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In Colorado, there are several marked business loops from Interstate 70: Grand Junction, Palisade, Idaho Springs, Golden/Denver (see below), Limon, and Burlington. Several other business loops and spurs are state maintained, but they are not signed. This page profiles the Idaho Springs and Golden/Denver business routes.
Idaho Springs
The business loop in Idaho Springs connects Exits 239 to 241, and it follows old U.S. 6-40 north of Interstate 70 through town before Interstate 70 was built. Each end has only a partial interchange with I-70. This is an officially defined business loop of Interstate 70 in the route logs, and it runs for 2.54 miles per the Colorado state route log.
| Business Loop I-70/Idaho Springs East
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| Eastbound Business Loop I-70 approaches its junction with Colorado 103 in Idaho Springs. Colorado 103 travels south to the Mount Evans Highway (Colorado 5) and Squaw Pass. Photo taken 02/02/02.
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| This picture shows eastbound Business Loop I-70 in Idaho Springs. This was originally part of U.S. 6 and U.S. 40, and there is a motel near this location called the 6-40. Idaho Springs has a good number of motels, restaurants, and gas stations along this portion of the business loop. The town center is located west of this point. In the distance is the end of Business Loop I-70 at the junction with Interstate 70. Photo taken 02/02/02.
| | Business Loop I-70/Idaho Springs West
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| In the other direction, Business Loop I-70 leads into downtown Idaho Springs. This picture was taken at the same location as the previous picture. Photo taken 02/02/02.
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| Westbound Business Loop I-70 leading through downtown Idaho Springs. Note the large numerals used in the Business Loop I-70 shield. Unlike Wyoming, the former U.S. routes are not cosigned as business routes along this stretch. The actual springs that give Idaho Springs its name are located south of this point along a city street. Photo taken 02/02/02.
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Denver
Business Loop I-70 serves Golden and Denver via Colfax Avenue. According to the Denver Rocky Mountain News from June 19, 2000, Colfax Avenue is "the longest continuous commercial thoroughfare" in the United States; the business loop is 26.80 miles long. The business route follows all of Colfax Avenue, and it is cosigned with U.S. 40 throughout and with U.S. 287 for eastern half. Not signed on Interstate 25 exit to Colfax Avenue. The Golden portion of the business route is signed as Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 40, not Colorado 40, contrary to some maps. Colfax Avenue is named after Schyuler Colfax, an Indiana congressman who passed through Colorado in 1865 and later became Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. If it weren't named Colfax, it would be 15th Avenue.
| Business Loop I-70/Denver-Golden/Colfax Avenue East
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| After crossing Interstate 25 and the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks, the skyline of downtown Denver comes into view on Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40 east and U.S. 287 south. At the east end of the long viaduct, Colfax Avenue settles back into the street grid, with connections to most intersecting streets. However, there are no intersections on Colfax Avenue between Interstate 25 and Osage Street. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Denver's skyline, among the tallest in the West, includes such local heavyweights as MCI and Qwest. In fact, the Qwest building is the tallest building in the Denver skyline. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| This is the first traffic signal on eastbound Business Loop I-70 since the Interstate 25 interchange. Colfax Avenue settles into a more urban feel as it leaves the viaduct. To the left (north) of Colfax Avenue is the Auraria Campus of the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State College. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Now crossing Lipan Street on eastbound Colfax Avenue, the Colorado State Capitol Building comes into view several blocks to the east of here, on the right (south) side of Colfax Avenue. The building features a golden dome, and the mile-high elevation of 5,280 feet is marked on one of the steps leading to the capitol. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Speer Boulevard, a major route through metropolitan Denver, follows Cherry Creek to the southeast toward the Golden Triangle and Cherry Creek shopping mall. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| All along Colfax Avenue, Business Loop I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 287 are well-signed through downtown Denver. This shield assembly, found along eastbound Colfax Avenue near Welton Avenue, is the most common configuration of shields. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| A large church dominates the skyline at the intersection of Colfax Avenue at Logan Avenue. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Late in the day, eastbound Colfax Avenue (Business Loop I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 287) travels past Logan Street toward the Cheesman Park neighborhood and Congress Park. Photo taken 08/27/04.
| | Business Loop I-70/Denver-Golden/Colfax Avenue West
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| Even though it begins east of the urban portions of Denver, Westbound Business Loop I-70, Westbound U.S. 40, and Northbound U.S. 287 exit Interstate 70 near this location. These shields are the first ones after Interstate 70 along East Colfax Avenue. The characteristics of this long road change significantly as Colfax Avenue enters Aurora and eventually downtown Denver. In a testament to Colorado Department of Transportation signing, all three route designations are consistently signed for reassurance markers (but not well for junction signs). U.S. 287 splits off Colfax Avenue to the north at Federal Avenue, which is known as Colorado 88 to the south of that point. Photo taken 02/02/02.
