Colorado State Highway 172
Encyclopedia
State Highway 172 is a 24.5 mi (39.4 km) long state highway
in southwestern Colorado
.
state line where the road becomes New Mexico State Road 511. From there, the route travels through the Southern Ute Indian Reservation
northward through Ignacio
where it meets the western end of State Highway 151
. From Ignacio, the road gradually arcs to the west and passes westward through Falfa before again turning northward to meet its northern end at a junction with U.S. Highway 160 approximately eight miles southeast of Durango
.
to Arboles
. The route was paved from US 160 to Ignacio
by 1954 and to Arboles by 1960. The southern terminus was changed to the New Mexico state line by 1972.
.
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 southwestern 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...
.
Route description
SH 172 begins in the south at the New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
state line where the road becomes New Mexico State Road 511. From there, the route travels through the Southern Ute Indian Reservation
Southern Ute Indian Reservation
The Southern Ute Indian Reservation lies in southwestern Colorado, USA, along the northern border of New Mexico. Its territory consists of land from three counties; in descending order of surface area they are La Plata, Archuleta, and Montezuma Counties. The reservation has a land area of 1,058.785...
northward through Ignacio
Ignacio, Colorado
The Town of Ignacio is a Statutory Town located in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The population was 669 at the 2000 census.Located within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, the town is the capital of the Southern Ute Indian tribe. It was named for their...
where it meets the western end of State Highway 151
Colorado State Highway 151
State Highway 151 is a long state highway in far southern Colorado.-Route description:SH 151 begins in the west at its junction with State Highway 172 in Ignacio on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. From there, the road proceeds generally eastward with a southern arc past Allison and through...
. From Ignacio, the road gradually arcs to the west and passes westward through Falfa before again turning northward to meet its northern end at a junction with U.S. Highway 160 approximately eight miles southeast of Durango
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
.
History
The route was established in the 1930s, when it connected U.S. Route 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...
to Arboles
Arboles, Colorado
Arboles is a census-designated place in Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. The population was 280 at the 2010 census. The Arboles Post Office has the ZIP Code 81121...
. The route was paved from US 160 to Ignacio
Ignacio, Colorado
The Town of Ignacio is a Statutory Town located in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The population was 669 at the 2000 census.Located within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, the town is the capital of the Southern Ute Indian tribe. It was named for their...
by 1954 and to Arboles by 1960. The southern terminus was changed to the New Mexico state line by 1972.
Major intersections
The entire route is located in La Plata CountyLa Plata County, Colorado
La Plata County is the fourteenth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for the La Plata River and the La Plata Mountains. "La plata" is the Spanish language word for "silver". The United States Census Bureau estimated that the...
.
| Location | Mile | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.000 | South end of route | ||
| Ignacio Ignacio, Colorado The Town of Ignacio is a Statutory Town located in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The population was 669 at the 2000 census.Located within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, the town is the capital of the Southern Ute Indian tribe. It was named for their... |
8.903 | ||
| 24.499 | North end of route |