Roadtrippin' Colorado Style

We've seen this shot before: the exit to the southern END! of SH 83 off of SH 115.

Heading north (actually east at this point) on SH 83. The sun's behind those clouds somewhere, and it's making my camera hate life.

83 alternates between a divided expressway and a two lane expressway for its first two miles. Plans are afoot to complete Academy through here: construction will start in 07.

Widening out once more. SH 83 remains a multi-lane arterial from here to the northern part of Colorado Springs, about 20 miles from here.

Coming up on I-25.

An oops to go along with your morning coffee. We're on SH 83, not about to Junction with it.

Something's ahead, we're not sure what though.

Just after 25, Academy (SH 83) passes under this non-ADA-compliant pedestrian bridge.

Intersecting US 85. This is technically an END! of 85, since the segment north of here has been turned back.

Starting to make the "North" signs on the SH shields be true.

Aahhh. Heading north means the sun's at our right instead of in front of us. My camera celebrates by pounding back a shot of tequila.

Interesting advisory sign specimen. The rightmost through lane ends just after the exit "ramp" to a strip mall.

Academy has an extremely rough spot here. Apparaently the soils under the road keep shifting and jacking up the surface. Crews are always shaving off bumps, filling in potholes, and the such. Why would they want to permanently fix this?

At the intersection of SH 83 and US 24. This intersection is about to undergo a facelift. Namely, dual-turn lanes are going to be added to Academy.

Looking across a small dip in the land Academy traversses.

At the intersection of SH 83 and SH 29. This is the eastern/northern END! of 29.

Looking west down southbound 29. Incidentally, SH 29 spends more of its life as a E-W highway than as a N-S highway.

Over Platte Avenue, which used to carry US 24. This is a nice shot of Pikes Peak, too.

From an Oldsmobile delarship to a shop selling random stoof. I didn't ask how much the ape was.

Right in the heart of the city, Academy splits into two one-way roads. The "median" contains shops, a bank, and a fire station.

Entrances to the shops involve left turns and exiting traffic to keep left. I'm surprised there hasn't been more accidents here.

Curving back to rejoin the southbound lanes.

The lanes are back together now.

Approxamitely at MM 14. This is one of very few lights in Colorado Springs that uses the "lagging left" theory for the left turn lanes.

At the start of a really long left turn lane. See the traffic light off in the distance? Yeah, this turn lane's for that light. This is a really busy intersection.

Hmm. Same age as me, still serving some "interesting" food. Sorry, but I was not impressed with this joint.

Here's visual proof that developers run this city. Before any of the shops went in on the right in this picture, this intersection was supposed to be upgraded to a grade-separated interchange. It was in the agreement the owners of the land and the city made before the owners sold. Well, as you can see, the development happened but the interchange did not due to (IMNSHO) developers lining the pockets of city council. *sigh*

Random lane closure to brighten your day.

Random "bump" in the curb. No reason either. There's not even a storm drain or anything.

The reason for the lane closure. Construction vehicle parking.

Just before hitting I-25 again, SH 83 veers off of Academy Blvd. The remaining part of Academy is Spur-83, but is not signed in the field. Believe me, I looked.

I've documented 25 between Denver and Colorado Springs too many times, so let's take 83 this time!

Distance sign. Don't worry, you'll know when you hit Black Forest.

Teeny-weeny mileage marker.

Just in case you have second thoughts about taking 83 north to Denver, you're presented with two pretty obvious ways to jump back on the I.

Road cut. This section of 83 has been four lanes for only a few years now.

So this sign tells us that we're on Interquest Parkway, right? Wrong. Interquest is our next intersection.

Yeah, this one. 83 also heads off to the right here.

Yes, this is an intersection where there's three different roads intersecting.

Here's Colorado Springs's version of Six Flags over Jesus, a.k.a. New Life Church, a.k.a home of the latest gay pastor. I can't begin to tell you how entertained I am at the hypocracy housed in this "sacred building."

This damned light catches me each and every time I drive this way. It's infuriating to me. Also, if you look closely at the land to the left of the intersection, you can see some of the abandoned remnants of SH 83 when it used to curve westward here.

Setting up a portable VMS. This was in place for all of a month. In that time, it worked a grand total of three days. Obviously, this person did something wrong.

At the intersection of Shoup Road and SH 83. This intersection recently underwent the remodel to what you see how. Originally, this was a small, narrow intersection that saw it's fair share of fatal accidents. The oddest accident seen here is when late one night a lady was driving on Shoup, missed the intersection, careened across the field to the right and ended up in the gulley that the creek runs through. Because of the angle of her car, the accident went undiscovered for about two weeks.