Jct SH 93 south of Marshall
E End: Jct I-25 Exit 223 at 120th Ave. in Northglenn
Counties: Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Adams
Places: Superior, Broomfield, Westminster, Northglenn
NHS: US 287 east to I-25.
Expressway: US 287 east to I-25.
Broken Route: Broken due to unmarked multiplexes
with SH 121 and US 287 for 4.20mi.
Roadway Names: 120th Avenue. Most people probably
don't know it's SH 128.
Notes:
According to Ben Kiene of Broomfield, in the future a
"half diamond" interchange will be put in at US 36 and old
120th Ave., with ramps from WB 36 to 120th and 120th to EB
36. Whether this will be part of SH 128 is unknown.
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: SH 93 (begin SH 128 in Jefferson County)
- 1.52: Enter Jefferson County
- 2.29: Enter Boulder County
- 2.75: Enter Jefferson County
- 4.21: Begin Jefferson/Broomfield County split
- 5.51: Enter Broomfield County
- 7.97: SH 121/Wadsworth Pkwy,
Broomfield (end SH 128)
- 12.17: US 287/Federal Blvd.,
Westminster (begin SH 128 in Adams County)
- 14.11: I-25 Exit 223 interchange (end SH
128)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 4000 at SH 93
- 9200 east of McCaslin Blvd., Superior
- 15,800 at SH 121
- 38,300 at US 287
- 49,700 at I-25
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Guide:
SH 128 starts at SH 93 south of Marshall, then heads
east along a ridge top, passing on the north side of the
Rocky Flats DOE site. At first it crosses into the town of
Superior, then into Broomfield. At 120th Ave. and Wadsworth
Parkway, SH 128 hits SH 121 and disappears. If you wanted to
continue on it, though, you would go north on 121 through
the US 36 interchange, then heads east on 120th (south on US
287) at the 121-287 interchange. At 120th and Federal Blvd.,
SH 128 reappears again and heads due east on 120th on a
divided expressway to I-25, ending at the diamond
interchange there.
History:
SH 128 is an original 1920s state highway, going from
120th/Federal east to SH 185 (Washington St.). By
1939 a section from US 85 at Henderson east to US 6/SH
70 had been added (current SH 22?), but that section was
dropped by 1949. SH 128 was extended west from US 36 to
Indiana St. by 1965, and to SH 93 by 1967.
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Location: Northern Mountains
Length: 47mi
SE End: Jct US 40 west of Steamboat Springs
NW End: Wyoming border east of Slater (connection
with WY 70)
Places: Clark, Columbine
History:
SH 129 was from the 1920s, and started at US 40
at Steamboat Springs, then went northwest via current Routt
CR 129 to the Wyoming border. Things got dicey there,
because then SH 129 weaved back and forth across the
border four times as it headed west toward Baggs. It
eventually hit current WY 70 just north of the point where
WY 70 currently dips back north across the border. SH
129 was retired by 1954. During the time it existed, WY
70 didn't exist as now, only the western part from SH
129 to Baggs.
See also:
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Location: Central Western Slope
Length: 4mi
S End: Jct SH 92 at Austin
N End: Jct SH 65 at Orchard City
History:
This was an original 1920s state highway, which was a
link from SH 65 at Orchard City southeast a short distance
to SH 92 at Austin. Current Delta CRs 21 and 22. Gone by
1954.
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Location: Northern Mountains
Length*: 69.38mi
S End: Jct I-70 Exit 157 south of Wolcott
N End: Jct US 40 south of Steamboat Springs
Counties: Eagle, Routt
Places: Wolcott, State Bridge, Toponas, Yampa,
Phippsburg, Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: I-70 Exit 157 interchange (begin SH
131 in Eagle County)
- 0.32: East jct US 6
- Milepost reset due to SH 131 previously ending at
US 6
- 0.05: West jct US 6, Wolcott
- 21.41: Enter Routt County
- 32.90: SH 134, Toponas
- 68.72: US 40 (end SH 131)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 4740 at I-70
- 2900 north of US 6, Wolcott
- 1300 north of CR 11/Trough Rd
- 910 north of SH 134, Toponas
- 2000 at Main St., Yampa
- 2700 at Moffat Ave., Oak Creek
- 1500 north of CR 27
- 5500 at US 40
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Notes:
The link between I-70 and US 6 is not well-marked as being
part of SH 131. The exit from I-70 is signed as "131 north", but from
both US 6 and SH 131 north of US 6 the link is signed as "To I-70".
