Interstate 25 is the primary north-south freeway route along the foothills of the Front Range in the state of Colorado. Since the freeway covers nearly 300 miles of the Centennial State, the page has been split into the following segments:
After exiting Adams County and entering the city-county of Denver, the first exit along southbound Interstate 25 is the connection to West 48th Avenue (Exit 214B). The following exit is the junction with transcontinental Interstate 70 (Exit 214A). Photo taken 08/29/04.
Use Exit 214B to W. 48th Avenue, which serves the community of Globeville. Globeville is situated to the east of Interstate 25, north of Interstate 70, and west of the South Platte River. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Immediately thereafter, Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 traffic prepares to split. The left four lanes continue along southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87, while the right two lanes offer a connection to Interstate 70. Once on the transition ramp, traffic can choose between Interstate 70 west to Grand Junction and Interstate 70/U.S. 6-85 west to Limon. See the Interstate 70 page for more information on this major east-west freeway. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Here, traffic connecting to Interstate 70 depart at Exit 214A, while through traffic on southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 continues. Interstate 70 is a major interchange. Throughout the 1980s-1990s-early 2000s, the interchange (dubbed as the "Mousetrap" by traffic and news reporters who spoke of countless delays due to the overwhelmed and under-designed Interstate to Interstate interchange) was under construction, being rebuilt ramp by ramp. See the Interstate 70 page for more information on this major east-west freeway. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along southbound are Exit 213, W. 38th Avenue/Park Avenue; Exit 212C, 20th Avenue; and Exit 212B-A, Speer Boulevard. Note the signage for Interstate 70 as seen on the collector-distributor lanes for Exit 214A. Photo taken 08/29/04.
After the Interstate 70 interchange, southbound Interstate 25 gains two more hidden U.S. routes. U.S. 6, which comes into Denver from the northeast, follows Interstate 25 south between Exit 214 and Exit 209B, where it turns due west along the 6th Avenue freeway. U.S. 85, which has met Interstate 25 once before in Cheyenne, Wyoming, joins Interstate 25 between Exit 214 and Exit 207B, Santa Fe Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 and U.S. 6 westbound is Exit 213, West 38th Avenue. Park Avenue is the former route (from 1957) of U.S. 87-287, back when U.S. 87 entered downtown Denver via Colorado Boulevard and a short merged section with Colfax Avenue before crossing the city on Park Avenue. From this interchange, U.S. 87 merged back onto Interstate 25 (in 1957 known as the Valley Highway), while U.S. 287 turned west on 38th Avenue to join Federal Boulevard north toward Broomfield. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Use Park Avenue south to Coors Field, home of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Colorado Rockies. Park Avenue splits into the Park Avenue/22nd Avenue one-way couplet, crossing over the Burlington Northern Railroad viaduct before reaching Coors Field. Coors Field is named after the famous beer maker; the Coors family is well-known throughout Colorado. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The skyline of downtown Denver comes into view as southbound Interstate 25 approaches Exit 213, W. 38th Avenue and Park Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25, U.S. 85-87, and westbound U.S. 6 reaches Exit 213, W. 38th Avenue and Park Avenue. This is the first and best route into downtown from southbound Interstate 25 for not only Coors Field but also the 16th Street Mall, Lower Downtown, the financial district, and even the state capitol and civic center. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The Park Avenue viaduct crosses Interstate 25/U.S. 6-85-87 after the Exit 213 offramp. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Use 20th Street northwest to Central Street and Osage Street in the neighborhood of Highland. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 212C, 20th Street. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along southbound are Exit 212C, 20th Street and Exits 212B-A, Speer Boulevard. Exits 212C and 212A serve downtown Denver. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The high occupancy lane, which follows U.S. 36 southeast to Interstate 25 south, comes into view at this rise in the freeway. A direct ramp links the high occupancy vehicles with downtown Denver. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 6-85-87 reaches Exit 212C, 20th Street. The next interchange is a cloverleaf with Speer Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The first ramp connects southbound Interstate 25 to Speer Boulevard north (Exit 212B). The following ramp connects southbound Interstate 25 to southbound Speer Boulevard, which follows Cherry Creek southeast to the Denver Country Club and Cherry Creek Mall (Exit 212A). Photo taken 08/29/04.
