| Jackson Lake State Park is located north of Wiggins near Goodrich, where Colorado 39 intersects Colorado 144 near the South Platte River. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76 reaches Exit 66A, Junction Colorado 39 north to Goodrich and Jackson Lake and Colorado 52 south to Wiggins. Use Colorado 39 north to connect to U.S. 34 west, which stealthily enters the fray from the northwest. Meanwhile, the U.S. 6 business route rejoins Interstate 76 from the southwest. In fact, when U.S. 34 east merges onto Interstate 76 east, an onramp brings U.S. 6 east onto U.S. 34 just before merging back onto the freeway. This makes for an amazingly complex interchange for being in such a small town. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| In addition to the junction with Colorado 39 and Colorado 52, Exit 66A also connects to a rest area. As noted earlier, not mentioned on any of the advance signs is the merge with U.S. 34 east. Exit 66B on westbound Interstate 76 is the split with U.S. 34. To reach U.S. 34 west to Greeley, use Exit 66A to Colorado 39 north to U.S. 34 west. Otherwise, Interstate 76 and U.S. 6-34 combine for the next nine miles; they will split again at Exit 75, the Fort Morgan business route interchange. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Interstate 76/U.S. 6-34 East and Colorado 52 North
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| And so, eastbound Interstate 76 and unsigned U.S. 6-34/Colorado 52 east leave the town of Wiggins. The next exit along eastbound is Exit 73, Long Bridge Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6-34/Colorado 52 reaches Exit 73, Long Bridge Road. Use Long Bridge Road north to Colorado 144 and south to Morgan County Route 12, which loops west back to Wiggins. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76, U.S. 6-34, and Colorado 52 is Exit 75, Junction Business Loop I-76, U.S. 34/Colorado 52 east to Fort Morgan and Brush. This is the beginning of the longest business loop in Colorado: It extends northeast all the way to Sterling, at Exit 125, a distance of over 50 miles. Based on the lack of U.S. 6 signage on the business route through Fort Morgan, it appears that U.S. 6 remains on Interstate 76 (unsigned) until Exit 92 near Brush. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The City of Fort Morgan was founded in 1884 and has a population of 11,034 as of the 2000 Census. A regional hub, its website extols the fact that it is less than an hour's drive from Denver International Airport. This is made possible by the 75 mile per hour speed limit on Interstate 76, since the airport is nearly 60 miles away from here. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 splits from U.S. 34/Colorado 52 at Exit 75. U.S. 34/Colorado 52 will follow Business Loop I-76 (Platte Avenue) through Fort Morgan, with Colorado 52 resuming its course northbound via Main Street in downtown Fort Morgan. Since the business route and downtown is located south of the freeway, Interstate 76 will intersect Colorado 52 a third time at upcoming Exit 80. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Interstate 76/U.S. 6 East
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 is Exit 79, Junction Colorado 144 northwest to Weldona and southeast to Fort Morgan. Colorado 144 follows Riverview Avenue, ending at Colorado 52/Main Street north of downtown Fort Morgan. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 79, Junction Colorado 144 to Weldona and Fort Morgan. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76 is Exit 80, Junction Colorado 52/Main Street north to New Raymer (Junction Colorado 14) in Weld County and south to downtown Fort Morgan. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 80, Junction Colorado 52/Main Street in Fort Morgan. The next exit is Exit 82, Barlow Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Barlow Road travels north toward a dead end prior to reaching the South Platte River and south to Business Loop I-76/U.S. 34/Platte Avenue. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 82, Barlow Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 is Exit 86, Dodd Bridge Road. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 86, Dodd Bridge Road. Use Dodd Bridge Road north to destinations north of the South Platte River and to Business Loop I-76 to the south. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| As the name implies, the next exit (Exit 89/Hospital Road) offers a route to the East Morgan County Hospital, which serves the city of Brush. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next three exits serve the City of Brush. Brush is situated about nine miles east of Fort Morgan, and it is served by the same business loop as Fort Morgan. Founded in 1884, the city has a strong agricultural and is home to just over 5,245 people (2005 estimate per the official webpage). Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 89, Hospital Road south to Business Loop I-76/U.S. 34 (Edison Street). Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound is Exit 90A, Junction Colorado 71. Colorado 71 is a major north-south corridor that follows the Heartland Expressway from Rocky Ford in Otero County north to South Dakota, passing through Limon, Brush, Kimball, and Scottsbluff through eastern Colorado and western Nebraska. The entire route is designated as state route 71 in all three states that it traverses, and it is being expanded to a four-lane highway in Nebraska. