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Interstate 70 - Jefferson County

Index

The Interstate 70 page is separated into the following sections:
Interstate 70 West
Upon crossing Sheridan Boulevard (Colorado 95), Interstate 70 leaves Denver and enters Jefferson County. The next three exits along westbound Interstate 70 are Exit 270, Harlan Street; Exit 269A, Junction Colorado 121/Wadsworth Boulevard; and Exit 267, Junction Colorado 391/Kipling Street. There is no access from westbound Interstate 70 to eastbound Interstate 76 without making a U-turn at the Colorado 391 interchange. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 270, Harlan Street. Use Harlan Street north to Berkely neighborhood in Denver and south to Lakeside and Mountain View. Interstate 70 enters the city of Wheat Ridge for the first time. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound Interstate 70 are Exit 269A, Junction Colorado 121, Wadsworth Boulevard; Exit 267, Junction Colorado 391/Kipling Street; and Exit 266, Junction Colorado 72, Ward Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This diagrammatical sign illustrates the lane allocation between westbound Interstate 70 and the offramp to Colorado 121 (Exit 269A). The right two lanes exit onto Colorado 121, while the left three lanes continue west on Interstate 70. Note the control city of Grand Junction for westbound Interstate 70. Use Colorado 121 north to the Arvada Marketplace shopping center. Colorado 121 south travels into Wheat Ridge. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Ever so briefly, Interstate 70 clips the southeastern corner of the city of Arvada. After traffic from Interstate 76 merges onto Interstate 70, Interstate 70 will depart Arvada and reenter Wheat Ridge. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Interstate 70 curves to the left as the freeway prepares to merge with Interstate 76; the signs visible in the distance are for the transition ramp to Colorado 121/Wadsworth Boulevard. In the shadow of this major interchange, Clear Creek flows underneath Interstate 70. The Western Interstate 76 (former Interstate 80S) begins here in Arvada west of Denver, and the major highway leads in a northeasterly direction to connect to Interstate 80 near Big Spring, Nebraska. Within Colorado, Interstate 76 parallels the South Platte River, leading to the Eastern Colorado towns of Fort Morgan, Sterling, and Julesburg. From Interstate 70 west, use the Colorado 391 interchange as a U-turn to connect to Interstate 76 eastbound. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Traffic from Interstate 76 merges onto westbound Interstate 70. The freeway swells to five lanes in width. Stay in the middle three lanes to continue west on Interstate 70; prepare to merge right to connect to Exit 267, Junction Colorado 391/Kipling Street. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Interstate 70 reenters Wheat Ridge with five lanes on eastbound. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The left lane ends and the right lane becomes exit only for Colorado 391, Kipling Street. The middle three lanes continue west on Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound Interstate 70 are Exit 267, Junction Colorado 391/Kipling Street; Exit 266, Junction Colorado 72, Ward Road; and Exit 265, Junction Colorado 58 Freeway west to Golden. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The left lane ends ahead; this freeway was widened as part of the reconfiguration of the Interstate 70/Interstate 76 merge and improved interchange with Colorado 121/Wadsworth Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 267, Junction Colorado 391, Kipling Street. This interchange marks the northern terminus of Colorado 391, which travels south through Wheat Ridge via Kipling Street. The section of Kipling Street that continues north into Arvada is not a state highway. A variety of motels and restaurants are available at this interchange. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 266, Junction Colorado 72/Ward Road. This exit also provides access to east-west 44th Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound Interstate 70 are Exit 266, Junction Colorado 72, Ward Road; Exit 265, Junction Colorado 58 Freeway west to Golden; and Exit 264, West 32nd Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Following the Colorado 72 interchange is Exit 265, Junction Colorado 58. Colorado 58 is a short freeway that connects Interstate 70 west with downtown Golden; Colorado 58 ends at an intersection with U.S. 6 and Colorado 93 west of downtown Golden. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Colorado 72 north follows Ward Road into western Arvada, then continues northwest via Ralston Road, Indiana Street, and Coal Creek Canyon Road toward Boulder County. To the south, Ward Road ends at 44th Avenue, which travels east to Wheat Ridge and west to Golden. This interchange is a folded diamond, so the offramp is a partial loop ramp that connects to Ward Road via a short segment of 44th Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 266, Junction Colorado 72/Ward Road and 44th Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 70 is Exit 265, Junction Colorado 58 west to Golden. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 265, Junction Colorado 58 west. Colorado 58 east of Golden was upgraded to freeway standards in the early 1970s as part of a freeway that parallels West 44th Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 264, W. 32nd Avenue and Youngfield Street. Use 32nd Avenue west to pass the north slope of South Table Mountain and enter downtown Golden near the main Coors Brewing Company. Use 32nd Avenue east to connect to Applewood Village and the city of Wheat Ridge. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound are Exit 264, Youngfield Street and 32nd Avenue; Exit 263, Denver West Boulevard; and Exit 262, Junction Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 40, Colfax Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Between Exits 265 and 264, Interstate 70 briefly turns south, parallel to Youngfield Street. To continue south from here, take Youngfield Street south to Applewood Grove, Wide Acres, and Lakewood. Otherwise, Interstate 70 will again turn southeast toward Camp George West, Pleasant View, and south Golden. