A short connector route, Interstate 270 links Interstate 70 with U.S. 36 (Denver Boulder Turnpike). U.S. 36 is secretly cosigned with Interstate 270 for its entire length. With the completion of the section between U.S. 36 and Interstate 76 in 2003, Interstate 270 now extends from Interstate 70 northwest to Interstate 25. Previously, it only ran from Interstate 70 to Interstate 76, and connections from Interstate 270 to U.S. 36 were accomplished through a maze of ramps and a bit of luck. The next stage in construction for Interstate 270 will be to introduce new connections from eastbound Interstate 270 to Interstate 76.
History
When first conceived as a route, Interstate 270 was numbered as Interstate 425. On February 26, 1959, the route designation was changed to Interstate 270. This freeway primarily constructed as a connector route to Stapleton International Airport between 1965 and 1970. Even after the airport was closed in favor of the new Denver International Airport, Interstate 270 remained an important connector route through Commerce City. The western extension of Interstate 270 to U.S. 36 and Interstate 25 was not completed until August 2003. Additional improvements included the construction of a flyover from southbound Interstate 25 to eastbound Interstate 270 in November 2005. Still planned is a connection from eastbound Interstate 270 to eastbound Interstate 76. The specific milestone dates of the various segments are as follows:
December 12, 1965 - Construction of Interstate 270 begins
August 2, 1968 - segment between U.S. 6-85/Vasquez Boulevard and Interstate 70 opens
October 23, 1970 - segment between Interstate 76 (former Interstate 80S) and U.S. 6-85/Vasquez Boulevard opens
April 1993 - construction begins on segment from Interstate 25/U.S. 87 and U.S. 36 to Interstate 76
June 2001 - westbound Interstate 270 extension from Interstate 76 to Interstate 25/U.S. 87 and U.S. 36 opens
March 2002 - eastbound Interstate 270 from Interstate 25/U.S. 87 to York Street opens
Interstate 270/U.S. 36 - East
Begin eastbound Interstate 270 signage along U.S. 36 as the Denver-Boulder Turnpike transitions into the newest Interstate highway in the Denver metropolitan area. The ramp for Exit 0, which connects to northbound Interstate 25, is located here. Notably, this shield says "Future Colorado 270," but it has since been promoted to full Interstate status, as indicated by the overhead sign. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 reaches the transition ramp to northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87. This section of freeway, from Interstate 25 to Interstate 76 is new, having been installed in 2002-2003. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 from Exits 2A-B, Junction U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2/Vasquez Boulevard and Exit 4, Colorado 35/Quebec Street. The space in this sign is for the future connection to Interstate 76 east that has not yet been constructed at this interchange. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 approaches Exits 2A-B, Junction U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2, Vasquez Boulevard. Note that the U.S. 6 shield is completely omitted from signage in this direction but is included on a few of the signs along westbound. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 for Exits 2A-B, Junction U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2, Vasquez Boulevard, as well as Exit 4/Colorado 35 and Exit 5/Junction Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 at Exit 2A, Junction Southwest U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2, Vasquez Boulevard. The next exit is for Northeast U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2. Photo taken 08/27/04.
To Colorado 2, use Exit 2A (Vasquez Boulevard). Colorado 2 begins in Denver, following Colorado Boulevard through to Commerce City. After meeting U.S. 6-85, it continues north toward Brighton. While both U.S. 85 and Colorado 2 serve Brighton, Colorado 2 follows a path to the east of U.S. 85 via Sable Boulevard. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 first reaches the offramp to Exit 2A, Junction U.S. 85/Colorado 2 south and U.S. 6 west, Vasquez Boulevard. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 reaches the loop ramp for Exit 2B, Junction North U.S. 85/Colorado 2 and East U.S. 6, Vasquez Boulevard. Photo taken 11/10/03.
This mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 provides the distance from the vicinity of U.S. 6-85 interchange to Exit 4, Quebec Street and Exit 5, Junction Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/27/04.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 4, Junction Colorado 35/Quebec Street, one mile. At one time, Quebec Street was to be a freeway corridor, starting at Interstate 270 and continuing south via the former Stapleton International Airport and south to 6th Avenue. Only a portion of the freeway, including the Smith Road interchange, was constructed. The rest was never built and later deleted from the books, especially when Colorado 35 was decommissioned south of Interstate 70 and Stapleton Airport was closed. Photo taken 11/10/03.
At the gore point for Exit 4 (Junction Colorado 35), the transition ramp from Interstate 270 east onto Interstate 70 east is visible. U.S. 36 continues east with a multiplex with Interstate 70 as far east as Byers (Exit 316). Photo taken 08/27/04.
Signage for Colorado 35/Quebec Street as seen at the top of the ramp from eastbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36. Colorado 35 is a very short route that basically connects Interstate 270 and Interstate 70, providing the movement from eastbound Interstate 270 to westbound Interstate 70 (and vice versa). That connection is not made at Exit 5; at that exit, Interstate 270 east simply merges onto eastbound Interstate 70. Photo taken 11/10/03.
