State Route 59, 60, 61 and 62 in Colorado

By | October 29, 2022

State Route 59 in Colorado

SR-59
Get started Kit Carson
End Sedgwick
Length 166 mi
Length 267 km
Route
Kit Carson

Seibert

Cope

Yuma

Haxtun

Sedgwick

According to Existingcountries, State Route 59, commonly known as State Highway 59 or SH 59 is a state route in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road forms a long north-south route across the High Plains in the east of the state, from Kit Carson to Sedgwick. SH 59 is 267 kilometers long.

Travel directions

SH 59 begins on US 40 / US 287 in the village of Kit Carson and ends on US 138 in the village of Sedgwick. The road passes through a flat and barren area, with plenty of circular irrigation. The few villages on the route are quite far apart, the road leads long stretches through lonely and monotonous landscape. Remarkably, SH 59 does not cross any other state highways, only Interstate Highways, Interstate 70 at Seibert and Interstate 76 at Sedgwick, and several US Highways. The US 385 runs parallel to the SH 59 at a distance of mostly 25 to 40 kilometers. The SH 59 regularly jumps a bit to the east and follows the gridthat was once developed in eastern Colorado. Many side roads are unpaved.

History

SH 59 was one of the original 1920s state highways. At the time, the road formed a north-south route from the Oklahoma state border to the Nebraska state border, passing through Lamar, Seibert, Yuma, and Sedgwick. In 1940, the section south of Kit Carson became part of US 287. Since then, SH 59 has maintained its current route, although some sections have been temporarily handed over to the counties over the years. In 2018, the bridge from SH 59 over I-70 at Seibert was hit by a truck and had to be demolished.

It is striking that, despite its considerable length, SH 59 does not cross any other state highway. All intersecting major roads are Interstate Highways or US Highways.

Due to the low traffic, SH 59 has not been developed to a high standard anywhere. It’s a single lane road through the prairies.

Traffic intensities

SH 59 is a mostly very quiet road, with mostly 300 to 800 vehicles per day between villages that are far apart. The highest intensities are measured around Yuma where up to 3,300 vehicles drive per day.

State Route 60 in Colorado

SR-60
Get started Campion
End Gilcrest
Length 20 mi
Length 32 km
Route
Campion

Johnstown

Milliken

Gilcrest

State Route 60, commonly known as State Highway 60 or SH 60 is a state route in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road forms a 20-mile east-west connection in the north of the state, between US 287 and US 85.

Travel directions

At the village of Campion, just south of the town of Loveland, SH 60 begins at an intersection with US 287. The road then heads east through a flat and exurban area, then jumps south one plane in the grid west of Johnstown, parallel to Interstate 25. The road then leads through the towns of Johnstown and Milliken, which are developing into suburbs of several cities in the region. East of Milliken, the road jumps south again, before ending up on US 85 northeast of Gilcrest.

History

SH 60 is one of the original 1920s state highways and has always run on its current route between US 287 and US 85. The road was paved in the late 1930s between Johnstown and US 85 and was completed in 1946. asphalted. SH 60 has always passed through rural areas, but the region is rapidly urbanizing.

Traffic intensities

Every day, 3,000 vehicles travel between Campion and I-25, increasing to 12,000 through Johnstown and 8,000 through Milliken. 5,000 vehicles continue to US 85.

State Route 61 in Colorado

SR-61
Get started Otis
End Sterling
Length 41 mi
Length 66 km
Route
Otis

Sterling

State Route 61, commonly known as State Highway 61 or SH 61 is a state route in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road forms a north-south route in the northeast of the state, between Otis and Sterling. SH 61 is 66 kilometers long.

Travel directions

SH 61 connects US 34 in the village of Otis and US 6 near the town of Sterling, right next to the junction with Interstate 76. There are no other places on the route, and the road leads across the barren High Plains with only limited elevation changes, especially into the South Platte River valley.

History

SH 61 is one of the original state highways from the 1920s. The road originally ran from US 36 at Cope to US 6 at Sterling. The road was paved in the mid-1950s. In 1954, SH 61 was shortened to Otis in the south.

Traffic intensities

Every day, 500 to 700 vehicles use the SH 61.

State Route 62 in Colorado

SR-62
Get started Placerville
End ridgeway
Length 23 mi
Length 38 km
Route
Placervilleridgeway

According to anycountyprivateschools.com, State Route 62, commonly known as State Highway 62 or SH 62 is a state route in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road forms an east-west link in the Rocky Mountains between Placerville and Ridgway in the southwestern part of the state. SH 62 is 38 kilometers long.

Travel directions

At the hamlet of Placerville, SH 62 begins at 2,200 meters at an intersection with SH 145. The road heads east and ascends through Leopard Creek Canyon to Dallas Divide, a 2,738-foot mountain pass. The road then descends quite easily to the Ridgway at 2,100 meters altitude, where SH 62 ends at US 550.

History

A toll road over the Dallas Divide was built in 1880, connecting Ridgway and Telluride. Numbered SH 62 in the 1920s, it was one of the original state highways in Colorado. The road was paved throughout the 1940s, except for the route over the Dallas Divide itself, which was paved in 1954.

Traffic intensities

Every day, about 3,500 vehicles use the SH 62. It is the main link between Ouray and Telluride.

State Route 62 in Colorado