Interstate 76 (Colorado–Nebraska)

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Interstate 76 marker
Interstate 76
I-76 highlighted in red
Route information
Length187.29 mi[1][2] (301.41 km)
Existed1975–present
Major junctions
West end I-70 in Arvada, CO
 
East end I-80 near Big Springs, NE
Location
StatesColorado, Nebraska
CountiesCO: Jefferson, Adams, Weld, Morgan, Washington, Logan, Sedgwick
NE: Deuel
Highway system
SH 75CO SH 78
US 75NE US 77

Interstate 76 (I-76) is an Interstate Highway in the Western United States that runs from Interstate 70 in Arvada, Colorado (near Denver) to an intersection with Interstate 80 near Big Springs, Nebraska. It is one of the two interstates that carries the "76" designation but it has no connection with the eastern route. Spanning 187.29 miles (301.41 km),[1] all but approximately three miles of the highway is in Colorado. Along the route, the highway runs concurrent with US 6, US 85 in the Denver Metro Area, and US 34 from Wiggins to Fort Morgan. It currently has no auxiliary interstates but it has two business routes that are located in northeastern Colorado.

Route description[]

Lengths
  mi km
CO 184.14 296.34
NE 3.15 5.07
Total 187.29 301.41

Colorado[]

I-70 at its interchange with I-76

Interstate 76 begins at an interchange with I-70 in Arvada. 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. Running roughly parallel to nearby Clear Creek, I-76 meets another interchange, with Interstate 270 in North Washington, Colorado, where Clear Creek joins the South Platte River, which is crossed by I-76. After an interchange at SH 224, I-76 joins US 85 and US 6 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, named Sable Boulevard, before meeting an exit at E-470, a toll road. Past E-470, the freeway exits the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area.

Passing just west of , the freeway heads northeastward east of Brighton. Near Lochbuie, the freeway crosses SH 7 before crossing into Weld County. I-76 meets SH 52 in Hudson, the next city along the freeway. Past Hudson, the combined routes of US 6 and I-76 turn slightly eastward into Keenesburg, which is served by a business loop (I-76 BUS). I-76 then turns northeast and east into Roggen, 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 , the freeway turns back east, crossing into Morgan County within circular fields. Heading east, I-76 heads into Wiggins, near which I-76 joins US 34. The three combined routes head east through farms.

I-76 near Brush

The freeway heads east toward Fort Morgan, spawning another business loop that carries US 34 away from I-76. The freeway heads east into Fort Morgan, meeting SH 52, now running again near South Platte River. Still running between South Platte River to the north and its business loop to the south, I-76 heads just north of Brush, where it meets a cloverleaf interchange with SH 71. 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. Bypassing that city, I-76 traverses northeast into Washington County, with farms to the north along the river and grasslands to the south. Passing the Prewitt Reservoir, the freeway heads into Logan County. Heading northeasterly, the route crosses SH 63, which serves Atwood. I-76 BUS then enters Sterling, 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 South Platte River, surrounded by farms to the northwest and plains to the southeast. Northwest of the river is US 138, which serves several towns bypassed by the freeway. I-76 has an exit at SH 55 which serves the town of Crook. With farms on the south part of the freeway as well, I-76 enters Sedgwick County, crossing SH 59 which heads to Sedgwick. The freeway then veers eastward before turning back northeast toward Julesburg. I-76 comes to an exit at U.S. Highway 385, which heads northwest to Julesburg. I-76 then heads northeast to the Nebraska state line.[3] [4]

Nebraska[]

I-76 is signed as a north–south route in Nebraska

In Nebraska, 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, parallel to the South Platte River and U.S. Highway 138. Its only interchange is at Interstate 80, numbered exit 102 based on I-80's mileage.

History[]

I-76 exit along E-470

Until 1975, both the western segment of Interstate 76 and a portion of the eastern Interstate 76 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 (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. The number, "76", has an association with 1876, the year Colorado was admitted as a state.