After passing under 15th Street, Interstate 25 south reaches Exit 212B, Speer Boulevard northbound. Note that the exit ramp is partially obscured by the 15th Street viaduct. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next two exits along southbound are Exit 212A, Speer Boulevard southbound; Exit 211, 23rd Avenue; and Exit 210A, Junction U.S. 40-287/Business Loop I-70, Colfax Avenue. Former Exit 210B (19th Avenue) is closed. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 6-85-87 reaches Exit 212A, Speer Boulevard south. Use Speer Boulevard south to the convention center, arts complex, Tivoli Center, downtown campuses for local universities and colleges, Elitch Gardens, and all downtown attractions, including the state capitol and civic center (in case you didn't use Park Avenue or 20th Street already). Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 211, 17th Avenue travels east to serve Invesco Field (former site of Mile High Stadium), home of National Football League's Denver Broncos. Also known as Dick Connor Avenue through the sporting venue area, 17th Avenue continues west to Sloan Lake Park and Edgewater Marketplace. Seventeenth Avenue does not continue east of Interstate 25, since the nearby South Platte River acts as a natural barrier between Invesco Field and downtown Denver. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Interstate 25 southbound passes under 17th Avenue; Invesco Field dominates the view on the west side of the freeway. The 19th Avenue offramp was closed at the time this photo was taken. Photo taken 08/29/04
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 reaches 23rd Avenue, Exit 211. The next exit is 19th Avenue, Exit 210B. The new Denver Broncos football stadium, Invesco Field, is visible in the distance. It replaced Mile High Stadium in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Nearby are other sports facilities, including the Colorado Rockies' Coors Field baseball park. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This view of Invesco Field is found along southbound prior to Exit 210A (Colfax Avenue). On game days, watch for stopped or slowed traffic in the vicinity of this exit. In addition to Invesco Field, two other sporting venues are nearby: The Pepsi Center, which is home to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Denver Nuggets and National Hockey League (NHL) Denver Grizzlies and Coors Field, which is home to Major League Baseball (MLB) Colorado Rockies (member of the National League West). Photo taken 02/02/02.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 and westbound U.S. 6 approaches Exit 210B, 19th Avenue. This exit was closed due to construction in 2004 (see next photobox). The next exit is Exit 210A, Junction Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40-287, Colfax Avenue. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Here is the same area where Exit 210B used to be. Now there is a small construction sign advising motorists to continue south to Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40-287, Colfax Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along southbound Interstate 25 are Exit 210A, Junction Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40-287, Colfax Avenue; Exit 209C, 8th Avenue; and Exit 209B, Junction U.S. 6 west/6th Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Colfax Avenue is another excellent route into downtown, with direct connections to downtown. Use Colfax Avenue east to Downtown Denver and all of its attractions: the Auraria Campus of the University of Colorado at Denver (Tivoli Denver), Colorado State Capitol, Denver Mint, Denver Civic Center, the 16th Street Mall (via Stout Street, Welton Street, or Lincoln Street northbound), and the financial district. Colfax Avenue continues east, serving the many communities east of downtown and Denver City Park. The street then enters the city of Aurora near Yosemite Street, only a few blocks south of the former site of Stapleton International Airport. U.S. 40-287 merges back onto Interstate 70 at Exit 288, just west of the E-470 interchange (Exit 289). To the west, Colfax Avenue passes by the new Invesco Field, home of National Football's Denver Broncos, but use Exit 210B, 17th Avenue for sports complex parking. Further west, Colfax Avenue crosses into Lakewood (in Jefferson County) after the Sheridan Boulevard (Colorado 95) intersection. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25 reaches Exit 210A, Junction Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40-287, Colfax Avenue. The business route designation is omitted from the overhead signs, perhaps to avoid confusion between the business loop and Interstate 70. The business loop was added to Colfax Avenue in the 1960s, and it has persisted as a co-designation since the 1960s, when Colorado official maps began showing the business route. On most reassurance assemblies on Colfax Avenue east of Federal Boulevard, the business route is given top priority with the top position, with U.S. 40 immediately below the green sign and U.S. 287 below it. Speaking of U.S. 287, it is omitted here, perhaps to avoid confusion with the Federal Boulevard section of U.S. 287. It should be added to this sign to provide route continuity. U.S. 287 follows U.S. 40 (and eventually Interstate 70) all the way Limon, where it again strikes out on its own, traveling southeast toward its ultimate conclusion at Port Arthur, Texas (near the Louisiana state line). Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along southbound Interstate 25 are Exit 209C, 8th Avenue; Exit 209B, Junction U.S. 6 west/6th Avenue; Exit 209A, 6th Avenue east; and Exit 208, Junction Colorado 26/Alameda Avenue west. