roadtrip or snap and kill trip
March 16, 2007: So my life over the last few months has been stressful. I'm trying to open my own coffee shop, and keep running into roadblocks on the financial side. Banks not returning my calls, my credit rating getting tons of queries thus making me look unfavorable to other banks, former employees who said they would come with me jumping ship because of how long this is taking, and more and more "no"'s from more and more people. I'm stressed. Tremendously. So how to solve the stressed issue? Roadtrip! Make it a long one (total of 15 hours on the road), visit old stomping grounds, and just relax. It's what the doctor ordered.
Heading east. Let's see what's out there.
Well, as I was afraid of, the sun was too low to get good pictures, so we've turned this trip east. Let's head back to Denver.
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Bad boys, bad boys. What you gonna do?
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Just in case the sand isn't enough to stop your runaway truck, these barrels filled with sand should do the trick. If not, well, ouch.
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At the end of the parade of barrels, the runaway ramp ends.
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Still descending rapidly.
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Even in the downhill curving madness there's still exits.
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The point of geological interest at this exit is a ridge where dinosaur fossils have been found.
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Just in case you weren't sure that we were still headed downhill.
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Another way to Red Rocks.
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Rock cut madness.
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The blank spot on the sign was for a state highway that was turned back.
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I've heard this curve called dead man's curve before. I also remember seeing pictures of an accident here where a limo didn't make the curve, hit the guardrail, and flipped. I think that was back in the late 80s.
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Approaching the EB 40 exit.
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A lesson to all you budding sign designers: leave room for your descenders or your signs will look fugly. This is a brand spankin' new installation, too.
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BUSTED!! All those parked cars in the background are the cars that were pulled over for speeding today, too. Okay, not really, but it would have been funny.
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One last downhill gasp before flattening out. Those of you who have checked out other trips recognize this as the opposite direction of the One year anniversary mega-trip.
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See, we could have saved some time and just stayed on 470 until here, but that goes against the roadgeeking creed, doesn't it?
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This sign and the one in the last pict imply that US 6 joins 70 for a mile and a half. In actuality, the previous sign should read "TO US 6." 6 is on its own alignment and 470 was extended to it, that's all. Also, those wig-wags on the loop sign were all flashing randomly. It was quite hypnotic.
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Uhmmmmm, ouch?
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Just in case you were wondering if we were still in the mountains, I present this pict to you as evidence that we're not.
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70 is extremely boring through the Denver West neighborhood.
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At the interchange of SH 58. This interchange currently does not allow EB 70 traffic to access WB 58, nor does it allow EB 58 traffic to access WB 70. That's all changing starting in the summer of 07.
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Approaching another END!. This time of the east end of SH 72.
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SH 72 heads north and west from here. We've seen the other end on my Jonesin' for a Roadtrip 2 Trip.
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Since we're in the town of Wheat Ridge, you have to have a picture of wheat on the sound wall.
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Okay, I see our challenge for this trip now. It's currently just after 3pm. Can we make it to the other end of 76 before dark? Let's try!
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A little bit of sign rot for you.
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EB 70 sports some serious laneage through here.
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I've been here before, but it was with my first camera. Here's a better picture of the western END! of western 76. Historical info for you. Before 76 was completed between 25 and 70, this exit used to be signed as "Local Traffic To _____" with a street name filled in. Each street name coincided with what is an exit today. The street name kept changing as the future interstate was built. I remember it saying Sheridan, Federal, and Pecos Streets being shown before being completed.
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Exiting onto EB 76.
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The first reassuarance shield for 76.
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There's only a few miles before hitting 25.
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One of the hold-ups of the construction of this segment of I-76 was a large landfill. Once it was closed, the interstate went through. These pipes were installed to help vent the methane gases that build up in old landfills.
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Looks like there's a backup on 25. Normally traffic doesn't come to a complete stop here.
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This sign gantry spans the width of the entire interstate without a center support. The interstate is about 8 lanes wide through here.
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Lane three usually continues through here, but there's one more bit of construction to take care of first.
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This is where a flyover from EB 270 to EB 76 is being built. This is the final step in completing the Interstate Triangle.
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Interesting one piece, double height, really long, "portable" jersey barrier here.
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Ghost bridges, currently used for construction traffic, will be used for the flyover soon. This area looks a lot different than the last time I was through here on my Jonesin' for a Roadtrip 3 trip.
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Ghost bridge #2. The rightmost bridge carries WB 270 to EB 76.
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I'm assuming the stop sign will go away once the interstate to interstate connection is complete.
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Just after the interstate ramp madness, 76 returns to a two lane interstate.
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I got the opportunity to watch these cement barriers being installed. I never figured out why they were made double high.
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Interesting way to cut back the embankments on a angled bridge crossing. This bridge is carrying SB US 85 and (unsigned) WB US 6 traffic from WB 76.
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Another rare spot where the US highways are cosigned with the interstate, albeit incorrectly.
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Aah, that's better. I really wish CDOT would make up its mind on signing US and state highways when signed with an interstate. The inconsistency is maddening.
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NB 85 splits to the left. This is a brand new sign on a not-so-brand-new gantry. And if you're wondering, US 6 heads with 76. More inconsistency, anyone?
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Now that we're considered out of the Denver metro area, CDOT gives us some distances. Denver is growing around here dramatically, though.
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At the SH 2 interchange. I can't remember if it's signed or not, but if you want to get onto southbound E-470, this is your exit.
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Massive bridge that carries 120th Avenue over 76 and the railroad.
- Where to next?
- Page 2
- This trip's Index
- Page 4
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the orginizations listed within this site. I'm just a bored roadgeek with way too much time on his hands. All of the picts in this page are mine and mine alone unless otherwise noted. Remember, kids: stealing is bad, mmmm-k? I get quite pissy if things are taken without telling me. I don't like to be pissy. You won't like it either. If you want to link to this page, that's fine. Please shoot me an email beforehand so I can link to your page as well. K? Thanks. --Ryan
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