I-76 was conceived in August 1958. The Colorado portion was planned and built first. In December 1969, the Nebraska Department of Roads 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.[1] The original western terminus of I-76 was at I-25, as planned. The western extension to Interstate 70 was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s. By its completion in November 2002, the total cost was about $45.5 million.[1]

In 1968, Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 85 were open to the general traffic to the Denver 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, U.S. Highway 85, Dahlia Street, Washington Street, 74th Avenue, and York Street. The completion also included structures in which each cross the , Platte River, and the Union Pacific Railroad. By October 24, 1970, the route was open to traffic from Sedgwick to Julesburg, 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.[1]

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 its current western terminus at Interstate 70 at Arvada.[1]

Exit list[]

StateCountyLocationmi[5][2]kmExitDestinationsNotes
ColoradoJeffersonArvada0.000–
0.538
0.000–
0.866
I-70 west – Grand JunctionWestern terminus; I-70 exit 269B
0.0000.0001A SH 121 (Wadsworth Boulevard)Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
JeffersonAdams
county line
ArvadaBerkley line1.7682.8451B SH 95 (Sheridan Boulevard)
AdamsBerkley3.2235.1873 US 287 (Federal Boulevard)
BerkleyNorth Washington line4.2106.7754Pecos Street
North Washington5.7779.2975 I-25 (US 87) – Fort Collins, Colorado SpringsWestbound access to I-25 north is via exit 6B; I-25 exits 216A-B
6.80310.9486
I-270 east (US 36 east) to I-70 east – Limon, Aurora
Serves Denver International Airport
6.80310.948
I-270 west to US 36 – Fort Collins, Boulder
Westbound exit and entrance only; I-270 exit 1
Adams City8.05212.9588 SH 224 (74th Avenue)Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
9.48315.2619 US 6 west / US 85 south – Commerce CityWestern end of US 6 / US 85 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
10.46616.8431088th Avenue
11.54918.5861196th Avenue
12.50220.12012 US 85 north – Greeley, BrightonEastern end of US 85 overlap; no eastbound entrance
Brighton16.47726.51716 SH 2 (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
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
61.82899.50360 SH 144 east – Orchard
Morgan63.883102.81064Wiggins ( US 6 east)Eastern end of US 6 concurrency;[6] eastbound exit and westbound entrance
66.099–
66.288
106.376–
106.680
66A SH 52 west (US 6 west) / SH 39 north / US 34 west – Goodrich, Wiggins, Greeley, Estes ParkSplit into exits 66A (SH 39/SH 52) and 66B (US 34) westbound; western end of US 6/US 34/SH 52 overlap[6]
73.130117.69173Long Bridge Road
75.280121.15175 I-76 BL / US 34 east (SH 52 east) – Fort MorganEastern terminus of I-76 BL; eastern end of US 34/SH 52 overlap
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
89.643144.26690
SH 71 to US 34 – Brush, Akron, Limon, Snyder
91.693147.56692
US 6 east (I-76 BL) to US 34 – Akron, Yuma, Wray, Brush
Eastern end of US 6 overlap; access to US 34 via unsigned US 34 Spur (I-76 BL west)
95.382153.50295Hillrose
Washington102.086164.291102Merino
Logan115.197185.392115 SH 63 – Akron, Atwood
Sterling124.756200.775125 I-76 BL west / US 6 – Sterling, HolyokeEastern terminus of I-76 BL
133.511214.865134Iliff
140.846226.670141
148.880239.599149 SH 55 – Crook
155.288249.912155Red Lion Road
Sedgwick164.933265.434165 SH 59 – Sedgwick, Haxtun
172.017276.835172Ovid
Julesburg180.221290.038180
US 385 to US 138 – Julesburg
ColoradoNebraska line184.14
0.00
296.34
0.00
Cardinal direction change: Colorado segment (west–east) / Nebraska segment (north–south)
NebraskaDeuel2.07–
3.15
3.33–
5.07
102 I-80 – Sidney, OmahaNorthern terminus; exit number based on I-80 mileage; exit is for I-80 west; I-80 exit 102
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business routes[]

Keenesburg[]

Interstate 76 Business marker

State Highway 76B

LocationKeenesburg
Length0.47 mi[7] (760 m)

State Highway 76B is an unsigned business spur that connects Keenesburg in Weld County to the interstate. Inventoried by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the 12-mile (800 m) route begins at the Interstate 76 frontage road (County Road 398) within the town limits and heads north as Market Street. The route terminates north of I-76 exit 39.[8]