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The right lane of southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 6-85-87 becomes exit only for Exit 209C, 8th Avenue. Use the 6th Avenue east exit to the Lincoln Park, Country Club, and Cherry Creek areas of Denver. U.S. 6 does not follow 6th Avenue to the east; in fact, 6th Avenue quickly becomes a city street upon intersecting the Klamath Street/Santa Fe Drive one-way couplet. Sixth Avenue becomes a one-way street, traveling only eastbound, after this intersection. To return westbound, use 8th Avenue, which travels one-way westbound (east of the Klamath/Santa Fe couplet). Sixth Avenue does not connect all the way to Aurora; it ends at Lowry Campus. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 6-85-87 reaches Exit 209C, 8th Avenue. Eighth Avenue follows a route parallel to 6th Avenue. Even though this is 8th Avenue, the main streets through downtown are north of 15th Avenue, which is better known as Colfax Avenue. First Avenue is a relatively minor road that serves as the northern boundary of Denver Country Club and Cherry Creek Mall. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next ramp separates westbound U.S. 6 from southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87. U.S. 6 west follows the 6th Avenue freeway to Lakewood, Golden, and Interstate 70. While somewhat substandard, the U.S. 6 freeway is a major corridor from downtown Denver to Wheat Ridge and Lakewood. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next ramp leads from southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 to eastbound 6th Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 reaches Exit 208, Junction Colorado 26 west, Alameda Boulevard to Broadway. Interstate 25 leaves the Broadway Viaduct and enters the T-Rex project zone, which has been under construction since 2002. Major changes to this stretch of the former Valley Highway are readily visible along southbound Interstate 25, including additional rights of way to the west of the freeway reserved for light rail. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The next three exits along southbound are Exit 208, Junction Colorado 26/Alameda Avenue; Exit 207B, Junction U.S. 85/Santa Fe Drive south; and Exit 207A, Broadway. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 85-87 reaches Exit 208, Junction Colorado 26/Alameda Avenue. This interchange marks the eastern terminus of the curtailed Colorado 26, which used to extend west to Golden and now remains within the Denver city limits, ending now at Colorado 95/Sheridan Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This variable message sign along southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 provides construction information for southbound traffic, as the freeway enters the T-Rex project area. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The next three exits are Exit 207B, Junction U.S. 85 south/Santa Fe Drive; Exit 207A, Broadway; and Exit 205, University Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/04.
U.S. 85 splits off Interstate 25 again at Exit 207B to follow Santa Fe Drive, a pseudo-expressway; it will rejoin Interstate 25 and U.S. 87 just north of Castle Rock. The next exit (Exit 207A) provides access to the one-way couplet of Lincoln Street (northbound) and Broadway (southbound). Near the base of this intersection is the Interstate 25 and Broadway Station on the metropolitan light rail. Follow Lincoln Street north to the Washington Park West, Byers, and Capitol Hill neighborhoods of Denver. To the south, Broadway becomes a two-way street, carrying traffic south into Englewood. In 1957, U.S. 85 is shown following Broadway rather than Santa Fe Drive. Back in those days, U.S. 85 followed Broadway north to 8th Avenue, which used to carry U.S. 6 at that time. U.S. 6-85 then followed Broadway north onto Brighton Boulevard, then turned east on 46th Avenue (now Interstate 70), then northeast on Vasquez Boulevard. Photo taken 11/10/03.
At the time this series of pictures was taken (November 2003), the T-Rex project was continuing. While many of the bridges had been replaced, the highway itself was still being constructed. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 passes under the Washington Street overpass. Much of the expanded rights of way to the west will be used for a light rail corridor. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The new style of bridge over southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 has quite a bit more character than the older bridges that used to span the freeway. The next overpass is Louisiana Street. Photo taken 11/10/03.
As the freeway moves away from Santa Fe Drive, it travels in a southeasterly direction, even turning due east for a section near Colorado Boulevard. Here, Interstate 25/U.S. 87 approaches the Downing Street overpass. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 is for University Boulevard (Exit 205); the next overpass is for Franklin Street. University Boulevard is another north-south road, further illustrating the movement of Interstate 25 and the Valley Highway to the east. In 1957, University Boulevard was signed as Colorado 177; that designation is gone today. Use University Boulevard north to Denver Country Club, where the road splits into the York Street/Josephine Street one-way couplet. To the south, University Boulevard serves Denver University. Photo taken 11/10/03.
This is the reconstructed Steele Street bridge; check out the original structure on the northbound section as well as the special focus section on Steele Street in the next photobox. Photo taken 11/10/03.
View of Interstate 25/U.S. 87 southbound from the deck of the old Steele Street bridge. We replicated the same view from the replacement bridge, and you can see the change in the roadway construction as a result of T-Rex. Photo taken 02/02/02.