After the Quebec Street interchange, eastbound Interstate 270 swings around to prepare its merge with Interstate 70 east. There is no END shield present along eastbound Interstate 270. It is implied that U.S. 36 east merges onto Interstate 70 east. Photo taken 08/27/04.
The four lanes of thick traffic on Interstate 70 come into view as the two lanes of Interstate 270 prepare to merge. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Once on Interstate 70 east, the first exit will be Havana Street (Exit 280). Photo taken 08/27/04.
Interstate 270/U.S. 36 - West
View of westbound Interstate 270 and U.S. 36 immediately after the split from Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 approaches the onramp merging onto the freeway from Colorado 35/Quebec Street. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit on westbound Interstate 270 after the U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2 exit is the junction with Interstate 76 (Exit 1), two miles. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Westbound Interstate 270 approaches Junction U.S. 6-85 and Colorado 2, Vasquez Boulevard. In the eternal tradition of poor U.S. route signage in Colorado, U.S. 6 and 85 are not consistently signed in both directions from Interstate 270. This first sign on westbound has U.S. 6, while eastbound ignores U.S. 6. Colorado 2 appears to be there for good measure, since much of what is now Colorado 2 northeast of this point could easily be part of U.S. 6. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 for the final three exits: U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2/Vasquez Boulevard, Interstate 76, and Interstate 25/U.S. 87. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Westbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 reaches Exit 2A, Junction U.S. 6-85 and Colorado 2/Vasquez Boulevard. It is difficult to describe the situation regarding U.S. 6-85 except to say that they briefly leave the freeway system between Interstate 70 and Interstate 76. It almost seems like it would be cleaner to let both routes connect directly from Interstate 25 to Interstate 76. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Oil refineries and oil tanks dominate the landscape as Interstate 270 leaves the U.S. 6-85/Colorado 2 interchange. Commerce City is well known for its industrial areas. Photo taken 08/29/04.
A neutered Interstate 270 shield is posted after the U.S. 6-85 interchange. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 is Exit 1, Junction Interstate 76 East/West to York Street, one mile. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains still sported some snow on this late summer day. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Westbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 approaches Exit 1, Junction Interstate 76 and Exit 0, Junction Interstate 25/U.S. 87. This entire interchange complex changed with the extension of Interstate 270 west to Interstate 25 and with the reconfiguration of the interchange with Interstate 76. Photo taken 08/29/04.
To reach York Street, use Exit 1. The first exit on the collector-distributor lanes from Interstate 270 is York Street, followed by Interstate 76. Photo taken 11/10/03.
After the Interstate 76 interchange, the next interchange is Exit 0, Junction Interstate 25/U.S. 87 and U.S. 36/Denver-Boulder Turnpike. This connection was formerly afforded via Interstate 76 west, but the new connection was built and opened around 2002. Photo taken 11/10/03.
Westbound Interstate 270 reaches the exit to the collector-distributor lanes that connect to Exit 1, east/west Interstate 76 and York Street. Photo taken 08/29/04.
View of the signage on the collector-distributor ramp from westbound Interstate 270 to east/west Interstate 76. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The mainlanes of westbound Interstate 270 stay to the left, while the exit lanes to Interstate 76 stay to the right as they pass under this older steel bridge carrying York Street over the freeway. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Here, the collector-distributor lane splits into east and west Interstate 76 (as seen from the main lanes). Photo taken 08/29/04.
The final exit along westbound Interstate 270/U.S. 36 is Exit 0, Junction Interstate 25 north to Fort Collins and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Interstate 25 offers the most direct route to northern Front Range cities. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This sign advises that Interstate 270 will directly convert into U.S. 36 northwestbound toward Boulder via the Denver-Boulder Turnpike. Photo taken 08/29/04.
This West Interstate 270 shield is unique because it says "FUTURE" where the word "INTERSTATE" belongs. Apparently, the section of Interstate 270 between Interstate 76 and Interstate 25 had not yet been accepted for inclusion as an Interstate at the time this photo was taken. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The right lanes become exit only for northbound Interstate 25/U.S. 87, while the left three lanes will transition directly onto U.S. 36 west. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The next three exits are Junction Interstate 25 north, Junction Colorado 224/Broadway, and Pecos Street. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The left two lanes carry U.S. 36 onto the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, while the right two lanes transition onto northbound Interstate 25. This marks the western terminus of Interstate 270. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Here is the gore point signage for Exit 0 for Interstate 25 north. There is no access to Interstate 25 south. Photo taken 08/29/04.
The END of Interstate 270, along with BEGIN U.S. 36, is posted at this shield assembly on the bridge over Interstate 25. Photo taken 08/29/04.