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 263, Denver West Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound are Exit 263, Denver West Boulevard; Exit 262, Junction Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 40, Colfax Avenue; and Exit 260, Junction Colorado 470. There is no direct connection from westbound Interstate 70 to westbound U.S. 6; one must use U.S. 40/Colfax Avenue to make that connection. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Use Denver West Boulevard north to the National Renewable Energy Lab at Camp George West and south to connect to Colfax Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 263, Denver West Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound are Exit 262, Junction Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 40, Colfax Avenue; Exit 260, Junction Colorado 470; and Exit 259, Junction Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40/Jefferson County Route 93. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Colfax Avenue is also U.S. 40, and the stretch between former Colorado 26 (now Jefferson County Route 93) and Interstate 70 near E-470 is one of the longest urban business loops in the country. Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 40 provide the more direct, albeit comparably slower, route toward downtown Denver via Lakewood. Use Interstate 70 to Wheat Ridge and Arvada as well as the connection to Interstate 76 east. Between U.S. 40 and Colorado 58, Interstate 70 angles north, then turns east again toward the Mousetrap Interchange with Interstate 25/U.S. 87. Here, westbound Interstate 70 meets Colfax Avenue at Exit 262. Use U.S. 40 west to connect to U.S. 6 west to Golden and Clear Creek Canyon. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 260, Junction Colorado 470, which follows the belt route south through Jefferson County, then into Douglas County. Colorado 470 serves Morrison, Bear Creek Park, Ken Caryl Ranch, Highlands Ranch, and Lone Tree. Coupled with E-470 (toll), Colorado 470 offers the only complete bypass of the Denver metropolitan area for through traffic on Interstate 70. For Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Albuquerque, use Colorado 470 south to Interstate 25 south. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits along westbound are Exit 260, Junction Colorado 470; Exit 259, Junction Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40/Jefferson County Route 93; and Exit 256, Lookout Mountain Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The right two lanes become exit only for Colorado 470 (Exit 260) while the left three lanes begin the climb into the foothills via westbound Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 260, Junction Colorado 470 southeast. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This variable message sign, posted after the Colorado 470 interchange, provides motorist information, including weather conditions that may affect freeway travel in the higher elevations. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Use Exit 259 to connect to Red Rocks Park and the Mother Cabrini Shrine Chapel. According to the official web page, Mother Cabrini Shrine was established on the hill to the left of and above Interstate 70 by Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini as a summer camp for orphan children. Mother Cabrini was beatified in 1938, and the property is today a mission that serves the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The shrine is visible to the north of the freeway (off of Cabrini Boulevard via U.S. 40/North Frontage Road). Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 70 approaches Exit 259, Junction Business Loop I-70/U.S. 40 east and former Colorado 26 south to Jefferson County Route 93, next right. Photo taken 08/29/04.
As noticed on this guide sign, the Colorado 26 shield was scraped off since it was decommissioned between here and Colorado 88/Federal Boulevard in Denver. Morrison is located several miles south of here via former Colorado 26 and Jefferson County Route 93. Photo taken 08/29/04.
At the base of the ramp, you can see U.S. 40 acting as a frontage road as it travels along the north side of Interstate 70. Make a left to Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks; turn right to Mother Cabrini Shrine Chapel. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This mileage sign is found along westbound Interstate 70; it provides the distance to Idaho Springs and Grand Junction. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Westbound Interstate 70 approaches Exit 256, Lookout Mountain Road (to U.S. 40), 0.75 mile. Since U.S. 40 is technically located on the northern frontage road parallel to Interstate 70 at this point, access may be found to both east and west U.S. 40 from the Exit 259 interchange. Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 40 head east into Golden, and Jefferson County Route 93 (former Colorado 26) heads south toward Dinosaur Ridge. This stretch of Colorado 26 has been decommissioned, and all of the shields have been removed. This may be due to the possibility that Alameda Avenue through Dinosaur Ridge may be closed due to the damage caused by the vehicles passing by the archaeological area. A new interchange at Colorado 470 would be constructed to handle traffic that used to follow this route. Even though maps may state otherwise, U.S. 40 remains separated from Interstate 70 between Exits 288 and 254. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Westbound Interstate 70 approaches Exit 256, Junction U.S. 40 west/Lookout Mountain Road, which also leads to Buffalo Bill's Grave. This exit also connects to the U.S. 40 frontage road, which is not mentioned from any of the freeway signs. Photo taken 11/08/03.
