Interstate 270 (Colorado)
| ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
East end | I-70 / US 36 in Denver | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Colorado | |||
Counties | Adams, Denver | |||
Highway system | ||||
| ||||
|
Interstate 270 (I-270) is a seven-mile-long (11 km)
Ground was broken on the first segment of I-270 in 1965, and the freeway was completed three years later, stretching from I-70 to Vasquez Boulevard. The road was then extended to I-76 two years later. The section between I-25 and I-76 was completed in 1999. Since completion, this section has undergone much construction to renew bridges over Clear Creek and Washington Street. Because the western end of I-270 is close to the junction of I-25 and I-76, some traffic movements to I-25 can only be made by using I-76.
Route description
I-270 begins at an interchange with I-25 in Welby and is concurrent with US 36. The speed limit through the first section is 45 mph (72 km/h).[4][5] The freeway heads southeastward for about one mile (1.6 km), crossing over Washington Street and State Highway 224 (SH 224), but access is not provided to either road. Mileposts along I-270 reset to 0 at the I-76 interchange because it was the original western end of the Interstate.[1][6] Since the I-76 interchange is close to both I-270's western end and the I-25/I-76 interchanges, some movements in the interchange are missing. Eastbound I-270 traffic cannot access westbound I-76 nor can eastbound I-76 traffic access westbound I-270. However, traffic on I-25 can access both westbound I-76 and eastbound I-270, thus completing the missing movements. The three interchanges work together by eliminating bottlenecks caused by redundant interchanges.[7]
Beyond the I-76 interchange, the speed limit increases to 55 mph (89 km/h).
The freeway is maintained by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), who is responsible for maintaining and constructing transportation infrastructure in Colorado, including highways.[17] As part of this role, CDOT periodically conducts surveys on their highways to measure traffic volume. This is expressed in terms of annual average daily traffic (AADT), which is a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year. In 2009, CDOT calculated that as few as 56,500 vehicles used I-270 daily east of its western terminus at I-25 and as many as 89,600 vehicles used I-270 daily southeast of York Street in Commerce City.[18] As part of the Interstate Highway System,[19] the entire route is listed on the National Highway System, a system of roads that are important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[20]
History
The
I-270 was constructed in several phases, beginning with a section from I-70 to Vasquez Boulevard. Following this section was another part of the freeway from Vasquez Boulevard west to I-76, and finally a section from US 36 to I-76. This last segment has undergone much more construction, including new bridges and ramps at interchanges.[2]
Construction
Construction on I-270 began in 1965. The first portion cost about $2.7 million (equivalent to $18.1 million in 2023[24]).[2] It opened in 1968, connecting I-70 to Vasquez Boulevard. Two years later, another two-mile (3.2 km) segment connected the portion already in service to I-80S.[2] I-80S became I-76 in 1976.[25] Construction began on the section between I-76 and I-25 in April 1993 and was finished in September 1999, costing $11.4 million (equivalent to $19.6 million in 2023[24]).[2] The mileposts were already established when construction took place, so the route was not assigned new mileposts.[1] Completion of this portion largely decreased traffic problems in the area.[26][27]
Improvements
The bridges along westbound I-270 over Washington Street were replaced and finished in the late 1990s, costing $12 million (equivalent to $24.7 million in 2023[24]).[2] By the end of 1998, the bridges over Clear Creek near the I-76 interchange were completed. In February 2000, a connection between westbound I-270 and westbound US 36 was completed,[28] as was access between I-76 westbound and I-270 westbound.[2][29] The eastbound section between US 36 and I-76, including new bridges over Washington Street and Clear Creek, was completed in March 2002 and totaled $8.5 million (equivalent to $13.8 million in 2023[24]).[2][30] Three years later, a flyover ramp was constructed connecting I-25 southbound to I-270 eastbound.[2][31] However, access between I-270 eastbound and I-76 westbound still does not exist.[32][33]
Future
Citing its significance as a freight corridor, in 2002, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) recommended widening I-270 from four to six lanes by 2025,[34] and it later identified widening I-270 and rebuilding the I-270/Vasquez Boulevard interchange in its 2040 Fiscally Constrained Regional Transportation Plan.[35] CDOT also maintained an interest in widening the freeway through the 2000s and 2010s, though funding was not available.[36][37] In October 2019, they listed the study and reconstruction of I-270 from I-76 and I-70 among projects to receive funding from Senate Bill 17-267; the reconstruction would include toll lanes, and toll revenue would be used to cover costs not paid by SB 17-267.[38]
In early 2020, CDOT included widening I-270 between I-76 and I-70 in the first phase of projects of their 10-year vision.[39] The High Performance Transportation Enterprise, a business within CDOT, additionally ranked I-270 fourth among its top priority corridors for managed lanes, placing it after three segments of I-25 in the Denver metropolitan area.[40] CDOT began a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study of I-270 in April 2020, scheduled to finish in late 2021[41][needs update] but noted that budget cuts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the project.[42]
Exit list
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denver–Boulder Turnpike) – Boulder | Continuation beyond western terminus | |||||