Guide:
SH 131 starts just
south of US 6 in the Eagle River valley at I-70 Exit 157. It heads
north to US 6, west on that for about a half mile to Wolcott, then goes
north. It begins with a steep climb up and out of the Eagle River
valley, then follows various small creeks. The going is slow, with the
speed limit rarely over 40 mph. At State Bridge (no town, just a
vacation lodge) SH 131 hits the Colorado River and crosses over to its
north side. SH 131 goes northwest with it through Bond to McCoy, where
the Colorado splits off and heads southwest toward I-70, while SH 131
continues northwest. The next stop is the crossroads town at SH 134 of
Toponas, and after that, Yampa, Phippsburg, and Oak Creek, finally
turning northeast toward US 40. Rather than heading straight to US 40,
though, SH 131 veers north at the last minute and parallels US 40's
west side for about five miles before finally turning east to US 40. History:
SH 131 is an original 1920s state highway. However, at first
it only went from State Bridge to US 40. The State
Bridge-Wolcott routing used to be part of SH
11. First paved by 1946 from Yampa to US 40.
By 1954, SH 11 was eliminated, and SH 131 was
extended south down to US 6. By 1965 the only section not
paved was around State Bridge, which was paved by 1970.
Extended south from US 6 to I-70 about 1972.
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Location: Western Mountains
Length: 1920s-1953: ~60mi; 1954-1974: *10.50mi
W End: Jct SH 13 east of Meeker
E End: 1920s-1953: Jct SH 131 at Phippsburg;
1953-1974: West of Buford
History:
SH 132 is an original 1920s highway that went
from SH 13 east of Meeker east via Buford, North Fork White
River and Ripple Creek Pass to SH 131 at Phippsburg.
However, it was incomplete and only "projected" over the
Dunckley Flat Tops west of Phippsburg. By 1954, it had been
relegated back to a spur which went only *10.50mi east from
SH 13, and was paved by 1956. SH 132 existed that way
up all they way until about 1974, when it was turned back.
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Location: West Central Mountains
Length*: 68.82mi
S End: Jct SH 92 at Hotchkiss
N End: Jct SH 82 at Carbondale
Counties: Delta, Gunnison, Pitkin, Garfield
Places: Hotchkiss, Paonia, Somerset, McClure Pass,
Redstone, Carbondale
Auxiliary Routes:
CDOT maintains old SH 133 through Bowie.
Mountain Passes: Going over the Elk Mountains, SH
133 goes over McClure Pass (8755ft; 8% grade).
 Scenic & Historic Byways: West Elk Loop
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: SH 92 (begin SH 133 in Delta County)
- 12.15: SH 133B west of Bowie
- 15.34: Enter Gunnison County
- 16.07: SH 133B east of Bowie
- 42.93: Enter Pitkin County, McClure Pass
- 44.24: Enter Gunnison County
- 46.45: Enter Pitkin County
- 65.04: Enter Garfield County
- 68.82: SH 82, Carbondale (end SH 133)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 5100 at SH 92, Hotchkiss
- 3000 west of Paonia
- 1400 at McClure Pass
- 2100 north of CR 3, Redstone
- 3700 north of Avalance Rd
- 21,500 at SH 82, Carbondale
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Guide:
SH 133 starts at SH 92 on the east side
of Hotchkiss, then heads northeast up the North Fork of the Gunnison
River. At first it hugs the north side of the North Fork Valley,
passing to the north side of Paonia. But SH 133 passes to the south of
the coal mining enclave of Bowie and then the canyon rapidly closes in
on each side. Somerset is the company town for another mine and SH 133
passes within spitting distance of the coal tipple where UPRR trains
are loaded. East of Somerset there's one more coal mine, then at the
south end of Paonia Reservoir (historically called Bardine) SH 133
turns north up East Muddy Creek toward McClure Pass. The south side of
the pass features a fairly straight alignment while the north side has
more curves, is steeper and is a major rockfall hazard zone. SH 133
then picks up the west side of the Crystal River and follows that north
via Redstone toward Carbondale. SH 133 bypasses to the west side of
downtown Carbondale, intersecting SH 82 on the north side of town.