U.S. 40 separates from Interstate 70 between Exits 256 and 254; it follows a frontage road on the north side of the freeway. The frontage road between Exit 256 and Exit 259 (Colfax Avenue) is also part of U.S. 40. Westbound Interstate 70 at Exit 256, Junction U.S. 40 west/Lookout Mountain. Photo taken 11/08/03.
View of the Lookout Mountain overpass as seen along westbound Interstate 70. The freeway pulls away from the urban areas of Denver and continues up a steep ascent into the Rocky Mountains Front Range. Interstate 70 will continue in an upward direction almost all the way to the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels, which is the highest point anywhere on the Interstate Highway System. While it took several hundred miles of Interstate 70 through the Great Plains to gain a little less than a mile in elevation, it will only take 60 miles to gain another mile in elevation. Photo taken 02/02/02.
This Interstate 70 Colorado shield is posted on westbound after Exit 256. Photo taken 11/08/03.
U.S. 40 rejoins Interstate 70 at the next exit, Exit 254; they remain cosigned for a few miles, then separate briefly at Exit 252/Junction Colorado 74. This picture shows the approach to Exit 254 along westbound. Photo taken 11/10/03.
The buffalo herd is located on private property on a hillside overlooking Interstate 70 to the south of the freeway. To see the herd, take the overlook exit, then look south toward the herd. They are almost always within sight of the freeway, but it is not easy to see them unless you are stopped. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 254, Junction U.S. 40 east/Genesee Park. U.S. 40 west merges onto the freeway at Exit 254. A variety of homes and residences can be found in the neighborhoods accessed via the Genesee Park exit. Just like the U.S. 6 exit near Gypsum, U.S. 40 is not signed from this exit ramp for some reason. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Underneath the Genesee Park (Exit 254) overpass on westbound is the buffalo herd overlook, which allows motorists to view a herd of privately owned buffalo. Photo taken 11/08/03.
This is the gore point for the buffalo herd overlook exit. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Interstate 70/U.S. 40 West
Heading out of Denver, the vista after the Genesee Park exit is the first glimpse of the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. Westbound travelers are in for a scenic treat that lasts for hundreds of miles. Photo taken 11/08/03.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 is Exit 253, Chief Hosa. The signage is secondary to the fabulous vista of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains visible along this stretch of Interstate 70. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 reaches Exit 253, Chief Hosa. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 between Exits 253 and 252. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Interstate 70 West
The next exit along westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 is Exit 252, Junction U.S. 40 west and Colorado 74/Evergreen Parkway South, one mile. U.S. 40 leaves Interstate 70 briefly again, this time between Exits 252 and 244 to follow the frontage road. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Colorado 74/Evergreen Parkway travels south into Evergreen, then turns east to end at Colorado 8 in Morrison near Red Rocks Park. For the first mile or so, Colorado 74 is merged with U.S. 40, although U.S. 40 is mostly not signed on the overlapped segment. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 reaches Exit 252, Junction U.S. 40 west and Colorado 74/Evergreen Parkway South. Colorado 74 heads south to Hidden Valley, Bergen Park, Wah Keeney Park, Evergreen, and Kittredge before turning east back toward the metropolitan area. It ends at its junction with Colorado 8 in Morrison. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Here is another view of Interstate 70, this time between Exits 252 and 248. Photo taken 11/08/03.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 70 is Exit 248, Junction U.S. 40, Beaver Brook and Floyd Hill, one mile. Photo taken 11/08/03.
Westbound Interstate 70 reaches Exit 248, Junction U.S. 40 to Beaver Brook and Floyd Hill. This is the last exit in Jefferson County; the freeway now enters Clear Creek County. Photos taken 11/08/03 and 02/02/02.
Here is a final scene along westbound Interstate 70 near Floyd Hill, this time right after Exit 248. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Other Interstate 70 Pictures
Signage for the Park and Ride at the Interstate 70 Genesee Park exit along U.S. 40 (frontage road). It's hard to believe that mass transit has found its way this far up the mountain. Genesee Park is not a heavily populated area, but it is good that commuting and transit services are available. Photo taken 02/02/02.
Interstate 70 is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway in Colorado, as evidenced by this sign, located in a small rest area on the south side of the Genesee Park interchange. The shield even has "Colorado" in it, which was a rarity at the time this photo was taken, but today (2005) is much more commonly found on all of Colorado's Interstates. Photo taken 02/02/02.

Page Updated July 9, 2005.