Colorado State Highway 112
Encyclopedia
State Highway 112 is a 27.802 mi (44.743 km) long state highway
in southern Colorado
. Built in 1916 and formally defined in 1922, the route begins at its western end in Del Norte
at a junction with U.S. Highway 160 (US 160). From there the road travels east crossing US 285 two miles (3.2 km) west of Center
before reaching its eastern terminus at Hooper
where it meets SH 17
.
in central Del Norte
. Here, it begins northward along Oak Street before crossing the Rio Grande River, where the route exits the city and curves northeastward. The highway then straddles the Rio Grande
– Saguache
county line as it travels in a northeasterly direction. Soon, it intersects County Route 374, which traverses east all the way to US 285
. The route then suddenly curves eastward when it meets Twelve Mile Road. As the route continues to meet numerous county roads along its length, the land along the side of the road transitions from plain grassland to circular-shaped fields of crops. The route meets US 285 approximately twelve miles east of Del Norte.
East of US 285, the route enters the town of Center
, where it skirts the south side of town as 8th Street. Here, it meets a railroad that connects the town to Sugar Junction farther south. The route moves east through farmland, where it meets County Road 100, which continues south to SH 15. It then skirts along the county line all the way east to SH 17
at the north side of Hooper
.
to Hooper
. Another unsurfaced part of the road continued to Alamosa
from Hooper. By the late 1910s, the Highway Department of Colorado had built State Highway 68, which ran from Del Norte
to SH 36. When built, the route had a five-mile (6.0 km) gap along the Rio Grande
– Saguache
county line, on which work began in the 1920s. In 1922, SH 68 was renumbered as SH 112 from Del Norte to Hooper.
By 1930, SH 112 had been paved from Del Norte to the county line. However, the residents of San Luis Valley wanted better roads to use for travel. Because of this, the Department of Highways began improving SH 112 around the area, but it was not until 1946 until the highway was fully surfaced. The next year, Rio Grande and Saguache counties paid to resurface the rest of the road in asphalt. Since 1947, there have been no major realignments in the routing.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in southern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Built in 1916 and formally defined in 1922, the route begins at its western end in Del Norte
Del Norte, Colorado
The Town of Del Norte is a Statutory Town in and the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Del Norte is located at ....
at a junction with U.S. Highway 160 (US 160). From there the road travels east crossing US 285 two miles (3.2 km) west of Center
Center, Colorado
The town of Center is a Statutory Town in Rio Grande and Saguache Counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census.Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C...
before reaching its eastern terminus at Hooper
Hooper, Colorado
Hooper is a Statutory Town located in the San Luis Valley in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census.Nearby points of interest include the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Crestone, Colorado.-Geography:...
where it meets SH 17
Colorado State Highway 17
State Highway 17 is a long state highway in southern Colorado.-Route description:SH 17 is officially split into two parts by a stretch of concurrence with U.S. Highway 285. The first part of the route begins in the south at the New Mexico state line where the road becomes New Mexico State Road 17...
.
Route description
The route begins at US 160U.S. Route 160
U.S. Route 160 is a 1,465 mile long east–west United States highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 89 five miles west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
in central Del Norte
Del Norte, Colorado
The Town of Del Norte is a Statutory Town in and the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Del Norte is located at ....
. Here, it begins northward along Oak Street before crossing the Rio Grande River, where the route exits the city and curves northeastward. The highway then straddles the Rio Grande
Rio Grande County, Colorado
Rio Grande County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named for the Rio Grande , which flows through the county. The county population was 12,413 at U.S. Census 2000...
– Saguache
Saguache County, Colorado
Saguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000...
county line as it travels in a northeasterly direction. Soon, it intersects County Route 374, which traverses east all the way to US 285
U.S. Route 285
U.S. Route 285 is a north–south United States highway, running 845 miles through the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The highway's northern terminus is in Denver, Colorado, at exit 201 on Interstate 25. Its southern terminus is in Sanderson, Texas at an intersection with U.S....
. The route then suddenly curves eastward when it meets Twelve Mile Road. As the route continues to meet numerous county roads along its length, the land along the side of the road transitions from plain grassland to circular-shaped fields of crops. The route meets US 285 approximately twelve miles east of Del Norte.
East of US 285, the route enters the town of Center
Center, Colorado
The town of Center is a Statutory Town in Rio Grande and Saguache Counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census.Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C...
, where it skirts the south side of town as 8th Street. Here, it meets a railroad that connects the town to Sugar Junction farther south. The route moves east through farmland, where it meets County Road 100, which continues south to SH 15. It then skirts along the county line all the way east to SH 17
Colorado State Highway 17
State Highway 17 is a long state highway in southern Colorado.-Route description:SH 17 is officially split into two parts by a stretch of concurrence with U.S. Highway 285. The first part of the route begins in the south at the New Mexico state line where the road becomes New Mexico State Road 17...
at the north side of Hooper
Hooper, Colorado
Hooper is a Statutory Town located in the San Luis Valley in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census.Nearby points of interest include the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Crestone, Colorado.-Geography:...
.
History
In 1916, a 12 miles (19.3 km) gravel road numbered as 10-S ran from CenterCenter, Colorado
The town of Center is a Statutory Town in Rio Grande and Saguache Counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census.Leach Airport is located 4 miles east and 3 miles north of town, at County Road 53 and County Road C...
to Hooper
Hooper, Colorado
Hooper is a Statutory Town located in the San Luis Valley in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census.Nearby points of interest include the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Crestone, Colorado.-Geography:...
. Another unsurfaced part of the road continued to Alamosa
Alamosa, Colorado
The city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005...
from Hooper. By the late 1910s, the Highway Department of Colorado had built State Highway 68, which ran from Del Norte
Del Norte, Colorado
The Town of Del Norte is a Statutory Town in and the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Del Norte is located at ....
to SH 36. When built, the route had a five-mile (6.0 km) gap along the Rio Grande
Rio Grande County, Colorado
Rio Grande County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named for the Rio Grande , which flows through the county. The county population was 12,413 at U.S. Census 2000...
– Saguache
Saguache County, Colorado
Saguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000...
county line, on which work began in the 1920s. In 1922, SH 68 was renumbered as SH 112 from Del Norte to Hooper.
By 1930, SH 112 had been paved from Del Norte to the county line. However, the residents of San Luis Valley wanted better roads to use for travel. Because of this, the Department of Highways began improving SH 112 around the area, but it was not until 1946 until the highway was fully surfaced. The next year, Rio Grande and Saguache counties paid to resurface the rest of the road in asphalt. Since 1947, there have been no major realignments in the routing.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Rio Grande County, Colorado Rio Grande County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named for the Rio Grande , which flows through the county. The county population was 12,413 at U.S. Census 2000... |
Del Norte Del Norte, Colorado The Town of Del Norte is a Statutory Town in and the county seat of Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 1,705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Del Norte is located at .... |
0.000 | West end of route | |
| Saguache Saguache County, Colorado Saguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000... |
13.138 | |||
| Alamosa Alamosa County, Colorado Alamosa County is one of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name is the Spanish language word for a "grove of cottonwood trees." The county population was 14,966 at U.S. Census 2000... |
Hooper Hooper, Colorado Hooper is a Statutory Town located in the San Luis Valley in Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census.Nearby points of interest include the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Crestone, Colorado.-Geography:... |
27.802 | East end of route |