Photo Gallery:
- North Fork Valley. Typical scenery of the North Fork Valley heading northeast near Paonia. (August 2009)
- Navigational Overload.
I'll give Delta County credit: When they installed new street name
signs throughout the county they did a very thorough job. However,
there's such a thing as too much information, as illustrated by this
sign tree at SH 133 and Samual Wade Rd on the west side of Paonia.
(August 2009)
- SH 187 Intersection. Marker assembly on SH 133 as it intersects where SH 187 used to be north of Paonia. (August 2009)
- East Somerset Coal Mine.
Approaching one of the area's coal mines east of Somerset. Ahead is the
conveyor taking coal from the south mountainside over SH 133 to the
tipple house on the north side. On the left a UPRR engine is visible
pulling coal cars through the tipple. (August 2009)
- Paonia Reservoir. Northbound SH 133 along the side of Paonia Reservoir. To the northeast are visible "The Raggeds". (August 2009)
- McClure South Ascent. Northbound SH 133 as it begins its climb up the south side of McClure Pass. (August 2009)
- McClure Pass Summit. CDOT marker at the SH 133 summit of McClure Pass. (August 2009)
- Rockfall Zone.
The north side of McClure Pass has a rockfall hazard zone, as seen by
all the boulders lining the edge of the road. (August 2009)
History:
SH 133 is an original 1920s highway. In its first
incarnation, it started at SH 135 at Bardine and went north
to Carbondale. By 1936 it was rerouted and went from SH 135
at Crested Butte north via Marble and Redstone to
Carbondale, with an unimproved section over Schofield Pass.
By 1939 SH 133's south end was shifted back to Bardine, and
was unimproved over McClure Pass. By 1947 the section over
McClure Pass was improved and open.
By 1954 the whole southern section of SH 133 had been
turned back, so it went from Carbondale south for only 4mi.
That was lengthened to 18mi by 1957, and to 24mi by 1961. By
1963 a spur was added from Bardine north for 4mi. SH 133 was
finally joined again over McClure Pass by 1964, and the only
section not paved was at the pass. By 1968 SH 133 was moved
onto a new routing on the north side of McClure Pass, and
was finally paved by 1978. It was extended southwest from
Bardine to SH 92, taking over part of SH 135's route, about
1970.
The Bowie bypass was constructed in 1991, but
CDOT didn't put the old routing of SH 133 onto the state
payroll until 2002.
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Location: South Western Slope
History:
SH 134 was a highway which existed in the
Telluride area. From the 1920s, it went from SH 145 south of
Telluride Junction east to Ophir, and from there was
projected east to US 550. By 1939 a section was added which
went from SH 145 northwest to SH 145 west of Telluride
Junction. All sections eliminated by 1954.
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Location: Northern Mountains
Length*: 27.16mi
W End: Jct SH 131 at Toponas
E End: Jct US 40 northwest of Kremmling
Counties: Routt, Grand
Places: Gore Pass
Mountain Passes: SH 134 goes over Gore Pass
(9570ft; 6.3% grade).
Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: SH 131, Toponas (begin SH 134 in Routt County)
- 10.81: Enter Grand County
- 27.16: US 40 (end SH 134)
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 340 at SH 131
- 540 at US 40
Guide:
SH
134 is the kind of highway you get on when you're going nowhere in
particular and aren't in a hurry to get there. After starting at
Toponas, SH 134 is in the Routt National Forest almost the entire
distance to Gore Pass, so there no houses, let alone towns, just
endless stretches of small creeks and alpine meadows. Upon cresting
Gore Pass, it crosses into the Arapaho National Forest. SH 134 then
picks up Pass Creek through a curvy alignment east down to US 40. History:
SH 134 was originally numbered from the 1920s as
SH 84. It was
changed in the purge of 1968 to avoid duplication with US
84.