Major intersections
The entire route is in Keenesburg, Weld County.

mi[7]kmDestinationsNotes
0.4720.760County Road 398Southern terminus; former US 6 / SH 2; road continues as Market Street
0.1810.291 I-76 (US 6)I-76 exit 39
0.0000.000Road 18Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Fort Morgan–Sterling[]

Interstate 76 Business marker

Interstate 76 Business

LocationFort MorganSterling
Length52.31 mi (84.18 km)

Interstate 76 Business (Business Loop 76) is a business route of I-76 serving Fort Morgan and adjacent areas to Sterling in Morgan and Logan counties. The 52.31-mile (84.18 km) route begins at exit 75 at I-76 west of Fort Morgan. The route overlaps US 34 and SH 52 heading east and becomes W Platte Avenue. After intersecting Sherman Street, SH 52 turns North on Main Street and the route becomes E Platte Avenue only overlapping US 34. After crossing County Road 21, the route is only assigned as US 34. Entering Brush, the route becomes Edison Street and passes towards the south of town remaining parallel with the interstate. Intersecting Colorado Avenue, the route starts overlapping SH 71. SH 71 goes south after the route exits Brush. Then, I-76 Business loop comes across a minor Y interchange and US 34 continues east while the business loop proceeds northeast. It interchanges with I-76 again at a partial cloverleaf interchange and starts overlapping US 6. It passes through unincorporated Camden and then enters Hillrose as Railway Street. It remains signed with US 6 after crossing County Road 3305. It remains almost parallel with the interstate until it approaches the Prewitt Reservoir, where it turns north through Beta and into Merino, becoming Platte Street between Ram Avenue and Logan Avenue. The route continues northeast into Atwood and intersects SH 63, becoming Front Avenue toward 7th Street, remaining concurrent with US 6. The route then enters Sterling, becoming a one-way street between S 3rd Avenue and South Division Avenue, where the route becomes a two lane road and turns north and then becomes S 3rd Street. The route turns to the southeast at Chestnut Street and exits town. Business loop 76 meets I-76 and terminates there at a diamond interchange at exit 125 and US 6 continues east past the interstate.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Morgan0.0000.000 I-76 (US 6) / US 34 west (SH 52 west)Western terminus; western end of US 34/SH 52 concurrency; I-76 exit 75
Fort Morgan4.47.1
SH 52 east (Main Street) to I-76
Eastern end of SH 52 concurrency
Brush14.523.3
SH 71 north (Colorado Street) to I-76
Western end of SH 71 concurrency
16.025.7 SH 71 south – Last Chance, LimonEastern end of SH 71 concurrency
16.4126.41 US 34 east – Akron
US 34 Spur begins
Eastern end of US 34 concurrency; western end of unsigned US 34 Spur concurrency
17.3127.86US 34 Spur ends
US 6 west / I-76 – Denver
Eastern end of US 34 Spur concurrency; western end of US 6 concurrency; I-76 exit 92
Washington28.8746.46
County Road Q to I-76
LoganAtwood43.9170.67 SH 63 south – AkronNorthern terminus of SH 63
Sterling50.0280.50 US 138 east (3rd Street north) / SH 14 west (Chestnut Street west) – Julesburg, Fort CollinsWestern terminus of US 138; eastern terminus of SH 14
50.9281.95Front StreetInterchange; no westbound entrance
52.3184.18 US 6 east / I-76Eastern terminus; eastern end of US 6 concurrency; I-76 exit 125; highway continues as US 6 east
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Colorado Department of Transportation. "The History of I-76 in Colorado". Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 14, 2007.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nebraska Highway Reference Log Book" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Roads. 2015. p. 190. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  3. ^ Microsoft; Nokia (March 3, 2011). "I-76 in Colorado" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "Interstate 76". Colorado @ AARoads.com.[self-published source]
  5. ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Highway Data". Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Highway 006I between 343.519 and 346.697". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Highway 076B between 0 and 0.472". CDOT Online Transportation Information System. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Interstate Business Route 76". interstate-guide.com. Retrieved December 25, 2020.

External links[]

Route map:

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