colorado state highway state highway mile long state highway state colorado western half provides principal transportation beginning interstate highway southeast past continues valley cross continental divide follows past colorado highest mountains ends south feet sea level traverse independence pass highest paved crossing north_america highest paved road colorado state highway network pass closed winter months east making highway way reach popular ski resort town road private foundation worked maintains road environmental damage alpine created disused route built pass 1880s highway early 20th century west highway follows route early colorado route city paved 1930s road gradually expanded lanes course 20th early 21st centuries increased traffic resulting economic rebirth resort town required high occupancy vehicle lanes bypasses replacement old bridge improvements planned route description western terminus highway lane road frequently divided leaves narrows lanes remains way eastern terminus sets gates allow road closed winter highway begins exit east confluence follows laurel street north block turns east sixth street block turns south grand avenue crosses past train station downtown continues south blocks small scale dense urban development 14th street west past intersection end downtown blocks land road commercial strip large parking lots east land road devoted larger houses larger lots strip development resumes west south 19th street blocks west 23rd street highway turns southeast follow paralleling adjacent rail trail development highway predominantly commercial south 27th street continuous strip begins east valley narrows passing west highway turns southeast draws alongside fork reaches city limits following river bend road returns southern heading development focuses opposite bank easterly turn landscape road rural farms golf courses appearing terrain remains generally level feet sea level mile south airport intersection road divides highway turns eastward returning southerly heading mile road turns campus mountains north half mile junction headquarters county road bridge district highway begins long stretch southerly heading miles road bends southeast amidst valley occasional subdivisions miles highway rest area highway turns east enters city river mile rest area traffic signal controls intersection state highway intersect entire length highway leads south pass valley tributary south foot dominates view mile east highway valley floor widens filled farms subdivisions road gently trends south miles east highway crosses subdivisions begin increase surrounding valley road soon turns south passes built area crosses fork mile half highway crosses fork enters small unincorporated community emma mile east intersection main route town highway signal climbs feet elevation alternately tracks southeast south miles begins climb noticeably valley narrows development dense small located aside road river miles south crossing right lanes directions marked diamonds indicating high occupancy vehicle lanes peak hours median soon replaced brief retaining wall eastbound roadway slightly elevated ascent continues near appears west road miles south roadways merge development highway increases airport highway turns south bends southeast cross new creek bridge original listed national_register_of_historic_places immediately south point golf course north city limit begins follow road time goes roundabout passes south fully city stream crossing brings highway developed portion city independence pass highway climbed feet levels entering city residential west end block east turns south intersection southwest corner rounded smooth traffic flow leaving triangular traffic island middle road blocks south intersection rounded corner turns east follow blocks east street buildings gradually change residential commercial mill street highway passes major landmarks hotel listed blocks listed landmark hunter streets spring street intersection blocks past courthouse curves south process lane road blocks south turns east follow crossing fork blocks highway curves southward leaving quarters mile east valley narrows canyon road begins climb closely north wall miles east city past lake road passes gates road closed past point development road land alongside road north road popular climbing cliffs south small parking areas popular swimming holes short sections past forced road narrow lane access controlled traffic lights remaining log structures ghost town independence listed visible valley miles east shortly crosses fork time miles source independence lake road turns canyon south north climbs tree line high elevation alpine landscape miles independence pass twin lakes road levels parking area south sign indicates continental divide gives elevation feet divide marks line paved path leads scenic views feet feet respectively highest fifth highest peaks colorado rocky_mountains old road leads south ridge south pass road descends long floor valley heads south quickly curving east assumes heading passes set gates west small settlement near joins main stream road heads east miles passing facilities creek widens road curves quickly south heads northeast lake shore mile past bend highway reaches small community listed historic district early tourist town highway continues northeast mile turns east continuous view lakes south shortly past turn crosses road runs closely parallel south roads direction access points lake mile highway turns southeast mile lakes outlet crosses time ends miles independence pass confluence creek miles north opposite direction miles independence pass restrictions high altitude winter weather begins season starts snow falls deep season remains spring closes gates ends mile stretch highway leading pass months typically closed november significant winter snowfall comes earlier pass usually reopened memorial day weekend end cleared repaired road years snowfall lighter reopening occurred weeks earlier narrow roadway steep grades steep approach pass led impose mph speed limits turns types vehicles banned pass year round overweight vehicles prohibited vehicle vehicle combinations longer feet practical matter tractor trailers buses recreational vehicles truck drivers pass despite prohibition generally unaware restriction following routes plotted gps devices aware willing risk fine sake time distance saved resulting accidents forced closure pass larger signs advising drivers ban worked gps device manufacturers software notes restriction officials suggested fines increased independence pass popular route colorado cross pass mile stage highway closed race western terminus end stage history halves road trace origins early days settlement 1880s missed earlier mining boom built began head west drawn reports vast silver deposits fork valley began crossing known defiance order governor federal government negotiated peace treaty people precursor routes future eastern half highway came rough path independence pass soon reached private company improved toll road open year round city rapid growth fostered race rail connection displaced toll road primary route decade later railroad right way serve basis highway stage road independence pass july settlement independence established west pass taking independence day holiday soon lending pass natural features area independence gold deposits quickly opened miners following year twin lakes improved path pass followed route close highway present alignment point horses trip company goal continue valley connect existing mining camps miners preferred longer route taylor passes south viable route independence pass journey miles settlement continued follow river valley confluence valley widened offered flood plain development town slopes surrounding mountains proved silver deposits anticipated soon mining camp small city named trees filled surrounding forests grew rapidly seat newly created named governor earliest settlers coming people coming better road east needed early investor city money needed improve path pass stage road opened november winter beginning tolls cents saddle horses twice stages modern