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Location: Central Mountains
Length*: 27.48mi
S End: Jct US 50 at Main St./Tomichi Ave. in
Gunnison
N End: 6th St./Elk Ave. in Crested Butte
Counties: Gunnison
Places: Gunnison, Almont, Crested Butte
Scenic & Historic Byways: West Elk Loop
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 10,200 at US 50, Gunnison
- 4300 north of Ohio Creek Rd
- 3600 north of Almont
- 6200 in Crested Butte
Guide:
Can
you say "ski resort"? SH 135 starts in the heart of downtown Gunnison
at US 50 and heads north up Main Street. SH 135 heads north up the wide
Gunnison River valley, using an improved alignment featuring few curves
and wide shoulders. At Almont the Gunnsion splits into the Taylor and
East Rivers, with SH 135 taking the northwest turn via the East River.
SH 135 then comes into the east side of Crested Butte on 6th Street,
ending at the intersection with Elk Ave. just east of downtown. No
signs mark its end point. One needs to continue north another 2 miles
to get to Mount Crested Butte, where the ski resort actually is.
Photo Gallery:
- US 50 Signal. Signal at SH 135 where it ends at US 50 in Gunnison. (August 2009)
- Downtown Gunnison. View looking south on SH 135 (Main St) in downtown Gunnison 1 block before it reaches US 50. (August 2009)
- Northbound SH 135. The scenery in the East River valley north of Almont. (August 2009)
- Milepost 16. The view looking along northbound SH 135 at Milepost 16. Photo by David Herrera. (May 2013)
- Entering Crested Butte. Northbound SH 135 as it slows down to enter the east side of Crested Butte. (August 2009)
History:
Originally from the 1920s, SH 135 went from SH 92 at
Hotchkiss east via current SH 133 through Somerset and
Bardine (historically where the south end of Paonia Reservoir is now), over Kebler Pass, and on to Crested Butte and
Gunnison. By 1950 it was paved from SH 92 to Paonia and
Gunnison to Almont. By 1954 a gap was created in SH 135 by
turning back the section over Kebler Pass from Bardine to
Crested Butte. By 1958 it was entirely paved. Section from
SH 92 to Bardine renumbered as an extension of SH 133 about
1970.
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Location: San Luis Valley
Length*: 4.46mi
W End: Jct US 285 at Main St./Spruce St. in La
Jara
E End: Main St./2nd St. South in Sanford
Counties: Conejos
Places: La Jara, Sanford
Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 1400 at US 285, La Jara
- 910 east of Main St.
- 1200 in Sanford
Guide:
Yet another short spur in the Colorado inventory. It
starts in central La Jara, goes east on Main St. across the
UP rail line paralleling US 285, turns south on Walnut, goes
to the south side of town, then heads east. It's just a few
short miles east to the north side of Sanford, and then SH
136 turns south on Main St., ending at 2nd St South.
History:
SH 136 is an original 1920s state highway. However, it
used to traverse the whole distance between US 285 and SH
159. From La Jara, SH 136 went east via Sanford and La
Sauses, then south to SH 142, and then picked up current SH
142 east to 159. However, if you look at current SH 142, it
has that weird jog in it north through San Acacio west of SH
159. Instead of doing that, SH 136 went due east to SH 159.
By 1939 SH 136 was paved from US 285 to Sanford. It was
trimmed back so it went only from La Jara to Sanford by
1954.
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Location: Eastern Plains
Length: 28mi
S End: Jct US 24 at Flagler
N End: Jct SH 63 south of Thurman
History:
Original 1920s highway, and was a link from SH 63
south of Thurman southeast to US 24 at Flagler. Gone by
1954.
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Location: Northeast Mountains
Length: 8mi
W End: East Portal of Moffat Tunnel
E End: Jct SH 119 at Rollinsville
History:
SH 138 is originally from the 1920s, and went
from SH 119 at Rollinsville west to the East Portal of the
Moffat Tunnel. Gone by 1954.