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| This picture shows a close-up of the first Business Loop I-70 shield (see previous picture for context). Photo taken 02/02/02.
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| Clear on the other side of the metropolitan area, Colfax Avenue leaves Denver, passes through Lakewood, and passes through Golden. After the intersection with U.S. 6/6th Avenue is this shield assembly for westbound Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40. The business loop returns to Interstate 70 at Exit 259; U.S. 40 continues as a frontage road as far west as Genesee Park (Exit 254). Photo taken 11/10/03.
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Burlington
The business loop in Burlington connects Exits 437 to 438, and it follows portions of U.S. 24 and U.S. 385. From east to west, the loop follows Rose Avenue through town, picking up U.S. 24 at Sixth Street and adding U.S. 385 north two blocks further west at Eighth Street. Both U.S. 24 west and U.S. 385 south follow Business Loop I-70 west to Lincoln Street. At Lincoln Street, Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 385 turn south onto Lincoln Street to return to Interstate 70 at Exit 437. This is an officially defined business loop of Interstate 70 in the route logs, and it runs for 1.80 miles per the Colorado state route log.
| Business Loop I-70/Burlington East
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| Although not signed with a reassurance shield here, Business Loop I-70 eastbound follows northbound U.S. 385 (Lincoln Avenue) north into the city of Burlington in Kit Carson County in eastern Colorado. Photo taken 10/17/04.
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| Northbound U.S. 385 and eastbound Business Loop I-70 approach the junction with U.S. 24, Rose Avenue. Both Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 385 turn east onto Rose Avenue. Photo taken 10/17/04.
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| Rose Avenue is signed on this street name identification sign. A variety of services, including restaurants and motels, are located at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Rose Avenue. Photo taken 10/17/04.
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| This is the first reassurance shield for eastbound Business Loop I-70, U.S. 24, and U.S. 385 along eastbound Rose Avenue after the Lincoln Avenue intersection. Note that Business Loop I-70 is again unsigned, and U.S. 385 is signed with a "TO" banner since U.S. 24 is the principal (through) route per the Colorado Route Log. Photo taken 10/17/04.
| | Business Loop I-70/Burlington West
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| Westbound U.S. 24 approaches the junction with Business Loop I-70 near Exit 438. U.S. 24 has an odd connection between Kansas and Colorado. The signage in Kansas seems to indicate that U.S. 24 west follows Interstate 70 west to Exit 438, Junction Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 24 in Burlington. The implication is that west U.S. 24 would then follow its original alignment from Burlington west to Seibert (Exit 405, Junction Colorado 59). This routing would miss the section of U.S. 24 west between the state line and Burlington! One would have to exit west Interstate 70 at Exit 1 (Junction Kansas 267 north to Kanorado) to make the connection to the orphaned frontage road section. In the eastbound direction, it is even more confusing. In Colorado, U.S. 24 east leaves Burlington by following the frontage road on the north side of Interstate 70 from Burlington east to the Colorado-Kansas State Line. The route is well signed as eastbound U.S. 24. At the state line, the state-maintained U.S. 24 ends, and traffic is defaulted onto "Old U.S. 24." Old U.S. 24 enters the town of Kanorado, where the local highway transitions into Kansas 267. U.S. 24 east travelers must then follow Kansas 267 south to Interstate 70 Exit 1 to rejoin U.S. 24 east. Photo taken 10/17/04.
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| After passing through downtown Burlington, Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 385 turn south at Lincoln Avenue, while westbound U.S. 24 continues along Rose Avenue out of town. Photo taken 10/17/04.
| | Scenes Pertaining to Business Loop I-70/Burlington
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| In downtown Burlington on one of the north-south major streets, this shield assembly is posted for the business loop (signed as Interstate 70 erroneously) and U.S. 24-385. Photo taken 10/17/04.
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Page Updated January 7, 2006.
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