This temporary construction sign is found along southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 prior to the offramp for Exit 204, Junction Colorado 2/Colorado Boulevard. Colorado 2, in addition to carrying a good amount of traffic, also may have had some history as a U.S. highway, since a Gousha map from 1957 shows U.S. 87 departing Interstate 25 (then known as the Valley Highway, which was incomplete between University Boulevard and Colfax Avenue), traveling north on Colorado Boulevard, then turning west on U.S. 36-40-287/Colfax Avenue until Park Avenue (which becomes 23rd Street). U.S. 87-287 then followed Park Avenue, 23rd Street, and Fox Street, with U.S. 87 returning to the Valley Highway northbound, while U.S. 287 followed West 38th Avenue west to Federal Boulevard. Of course, all of that has changed now that U.S. 87 remains on Interstate 25 for its entire length in Colorado (possibly excepting some segments around Colorado Springs). Photo taken 11/10/03.
View of the Colorado Boulevard bridge, which is slated for reconstruction as part of the T-Rex project. Colorado Boulevard (Colorado 2) offers the most direct route north from this point, while Interstate 25 gradually trends toward the northwest prior to reaching downtown Denver. Between 2002 and 2004, this section of Interstate 25 was reconstructed, resulting in some major change during the intervening years. The signage and lane configuration changed dramatically, and formerly open and unfenced areas between the freeway and adjacent development has been claimed by concrete. The overpasses have also been modified or replaced as part of the T-Rex project. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The T-Rex project will not only upgrade Interstate 25, but it will also result in a light rail corridor, which explains the separation of the bridge here into three parts. The lanes from which this picture was taken will ultimately be used for the light rail. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 reaches Exit 202, Yale Avenue. Yale Avenue travels west to University Park and east into an "island" of Arapahoe County that missed its opportunity to join Denver County. To the west, eventually Yale Avenue ends at South Syracuse Way. There is no connection from southbound Interstate 25 to Evans Avenue (Exit 203 on northbound). Photo taken 11/10/03.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 is Exit 201, Junction U.S. 285 south and Colorado 30 north, Hampden Avenue. Hampden Avenue west carries U.S. 285, while eastbound is designated as Colorado 30 at Exit 201. The first photo shows the current temporary signage for this exit, while the second photo the signage in place prior to reconstruction. Use Hampden Avenue east to the Denver neighborhoods of Hampden and Hampden South, as well as the city of Aurora via a 90-degree turn onto Havana Street northbound. To the west, Hampden Avenue serves as the boundary between Arapahoe and Denver Counties between Dahlia Street and the western edge of the Wellshire Municipal Golf Course. From there, Hampden Avenue enters the city of Englewood, then assumes expressway and then freeway characteristics west of U.S. 85/Santa Fe Drive. The U.S. 285 freeway continues west into Lakewood in Jefferson County and then meets Colorado 470 southwest of Denver. Although primarily a north-south route, U.S. 285 approaches Interstate 25 from the west at this interchange. U.S. 285 starts in Texas, then heads north via Santa Fe, New Mexico, into Colorado. U.S. 285 terminates at the Interstate 25 overpass, and Colorado 30 continues east from this point along Hampden Avenue. Colorado 30 turns north, then connects to Gun Club Road. It terminates at a seemingly arbitrary point adjacent to the E-470 tollway, but it does not directly connect to that freeway at its terminus. Photo taken 11/10/03.
This old button copy sign, posted on southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 as it approaches Interstate 225 north (Exit 200), is placed on the left of this bridge because it was formerly a left exit. Now that the transition ramp has been reconstructed to be a right exit, the sign is obsolete and likely will be replaced as part of the T-Rex project. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Temporary construction sign from southbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87 at Exit 200, Interstate 225 north. Interstate 225 leads northeast to connect with Interstate 70 (note control city of "Limon") and also connects with Federico Peņa Boulevard en route to Denver International Airport. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Here is a view of the new transition ramp from southbound Interstate 25 to northbound Interstate 225 (Exit 200) as seen from the gore point. Interstate 25 south now leaves Denver County and enters Arapahoe County; the next exit is Exit 199 for Colorado 88 west. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Other Interstate 25/U.S. 87 Pictures
Side view looking east of the Steele Street bridge over Interstate 25/U.S. 87 and the temporary replacement bridge used for pedestrians only. This facility has been replaced with a permanent Steele Street bridge as part of the T-Rex reconstruction project on Interstate 25. Photo taken 02/02/02.
View of temporary pedestrian bridge at Steele Street, looking east. This bridge is gone now that the permanent bridge is back in place. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Many of the older bridges along Interstate 25 have the street name in a small green sign on the bridge so it is visible to traffic passing below. However, while most newer bridges in Colorado do not have similar signage that announce the name of the street passing over the freeway, the new T-Rex bridges have the street names inscribed into the bridges. Photo taken 02/02/02.
This suite of pictures shows the former Steele Street bridge on the day before it was to be demolished overnight by work crews. Photos taken 02/02/02.