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Location: North Eastern Plains
Length*: 59.82mi
W End: Jct US 6 in Sterling
E End: Nebraska
border northeast of Julesburg (link to Chris Geelhart's
site)
Nationally: NE End: US 30 in Big Springs, Nebraska
(73mi)
Counties: Logan, Sedgwick
Places: Sterling, Iliff, Crook, Sedgwick, Ovid,
Julesburg
Expressway: Northeast side of Sterling for about 3mi.
Scenic & Historic Byways: South Platte River Trail (Ovid to Julesburg)
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: US 6 (begin US 138 in Logan County)
- 8.97: SH 113 northeast of Sterling
- 27.50: SH 55/1st St., Crook
- 35.99: Enter Sedgwick County
- 43.41: SH 59, Sedgwick
- 54.81: West jct US 385 west of Julesburg
- 57.22: SH 11, Julesburg
- 58.53: East jct US 385 interchange
- 59.82: Nebraska border (end US 138)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- At US 6, Sterling (2 one-way streets): 4300 eastbound, 3400 westbound
- 3300 northeast of Logan St.
- 1100 northeast of SH 113
- 820 northeast of CR 55
- 670 east of SH 55, Crook
- 370 east of CR 11
- 680 east of SH 59, Sedgwick
- 980 west of US 385
- 3500 on US 138-385 at Oak St., Julesburg
- 500 at Nebraska border
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Guide:
US 138 starts at two places in Sterling, because it uses two one-way
streets in town. US 6 is coming northeast on 3rd and 4th Sts., (3rd
northeastbound, 4th southwestbound), and at Chestnut St. turns
southeast out across the South Platte toward I-76. US 138 starts there
at those intersections, and uses 3rd and 4th Sts. northeast to
Broadway, where they merge together and head northeast. As an
expressway US 138 passes Northeast Junior College, then becomes
undivded just before the UPRR/BNSF rail junction at Ackerman. US 138
parallels the South Platte's north side for the entire time in
Colorado. As it goes northeast, US 138 goes through Iliff, Proctor,
Crook (where it's 2nd St.), Sedgwick, and Ovid (where it's Saunders
Ave.). West of Julesburg, right adjacent to the Julesburg
Municipal Airport to be specific, US 138 and US 385 meet, and together
they head east to Julesburg. They come northeast through town on 1st
St. adjacent to the UPRR line, and bascially form the south border of
town since there isn't really much of a part of Julesburg south of the
UPRR. At the northeast end of town, there's a diamond interchange where
US 385 leaves US 138 to go southeast toward I-76. US 138 continues
northeast a couple short miles and crosses into Nebraska. In addition to US 138 being along the South Platte the whole
time, there is also always a mainline UPRR rail line on its
south side from Sterling to Nebraska. Both Sterling and Julesburg feature major regional rail junctions.
Photo Gallery:
- 4th Street in Sterling. Southwestbound on US 138 along one-way 4th Street in Sterling. (May 2007)
- North Sterling Expressway. Eastbound on US 138 on a several-mile-long expressway section after leaving the north edge of Sterling. (May 2007)
- Ackerman Railroad Crossing.
Stopped traffic on westbound US 138 at the Ackerman railroad crossing
northeast of Sterling for a southbound BNSF coal trail. (May 2007)
- SH 113 Intersection. Sign on eastbound US 138 at SH 113. Seems to me Peetz should be above Sidney, since it's closer. (May 2007)
- Burn, Baby, Burn!
Eastbound US 138 approaching Iliff. Here a farmer is doing a clearing
burn along the edge of his field causing lots of smoke. (May 2007)
- How Do You Spell "Fleming"? Sign on eastbound US 138 at SH 55 in Crook. Oops, there's an extra "m" in there. (May 2007)
- Crook Main Drag. Looking east down US 138 through Crook. (May 2007)
- I-76/I-80 Detour Signs.
Here US 138 has detour signs posted along it due to construction on
I-76. Between Sedgwick and the state line I-76 traffic only had one
lane each direction, so US 138 was signed for the oversize load detour.