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Exit 90 is a cloverleaf interchange. Use Exit 90A for Colorado 71 south to Brush and to U.S. 34 east to Akron, Yuma, and Wray. Use Exit 90B (the second exit) to follow Colorado 71 north to Snyder, Stoneham, and Kimball. This is a major interchange. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 reaches Exit 90A, Junction Colorado 71 south to U.S. 34 east. Use Colorado 71 south to U.S. 350 southwest as an alternate route to Interstate 25 near Trinidad. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The second ramp connects eastbound Interstate 76/U.S. 6 with northbound Colorado 71. Use Colorado 71 north to Scottsbluff and Rapid City. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound is Exit 92, Junction Business Loop I-76 and U.S. 6, with a connection to U.S. 34 east to Akron, Yuma, and Wray. The business loop is not mentioned on these advance signs, but it is well signed on the surface street. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76 and U.S. 6 split for a final time here at Exit 92 (they meet one more time, at Exit 125). Use Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6 east to Hillrose, Merino, Atwood, and Sterling. Use Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6 west to Brush and to Junction U.S. 34. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Interstate 76 East
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to Sterling and Julesburg. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Major transmission lines cross Interstate 76; similar lines also pass Interstate 25 north of Fort Collins, which creates an interconnection grid for the Western region. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76 is Exit 95, Hillrose. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76 reaches Exit 95, Hillrose. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Prior to Exit 102, Interstate 76 east exits Morgan County and enters Washington County. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76 is Exit 102, Merino. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76 reaches Exit 102, Merino. Use this road north to U.S. 6 and Business Loop I-76 in Merino. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| After nicking the northwestern corner of Washington County, Interstate 76 enters Logan County, which includes the towns of Merino, Atwood, and Sterling. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 76 is Exit 115, Junction Colorado 63 north to Atwood (Junction Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6) and south to Akron (Junction U.S. 34) and Anton (Junction U.S. 36). Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76 reaches Exit 115, Junction Colorado 63 north to Atwood and south to Akron and Anton. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| The next exit is another ten miles further northeast on Interstate 76: Exit 125, Junction Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6. This is the final junction between eastbound Interstate 76 and U.S. 6. Use this interchange to enter the city of Sterling. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| A full range of services is available in Sterling, which is the seat of Logan County. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Use U.S. 6/Business Loop I-76 west to the North Sterling Reservoir State Park. A museum is located in downtown Sterling; follow the business route west to downtown. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Eastbound Interstate 76 reaches Exit 125, Junction Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6 west to Sterling and U.S. 6 east to Holyoke in Phillips County. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Use U.S. 6/Business Loop I-76 west to Colorado 14 west to Fort Collins and U.S. 138 northeast to Julesburg. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| Now on the ramp, this sign advises of the control points on U.S. 6 east (right turn) and west (left turn). Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| In addition to serving U.S. 6 and Business Loop I-76, Exit 125 also connects to U.S. 138 and Colorado 14. Follow U.S. 6/Business Loop I-76 west into Sterling to connect to U.S. 138 and Colorado 14. Photo taken 08/29/04.
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| After the Julesburg interchange (Junction U.S. 385), this mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 76 provides the distance to Big Springs, Ogallala, and Lincoln, all of which are destinations along eastbound Interstate 80 in Nebraska. Photo taken 09/05/05.
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| The freeway turns north along with the North Platte River, railroad, and U.S. 138 toward Big Springs. The freeway prepares to merge onto transcontinental Interstate 80, which is where the western Interstate 76 comes to an end. Photo taken 09/05/05.
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| There is no interchange at this overpass, but Sedgwick County Route 36 crosses over the freeway to provide farm access. The Nebraska State Line lies just ahead on northbound Interstate 76. Photo taken 09/05/05.
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Page Updated October 30, 2005.