0 | US 87 north) – Fort Collins | I-25 exit 217 | ||||
| 1.100 0.000 | 1.770 0.000 | 1 | I-76 east – Fort Morgan | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; mileposts reset at this interchange (the original western terminus of I-270); I-76 exit 6. | |
| 0.385 | 0.620 | I-76 / York Street – Fort Morgan, Grand Junction | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-76 exit 6 | ||
Commerce City | 2.358 | 3.795 | 2 | US 6 / US 85 (US 6 / Vasquez Boulevard) / SH 2 | Partial cloverleaf interchange; signed as exits 2A (north) and 2B (south); no access from NB Vasquez Blvd. to I-270 east | |
City and County of Denver | 4.569 | 7.353 | 4 | Northfield Quebec Street (SH 35) | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |
5.378 | 8.655 | 5 | Central Park Boulevard | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
5.986 | 9.634 | — | I-70 east (US 36 east) – Aurora, Limon | Eastern end of US 36 concurrency; eastern terminus; I-70 exit 279A; provides access to Denver International Airport | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
|
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Segment Descriptions for I-270". Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Interstate 270". 50th Anniversary of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway". Google Maps. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Map of Adams County, Colorado (PDF) (Map). Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Route 270B Straight Line Diagram" (PDF). Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ "Mile Marker List for I-270". Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ a b Microsoft; Nokia (January 23, 2011). "I-270" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Route 270A Straight Line Diagram" (PDF). Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ "South Platte Cleanup". The Denver Post. May 10, 1997.
- ^ Colorado Highways Map (PDF) (Map). Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ "Sand Creek Cleanup Shows Heart". The Denver Post. September 13, 2004.
- ^ Map of Commerce City, Colorado (PDF) (Map). Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Classification List for I-270". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ "Interchange Information for I-270". Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Region List for I-270". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ Map of Denver, Colorado (PDF) (Map). Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "About CDOT". Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Traffic Information for Highway 270". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Table 3: Interstate Routes in Each of the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. October 31, 2002. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ National Highway System: Denver-Aurora, Colorado (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. March 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- American Association of State Highway Officials. Retrieved April 2, 2022 – via AASHTO Route Numbering Archive.
- ^ Watrous, Mark U. (November 25, 1958). "Correspondence with Mr. A. E. Johnson". American Association of State Highway Officials. Retrieved April 2, 2022 – via AASHTO Route Numbering Archive.
- ^ Johnson, A. E. (February 26, 1959). "Correspondence with Mr. Mark U. Watrous". American Association of State Highway Officials. Retrieved April 2, 2022 – via AASHTO Route Numbering Archive.
- ^ Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ "Interstate 76". 50th Anniversary of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "I-270 Link to US 36 Hailed as 1.1 Headache-Free Miles". Rocky Mountain News. Denver. August 16, 2003.
- ^ Flynn, Kevin (May 10, 2005). "Denver Gridlock Ranked 9th". Rocky Mountain News. Denver. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
- ^ Auge, Karen (February 22, 2000). "Extension Eases I-270 Passage to US 36". The Denver Post.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "2008 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ "Metro area CDOT road projects". Rocky Mountain News. October 11, 2006. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
- ^ Leib, Jeffrey (November 23, 2005). "Motorists can Fly from I-25 to I-270". The Denver Post.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "CDOT Transportation Fact Book 2006" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ Colorado Department of Transportation. "Structure List for I-270". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ Denver Regional Council of Governments (2002). "Fiscally Constrained Metro Vision 2025 Interim Regional Transportation Plan" (PDF). pp. 77, 109. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ "2040 Fiscally Constrained Regional Transportation Plan" (PDF). Denver Regional Council of Governments. February 18, 2015.
- ^ Leib, Jeffrey (December 18, 2008) [First published 2005]. "Construction Projects to Hit Metro-Area Roads". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ Luber, Jayson (July 14, 2016). "Driving You Crazy: Will I-270 across Commerce City ever be widened?". Denver 7. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ Minor, Nathaniel (October 23, 2019). "Here Are 5 Big Road Projects On CDOT's Immediate Wishlist". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ "Vision for Colorado's Transportation System: 10-Year Strategic Project Pipeline" (PDF). Colorado Department of Transportation. Spring 2020. p. 17.
- ^ "Colorado Express Lane Master Plan" (PDF). Colorado High Performance Transportation Enterprise. Spring 2020. p. 8.
- ^ "Project Process & Schedule". Colorado Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ Minor, Nathaniel (April 16, 2020). "Here Are 5 Big Road Projects On CDOT's Immediate Wishlist". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
External links