Colorado State Highway 340
Encyclopedia
State Highway 340 is a 13.4 mi (21.6 km) long state highway
in the U.S. state
of Colorado
. The highway's eastern end is at the junction of US 50 and I-70 Business in Grand Junction and its western end is at U.S. Highway 6 in Fruita
. This highway is mainly used by the residents of Grand Junction's suburb Redlands
.
and U.S. Route 50
in Fruita
. The route then turns onto cherry Street in Fruita
where it junctions with Interstate 70
. The Highway then moves then heads south, passing over the Colorado River
, where it heads into The Redlands
. There, it traverses the suburban area as Broadway Rd, passing the Colorado National Monument
on the south side of the highway. As Highway 340 travels eastward, it enters Downtown Grand Junction
, meeting again with the Colorado River
and passing over the Riverside Parkway
.Then, the highway ends at Interstate 70 Business Loop and U.S. Route 50.
in Palisade
. This entire length was paved by 1955. The east terminus was then moved to SH 146, today's SH 141
, in 1970. Two years later, the east terminus was moved all the way to where it is now in Grand Junction.
.
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 the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The highway's eastern end is at the junction of US 50 and I-70 Business in Grand Junction and its western end is at U.S. Highway 6 in Fruita
Fruita, Colorado
The City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in the western part of Mesa County, Colorado, in the United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Grand Valley...
. This highway is mainly used by the residents of Grand Junction's suburb Redlands
Redlands, Colorado
Redlands is a census-designated place in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 8,685 at the 2010 census. It is an unincorporated community comprising the area between the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita.-Geography:...
.
Route description
The route begins at a concurrency of U.S. Route 6U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
and U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
in Fruita
Fruita, Colorado
The City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in the western part of Mesa County, Colorado, in the United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Grand Valley...
. The route then turns onto cherry Street in Fruita
Fruita, Colorado
The City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in the western part of Mesa County, Colorado, in the United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Grand Valley...
where it junctions with Interstate 70
Interstate 70 in Colorado
Interstate 70 is a transcontinental Interstate Highway in the United States, stretching from Cove Fort, Utah to Baltimore, Maryland. In Colorado, the highway traverses an east–west route across the center of the state. In western Colorado, the highway connects the metropolitan areas of Grand...
. The Highway then moves then heads south, passing over the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
, where it heads into The Redlands
Redlands, Colorado
Redlands is a census-designated place in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The population was 8,685 at the 2010 census. It is an unincorporated community comprising the area between the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita.-Geography:...
. There, it traverses the suburban area as Broadway Rd, passing the Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument
- Trails :The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere, but most trails are well-maintained...
on the south side of the highway. As Highway 340 travels eastward, it enters Downtown Grand Junction
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
, meeting again with the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
and passing over the Riverside Parkway
Riverside Parkway
The Riverside Parkway is a , five-lane limited-access road in the lower central business district of Grand Junction. Paralleling the Colorado River, it connects several of the major highways in the city, and has bike lanes in both directions. Billboards are not allowed within of the parkway....
.Then, the highway ends at Interstate 70 Business Loop and U.S. Route 50.
History
The route was defined in 1939, when it moved along its current alignment but continued to U.S. Route 6U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
in Palisade
Palisade, Colorado
Palisade is a Statutory Town in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,692 at the 2010 census....
. This entire length was paved by 1955. The east terminus was then moved to SH 146, today's SH 141
Colorado State Highway 141
State Highway 141 is a long state highway in far western Colorado. Though nominally oriented north–south, SH 141 winds around a considerable amount due to the rugged terrain and ultimately forms a giant S shape.-Route description:...
, in 1970. Two years later, the east terminus was moved all the way to where it is now in Grand Junction.
Major intersections
The entire route is located in Mesa CountyMesa County, Colorado
Mesa County is the fourth most extensive and the eleventh most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado in the United States. The county was named for the many large mesas in the area, including Grand Mesa. The county population was 146,723 at the 2010 United States Census. The...
.
| Location | Mile | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruita Fruita, Colorado The City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in the western part of Mesa County, Colorado, in the United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Grand Valley... |
0.000 | ||
| 0.507 | Interchange | ||
| Grand Junction Grand Junction, Colorado The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As... |
13.341 |