U.S. Route 34 in Colorado

U.S. Route 34 (US 34) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Granby, Colorado, to Berwyn, Illinois. In the U.S. state of Colorado, US 34 is a 260-mile-long (420 km) road that spans across northern Colorado. It begins at US 40 in Granby and ends at the Nebraska border, where it continues as US 34, east of Laird.

U.S. Highway 34
US 34 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length259.529 mi[1] (417.671 km)
Existed1972[2]–present
Major junctions
West end US 40 in Granby
  US 36 in Estes Park
US 287 in Loveland
I-25 / US 87 near Loveland
US 85 in Greeley
US 6 / I-76 in Fort Morgan
US 385 in Wray
East end US 34 near Laird
Location
CountiesGrand, Larimer, Weld, Morgan, Washington, Yuma
Highway system
Colorado State Highways
SH 30 SH 35

Route description

View of US 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park, at an altitude above 11,000 feet
View of US 34 in Rocky Mountain National Park, at Rainbow Curve

Granby to Rocky Mountain National Park

The route begins in Granby at US 40. It then follows the Colorado River Valley near Granby Lake and enters Arapaho National Recreational Area.[3]

Trail Ridge Road

After entering Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado's Front Range, US 34 follows the North Fork Colorado River through Kawuneeche Valley. It passes over Milner Pass and reaches the Alpine Visitor Center. Then it continues east, passing its highest point at 12,183 feet[4] near Fall River Pass. It exits the park at US 36 at Deer Ridge Junction.

US 34 here is the highest continuous highway in the United States.[4]

This section of US 34 requires a $30 national park entrance fee, making this segment into a toll road.

Estes Park to Loveland

From here, it passes by Estes Park as Eisenhower Boulevard, has a business route and enters Loveland, becoming a four-lane expressway. Here, it intersects I-25 and U.S. Highway 287.

Greeley to Nebraska border

At Greeley, it passes by U.S. Highway 85 in a complex interchange[2] and U.S. 34 Business, and crosses the South Platte River. It also has an interchange with SH 257.[5] From here, it is no longer an expressway. It intersects SH 144 and SH 39, then joins I-76 at Wiggins. It leaves, and follows the North Fork Republican River east into Nebraska, where it intersects SH 71, SH 52, SH 63, SH 61, SH 59, and U.S. Highway 385.

History

Parts of the route were originally designated as US 38. US 34 was extended into Colorado in 1939.[2]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
GrandGranby0.0000.000 US 40 Granby, Denver, Hot Sulphur Springs, Steamboat SpringsWest end of route
Grand Lake14.68323.630West Portal Road Grand Lake and Villageformer SH 278
LarimerDeer Ridge Junction (RMNP)53.75886.515 US 36 east Moraine Park, Bear Lake, Estes Park
Rocky Mountain National Park55.54689.393Old Fall River Road Endovalley
57.68692.837Fall River Entrance Station
Estes Park60.96598.114
US 34 Bus. east (Elkhorn Avenue)
62.08199.910MacGregor Avenue Devils Gulch, Glen Havenformer SH 262
62.507100.595
US 36 / US 34 Bus. west (Elkhorn Avenue / St. Vrain Avenue) to SH 7 Lyons
Drake75.584121.641 CR 43 Glen Havenformer SH 262
85.617137.787 CR 27 Masonvilleformer SH 186
Loveland91.924147.937 US 287 south (Cleveland Avenue) Longmont, Central Business District
92.009148.074 US 287 north (Lincoln Avenue) Fort Collins
96.250154.899 I-25 (US 87) Denver, Fort Collins
WeldGreeley102.476164.919
US 34 Bus. east (10th Street) Greeley
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
102.804165.447 SH 257 Windsor, Milliken
111.233179.01223rd Avenue / 27th Street
112.772181.489
US 85 south / US 85 Bus. north (8th Avenue) Denver, Greeley
West end of US 85 overlap
113.136182.075 US 85 north CheyenneEast end of US 85 overlap
115.411185.736
US 34 Bus. west
117.251188.697 CR 49 Hudson, Keenesburgformer SH 37 south
Kersey119.178191.798 CR 53 / 1st Street Kerseyformer SH 37 north
Morgan144.470232.502 SH 144 Orchard, Jackson Lake State Park
149.164240.056 SH 39 / SH 52 Goodrich, Wiggins
149.345
66.288
240.347
106.680
I-76 west (US 6 west) DenverWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; western end of I-76 overlap
73.130117.691Long Bridge RoadI-76 exit 73; former SH 144
75.704
158.794
121.834
255.554
I-76 east (US 6 east)Eastern end of I-76 overlap
Fort Morgan162.962262.262 SH 52 north (Main Street) to I-76
Brush172.414277.473 SH 71 north (Colorado Avenue) to I-76West end of SH 71 overlap
173.570279.334 SH 71 south Last Chance, LimonEast end of SH 71 overlap
173.852279.788 To US 6 / I-76 Sterling
WashingtonAkron196.336315.972 SH 63 (Cedar Avenue) Sterling, Anton
Otis209.305336.844 SH 61 north (Dade Street) Sterling
YumaYuma223.345359.439 SH 59 (Detroit Street) Haxtun
Wray249.931402.225 US 385 (Dexter Street) Holyoke
259.529417.671 US 34 east Haigler, McCookNebraska state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

KML is from Wikidata
  1. "Segment Descriptions for Highway 34". Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  2. Salek, Matthew E. (January 30, 2010). "Colorado US 34". Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  3. The United States (Map). National Geographic. October 2006.
  4. "Destinations: Trail Ridge Road, Colorado". Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  5. "Interchange Information for Highway 034". Retrieved March 30, 2010.
U.S. Route 34
Previous state:
Terminus
Colorado Next state:
Nebraska
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