(May 2007)
- Approaching US 385. Junction sign for US 385 on eastbound US 138. (May 2007)
- US 138/385 Marker Assembly. Eastbound on US 138 at the US 385 intersection west of Julesburg. (May 2007)
- Julesburg Eastbound. US 138-385 heading eastbound through Julesburg. (May 2007)
- Julesburg Westbound, Heading to Chappell. Right in the middle of Julesburg heading west is this group of signs, with the distance to Chappell curiously given. (May 2007)
- Exit to US 385 South.
Eastbound on US 138-385 leaving Julesburg. Here is the exit sign for
the US 385 interchange. The interchange features a one-span bridge over
US 138. (May 2007)
- Nebraska Border. Looking west along US 138 into Colorado at the Nebraska border. (May 2007)
History:
US 138 is an original 1926 US highway in Colorado. US
138 is one of the few US highways which does not touch its
two-digit "parent". In this case, that's because US
38 doesn't exist anymore, and hasn't since the
1930s. US 138 was entirely paved by 1936.
Suggestions:
Can you say "SH 138"? The corridor doesn't really fit the role of a US highway anymore.
Related Site: US
138 Endpoints by Dale Sanderson. Great pictures in
Sterling.
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Location: Western Slope
Length*: 72.07mi
S End: Jct I-70 Exit 15 south of Loma
N End: Jct SH 64 east of Rangely
Counties: Mesa, Garfield, Rio Blanco
Places: Loma, Douglas Pass, Rangely
Mountain Passes: Halfway between its two ends, SH
139 goes over Douglas Pass (8268ft; 7% grade).
Scenic & Historic Byways: Dinosaur Diamond 
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Milepost Guide:
- 0.00: I-70 Exit 15 interchange (begin SH
139 in Mesa County)
- 1.29: US 6, Loma
- 13.59: Enter Garfield County
- 39.30: Enter Rio Blanco County
- 72.07: SH 64 (end SH 139)
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Annual Average Daily Traffic (2008):
- 2000 at I-70
- 3100 at US 6, Loma
- 840 north of CR Q
- 1000 at SH 64
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Guide:
SH 139 starts at I-70 and heads north
through the crossroads town of Loma, at US 6. Going north from Loma SH
139 crosses the Grand Valley with its numerous hay fields, passing by
Highline Lake State Park. SH 139 then picks up the canyon of East Salt
Creek as it threads its way into the Book Cliffs. Eventually SH 139
begins climbing up the south side of Douglas Pass, using numerous
switchbacks and a narrow, rock shelf alignment in places. After
cresting the pass SH 139 drops down into the West Douglas Creek valley.
As it heads north, the valley is fairly straight and level, allowing SH
139 a 65 mph speed limit. West Douglas Creek becomes Douglas Creek, and
SH 139 follows that north through almost totally uninterrupted BLM
public land, finally ending at SH 64 on the east side of Rangely. There
are no towns or services anywhere along SH 139 other than its
ends.
Photo Gallery:
- Douglas Pass South Side. Valley View • Downhill View • Uphill View.
This pullout is just south of the Douglas Pass summit. In the valley
view picture, one can see SH 139 in the center as heads south out the
East Salt Creek valley. The uphill picture shows the summit of the
pass, right at the point where the road curves to the left around the
hill. (January 2009)
- County Road 27. The view north along SH 139 at Rio Blanco CR 27, near Milepost 55. (January 2009)
- Douglas Creek Valley. Typical scenery of the Doulgas Creek valley, here on northbound SH 139 at about Milepost 66. (January 2009)
- SH 64 Intersection Approach Photo 1 • Photo 2. Two pictures on SH 139 as it approaches the SH 64 intersection just outside Rangely. (January 2009)
History:
SH 139 is an original 1920s state highway. At first it
went from US 6 at Loma north to SH 64. It was turned back in
its entirety by 1954. SH 139 was then resurrected by 1964,
and went from Loma north to the summit of Douglas Pass. Only
the first 8mi or so were paved. It was paved to Douglas Pass
by 1972, and then was extended from Douglas Pass north to SH
64 about 1975. Extended south to I-70 about 1972.
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