Interstate 76

Length: 183.99 miles (Denver to Nebraska state line)
Exits: 48
Counties: 7 (Adams, Jefferson, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick , Washington and Weld)
Cities: 11 (Arvada , Brighton, Brush, Commerce City , Fort Morgan , Hudson , Julesburg, Keenesburg, Sterling , Wheatridge and Wiggins)
Start of Construction: August 1958 in northern Colorado
End of Construction: September 1993 in Denver (Pecos to east of I-25)

National Impact
I-76 is a critical link to the rest of the United States by connecting to I-80 as well as I-70., two of the longest interstate routes in the nation.

Construction Timeline
August 1958 Construction begins on I-80S (now I-76) in northern Colorado .

July 1966 I-80S consisted of 36 miles of older roadway between the Nebraska state line and Crook, construction was underway on 24 miles between Crook and Sterling, 50 miles was completed between Sterling and Fort Morgan, followed by a nine-mile segment between Fort Morgan and Wiggins. Another 35 miles was complete between Wiggins and Hudson, 12 miles from Hudson to Barr Lake and seven miles from Barr Lake to US 85. Three miles of older highway existed between US 85 and Dupont and four miles was under construction from Dupont to I-25 north of Denver .

October 11, 1968 A four-mile stretch of I-80S between I-25 and US 85 opened to traffic. Cost: $5 million; Construction began in January 1966; Contractor: L.H. Kilgroe Construction Co. and Bailey Construction Co., both of Denver (grading and 18 major structures); Northwestern Engineering Co. of Commerce City (concrete paving, landscaping). Major structures are at US 85, Dahila Street , Burlington Canal, 74 th Avenue , Platte River , Union Pacific Railroad, York Street , I-270, Washington Street and I-25.

December 1969 In coordination with the Nebraska Department of Roads, the Colorado Department of Highways opened a four-mile stretch of I-80S between Julesburg and Nebraska state line. Cost: $1.4 million

October 24, 1970 Fifteen miles of I-80S between Segwick and Julesburg opened to traffic. This segment completed I-80S and consequently the completion of a four-lane route from Denver to Omaha . Cost: $2.5 million with the total cost of I-80S running at $351 million; Contractor: Schultz and Linday Construction Co. of Fargo, North Dakota

January 1976 I-80S is renumbered to Interstate 76, which includes Colorado's 179 miles that have been completed to date as well as the six additional miles planned for the Denver area between I-70 and I-25. 488 signs were replaced.

1976/1977 Construction begins on an eight-mile project near Wiggins to bring I-76 up to current standards. Cost: $1.6 million; Contractor: Platte Valley Construction Co. of Grand Island, NE and Ramsour Brothers, Inc. of Castle Rock

1978 Construction begins on the six-mile segment between I-70 ( Wadsworth Blvd. ) and I-25

December 3, 1985 A 1.6-mile segment of I-76 along the Clear Creek corridor from I-70 at Wadsworth Boulevard to Sheridan Boulevard opened to traffic. The highway was built in 14 separate projects, which constructed 15 new bridges and rehabilitating five. Cost: $45 million; Contractors: Ames Construction ( Englewood , CO ), Asphalt Paving Co. (Golden, CO), Flatiron Structures (Longmont, CO), Kiewit (Littleton, CO), Lawrence Construction Co. (Littleton, CO), Siegrist Companies (Denver, CO), Western Empire, Wycon Construction Co. (Broomfield, CO)

November 5, 1987 A 1.4 mile segment between Sheridan Boulevard and Federal Boulevard opens to traffic. This segment was constructed in eight separate construction projects, which constructed 10 new bridge structures. Construction began in 1985. Cost: $19 million; Contractors: Lawrence Construction Co. (Littleton, CO), Flatiron Structures (Longmont, CO), Ames Construction (Aurora, CO), Asphalt Paving (Boulder, CO), Cat Construction Co (Westminster, CO) and Robert Dougan Construction Co. (Denver, CO).

June 5, 1989 Constructs begins on the interchange to connect I-76 with I-25. Cost: $5 million

November 1, 1989 I-76 from Federal Boulevard to Pecos Street opens to traffic. This segment constructed 12 bridge structures. Construction began in 1987. Cost: $22.4 million; Contractors: Civil Constructors, Inc., Ames Construction Inc., Flatiron Structures Co., and Western Paving Co.

September 15, 1993 I-76 from Pecos Street to east of I-25 and the ramp connecting to I-25 opens to traffic. It took 12 separate construction projects and slightly less than four years to complete this segment. Construction included 24 bridge structures as well as the ramps that connect I-76 to I-25, US 36 and I-270. Construction began in 1989. Cost: $91 million; Contractors: Centric-Jones Constructors ( Denver , CO )

February 1995 A two-year project to reconstruct the I-76/I-70 and Wadsworth Interchange begins. Acceleration/deceleration lanes are being rebuilt. Cost: $16.7 million; Contractor: Ames Construction, Inc.

July 1999 The first phase of a project to rebuild the I-76 and State Highway 2/120 th Avenue interchange begins, replacing the ramps with a full diamond interchange as well as the bridge over I-76, which was originally constructed in the 1950s. Cost: $18 million; Contractor: Ames Construction of Aurora. First phase completed in Spring 2000.

October 2000 The second of a project to rebuild the I-76 and State Highway 2/120 th Avenue interchange begins, replacing the ramps with a full diamond interchange as well as the bridge over I-76, which was originally constructed in the 1950s. Cost: $23.2 million; Contractor: Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc.

November 2002 The new interchange at I-76 and 120 th Avenue opens to traffic. Cost: $45.5 million. Contractor: Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc. Construction of phase II began in October 2000.

CDOT Personnel

Economic Impacts

April 14, 1968- Article from the Rocky Mountain News: The highway funnels $278 million a year into the coffers of Colorado business and industry. 81% of the travelers who get to Western Nebraska turn off onto I-80S and go into Colorado.