dollars respectively primarily spent hiring large crew men kept pass clear winter able road pass open winters deep snow passengers switched summer dogs ran advance warn oncoming traffic pass stages took speed usually took stage hours changes horses reach rail routes road pass barely capable handling massive amounts silver ore coming mines taken train plants built city soon difficult expensive transport silver obtained market growing wake silver purchase act required government buy metal regular basis railroad link likely highly profitable railroads hoped early 1880s able midland paper railroad money build building quickly forcing financially cautious recent troubles chose build despite president enthusiasm project new leadership companies started race joined midland refreshing company mining fortune year later railroad laid miles track crossed world highest got began working way valley president persuaded company executives ahead connection overcome midland lead built narrow gauge line north today route gauge elimination crossing causing complications midland saved considerable time managed bring train october working winter midland finished got standard gauge line months later abandonment reuse state highway opening rail connections death blow stage road gold production independence declined sharply town early settlers moved valley corresponding reduction stage traffic tolls twin lakes afford road clear winter years later railroads began service company folded abandoned road independence met fate decade later remaining population severe winter leaving buildings standing ghost town remaining resident railroads initially enjoyed great success rio line upgraded standard gauge years midland capacity began congress repealed silver purchase act instantly collapsing silver market mines closed miners left city new like creek ensuing decades saw steady decline population period referred quiet years city history mining railroads busy long midland went bankrupt continued operating new company formed city largest oldest shut operations closed second midland succumbed bankruptcy second resurrection tracks right way including bridges abandoned soon reverted state ownership realize plans decade earlier designated future highway midland tracks unused graded route easily adapted highway purposes conversion highway developing route west state turned attention way rebuilt old stage road independence pass designated highway closing winters avoid maintenance costs followed original route places largest section original remains miles pass east approach foundation house remains original toll gate depression state sought ease unemployment public works projects economic applied new highway converted creek bridge automotive traffic widening timber deck paved supported miles paved remainder road following year hope improvements valley road transportation benefit remaining mines able products market faster new road economic revival industry existed depression began recreational downhill skiing improved skiing enthusiasts cutting trails building primitive ski lift mountain south town census recorded increase population half century development halted war years afterward trained nearby camp came appreciate skiing came war helping expand staff ski resort coincidentally head visited wife elizabeth late 1940s found ideal place establish music festival planning invested heavily city redevelopment people began coming live work play trains ran new visitors arrivals preferred drive expansion population increased second fastest growth rate built additional resorts west contributing traffic highway began year project expand highway lanes widened handle increased traffic east road independence pass paved discontinued passenger train service soon replaced year completion interstate connected western terminus highway larger interstate highway system 1980s apparent lanes western end safety improvement areas identified projects implemented relocated highway original alignment town currently rivers road new lane road south crossed fork east town end decade formally incorporated founder environmental activist organizing efforts slopes alongside highway going pass order repair damage road construction cooperation county rebuilt curve road near lake year safety improvements continued 1990s mile stretch west resurfaced special resistant treatment added areas receive sun winter shade year year projects began expanding highway lanes including new bypass old bridge near replaced followed remainder decade widening remaining sections creek bridge outside pedestrian bridge built north foot traffic older bridge effort relieve congestion high occupancy vehicle lanes designated opened rural area colorado departure usual practice diamonds painted right lanes left buses stops easily east began holding annual ride pass bicycle race fundraiser race held year weekend opens pass follows mile course gate independence years began project lewis envisioned restoring cut mile section pass east environmental damage especially erosion evident present continuous lanes new century began projects complete lane expansion took year finish expansion years later section expanded lanes cost million highway lane road way traffic narrow lanes cross creek bridge city western boundary old bridge listed national_register_of_historic_places obsolete structurally cracks damage forcing temporary bridge trucks years old point oldest bridge use colorado highway expanded design proposal new bridge dropped heavy opposition city town jointly funded design work new bridge planning process bridge work began year construction concrete box replacement complicated need protect wetlands problem solved building bridge taking measures allow concrete piers poured dried winter new bridge cost million opened middle old bridge remains place pedestrian walkway historic landmark recognized new bridge bridge award excellence future widening highway lanes complete turned attention ends corridor entrance 21st century highway grown lanes easier traffic resolve congestion developed got 1970s plans alleviate congestion forth involving ballot initiatives decided voters city county considering proposals taking public input released preferred alternative combined highway intersection improvements mass transit transportation management recommended improvements roundabout replacement improvements intersections highway city airport implemented right way acquired new lane parkway authorized voters cross property foot cut cover tunnel existing highway main seventh streets city voters authorized light rail route built light rail western terminus maintenance facility highway airport include stop parallel highway old creek bridge reached monarch street downtown turn south eastern terminus park sufficient support funding light rail built bus lanes proposed transportation management strategies aimed keeping traffic level levels slightly exceeded consist promoting ride sharing extensive transit use measures level traffic reaches percentage points level transit service added parking rates raised slightly reduce level implemented traffic levels exceeded use forceful measures increases parking fees deliberately limiting number spaces available making parts downtown car free zones grand avenue bridge current bridge grand avenue east highway western terminus dates built lane bridge shoulders expansion added second lane direction early 21st century like creek bridge carrying traffic expected poor structural condition early 2000s began considering plans replacement bridge major issue new bridge built alignment existing bridge instead curve westward direct connection interstate exit public hearing august agency announced overwhelmingly preferred remained decide intersection roundabout intersection sixth street laurel avenue residents argued instead instead build bypass avoids downtown completely contend replacement bridge add traffic grand downtown attractive like shop pass way destinations valley bypass claim keeping wishes residents cost lobbied city council active reconsider bypass major intersections
Colorado State Highway 82