U.S. 138 follows the South Platte River between Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6 in Sterling and U.S. 30 in Big Springs, Nebraska, serving the farming towns of Iliff, Proctor, Crook, Sedgwick, Ovid, and Julesburg along the way. About 60 miles of the U.S. route is in Colorado, the remaining 13 miles is in Nebraska. Since it was orphaned in 1931 (when U.S. 6 was extended over most of the original route of Former U.S. 38), U.S. 138 has the distinction of being one of the few three-digit U.S. routes whose parent was decommissioned but the child route remains. Other such routes include U.S. 199 (California/Oregon), U.S. 166 (Kansas/Missouri), and U.S. 266 (Oklahoma). Neither U.S. 99 nor U.S. 66 remain in service today.
U.S. 138 East
This is the first eastbound U.S. 138 shield, found along one-way 3rd Street in Sterling. U.S. 138 continues northeast from here, following the 3rd Street/4th Street couplet out of town. The city of Sterling is home to 13,916 people and is the seat of Logan County. Nearby North Sterling Reservoir State Park and the Pawnee National Grassland offer recreational opportunities. Otherwise, Sterling is a regional city that offers amenities to the residents of several towns and rural areas within a multi-county radius. The elevation is 3,939 feet, with an average annual precipitation of about 13.42 inches. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Northeast of Sterling, U.S. 138 merges with U.S. 385, and the two routes travel east through the town of Julesburg. With four lanes, the road acts as a barrier between downtown Julesburg and the railroad. Photo taken 09/05/05.
A gas station, restaurant, and antique store are located on the north side of U.S. 138-385. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Now leaving downtown Julesburg, U.S. 138 and U.S. 385 divide. U.S. 138 continues northeast into Nebraska, passing by Interstate 80, through Big Springs, and ending at U.S. 30. U.S. 385 exits here to resume its southerly trajectory toward Holyoke, Wray, and Burlington. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Eastbound U.S. 138 reaches the exit for U.S. 385 south to Interstate 76. Interstate 76 offers the freeway bypass around Julesburg, Ovid, and Sedgwick as well as the fastest route to Denver to the west and Interstate 80 to the east. Photo taken 09/05/05.
At the top of the ramp, U.S. 385 turns south off of U.S. 138. Photo taken 09/05/05.
U.S. 138 West
U.S. 138, a short route that parallels Interstate 76 between Big Springs, Nebraska, with Sterling, Colorado, leaves the Cornhusker State of Nebraska and enters the Centennial State of Colorado. The town of Julesburg, which is the seat of Sedgwick County, comes into view on the horizon. Photo taken 09/05/05.
The first major junction on westbound U.S. 138 is with U.S. 385, which provides a major north-south route through Eastern Colorado. U.S. 385 is one of the few major routes in Colorado that does not have any major mountainous section. Established in 1959 from Big Bend National Park in Texas to Lead, South Dakota, U.S. 385 follows a series of former state routes in eastern Colorado. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Through this interchange with U.S. 385, U.S. 138 becomes a Super Two, with exit and entrance ramps for U.S. 385. Use U.S. 385 south to Interstate 76, the nearby parallel freeway; U.S. 385 north joins with U.S. 138 west through Julesburg. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Here is a view of the diamond interchange in its entirety; note how U.S. 138 is considered the through route. Photo taken 09/05/05.
A farming community, the Julesburg skyline is dominated by the large co-op grain elevator. The town was established during the frontier days as a trading post. Julesburg was named for the French trader Jules Beni who founded the town in 1859. As of the 2000 Census, 1,467 people call Julesburg home, which is an increase over the 1990 population of 1,295 people. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Julesburg is one of the lower communities in the state, with an elevation of 3,477 feet above sea level. It location at the junction of Interstate 80 and Interstate 76 has helped it to gain prominence as a service center for commercial traffic en route to Denver, the West Coast, and the Midwest. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Westbound U.S. 138 and northbound U.S. 385 are signed at the intersection with the main street downtown: Cedar Street. The mileage sign refers to Chappell, which is a town in Nebraska found along U.S. 30 and U.S. 385 near Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Continuing southwest, U.S. 138 enters the metropolitan area of Sterling. U.S. 138 ends at the junction with Business Loop I-76 and U.S. 6, just east of the Colorado 14 intersection. This shield assembly for Business Loop I-76 and U.S. 6 is the first indication of the pending junction along westbound U.S. 138. Photo taken 08/29/04.
To Interstate 76 to Denver and Julesburg, turn left. To Colorado 14, continue straight ahead. U.S. 138 west will end and Business Loop I-76/U.S. 6 takes over en route to Atwood. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Here is the western end of U.S. 138 in Sterling. There is no END shield posted at this intersection. Photo taken 08/29/04.
These shields show that U.S. 138 becomes Business Loop I-76 and U.S. 6 westbound. Photo taken 08/29/04.
Other Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 138
Southbound Cedar Street approaches its junction with U.S. 138 and U.S. 385 in downtown Julesburg. Neither of these shields is standard: the U.S. 138 is a California-style cut out shield with extra bold numerals, while the U.S. 385 shield has smaller than normal numerals and is yellowing with age. Photo taken 09/05/05.
Turn left on U.S. 138-385 for the fastest route to Interstate 76 en route to Interstate 80 to the east and Denver to the southwest. To the right (west), U.S. 138-385 leads to Chappell (via U.S. 385 north) and Ovid (via U.S. 138 west). Photo taken 09/05/05.
Southbound Cedar Street reaches its junction with U.S. 138-385 in downtown Julesburg. Photo taken 09/05/05.
