Business Route 70 - Interstate Business Loop Guide
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Interstate Business Route 70

Interstate 70 has 22 active business loops/spurs (several of which are unsigned in Colorado), a few U.S. business routes (mostly in Kansas), and one decommissioned business loop. In addition, Interstate 270 (former Interstate 70S) has a spur route connecting that freeway to the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) just northwest of Washington, D.C.

UTAH
Richfield Active Business Loop I-70 is old U.S. 89 (signed partially as Utah 120) between Exits 37 and 40. A field inspection revealed that the route is completely unsigned and devoid of any green shields in either direction, but it is well signed from the Interstate. Click here for photos.
Salina Active Business Spur I-70 connects Interstate 70 with the town of Salina and U.S. 89 from Exit 54. It is well-signed with shields between Interstate 70 and the downtown Salina intersection (four way stop) where U.S. 50 and U.S. 89 split. The entire spur is cosigned with U.S. 50 and U.S. 89. There are no END shields present. Click here for photos.
Green River Active Business Loop I-70 is also Utah 19, and it is cosigned with U.S. 6, U.S. 50, and/or U.S. 191 intermittently along route; between Exits 158 and 162. At the west end of the loop is a low clearance due to a railroad bridge and subway, so high profile vehicles should approach Green River from the east. Click here for photos.
COLORADO
Grand Junction Active Partially cosigned with U.S. 6-50, Business Loop I-70 is located between Exits 26 and 37. Per the Colorado State Highway Log, the business loop is 13.36 miles in length. Most of the business loop is an expressway, and it even features two interchanges northwest of downtown. Matt Salek writes, "CDOT tends to be a little cryptic about the business routes and spurs on Interstate 70. The way the route logs are set up, the business loops and business spurs are mentioned only if they are not concurrent with another highway, with the exception of Grand Junction. So, basically, we end up with two lists of business routes: A list of ones that are marked on the mainline of Interstate 70, and ones that officially defined in the route logs but unmarked. In Grand Junction on Interstate 70's south side runs from Exits 26 to 37. This route is concurrent with U.S. 6-50 west of downtown, concurrent with US 6 east of downtown. This is an officially defined Business Loop I-70 in the CDOT route logs." From the west, Business Loop I-70 shares significant pavement with US 6-50 into downtown Grand Junction. At North Avenue, U.S. 6 splits east, while Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 50 continue southeast into downtown. Traffic splits onto two one-way streets (South Avenue and Pitkin Avenue, according to the official Colorado State Map). At the intersection with Fifth Street, U.S. 50 turns south on its way out of town, while Business Loop I-70 continues northeast, and meets U.S. 6 at North Avenue. From this point, Business Loop I-70 and U.S. 6 continue northeast to Clifton, where U.S. 6 splits east toward Palisade. Business Loop I-70 continues northeast to meet Interstate 70 at Exit 37. Click here for photos of this expressway.

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Palisade Active The Palisade Business Loop connects with Interstate 70 at Exits 42 and 44. It is well-signed on the freeway and along the actual business loop, but it is not noted in the Colorado Route Log. Most maps show this route as U.S. 6. Note that the Palisade Business Loop is located only five miles east of the Grand Junction Business Loop, and they are connected by a short extant section of U.S. 6. Click here for more information.
Rifle Active/Unsigned Between Exits 87 and 90, the loop uses U.S. 6 east along Interstate 70's north side, then goes south back to I-70 on Colorado 13. According to the Colorado route log, this is 5.7 miles long. A field inspection in October 2004 revealed no signs, but it is still state maintained. An old U.S. 6 truss bridge is still in place next to the Colorado State Welcome Center at the Colorado 13 interchange, but it is not safe enough for use as a vehicle or pedestrian crossing. Click here for more information.
Silt Active/Unsigned Matt Salek writes, "CDOT also has a system of unmarked business spurs, defined in the route logs. They're unmarked because they are not signed on the mainline. These are defined only as "Business spur to [town]", so when I put together this list, the exit numbers and highway numbers are my additions. The exit numbers are most likely correct, because these towns only have one access point to I-70. The other end of the business spur is an assumption on my part, but they're probably correct, because the red line on the CDOT map going from I-70 to the town hits whatever road is paralleling I-70. As far as I can tell, all of the following are still state-maintained business spurs as of the 1997 CDOT map, with the exception of Vona (see below). There, the map is a little smudged, so I can't be sure if there is a red line going from I-70 to U.S. 24." The unmarked Silt business spur runs from Interstate 70 Exit 97 north to U.S. 6 at Silt. Click here for more information.
Eagle Active/Unsigned The unmarked Eagle business spur runs from I-70 Exit 147 south to U.S. 6 at Eagle. For more information on unmarked business spurs, see the Silt entry above. Click here for more information.
Edwards Active/Unsigned The unmarked Edwards business spur runs from I-70 Exit 163 south to U.S. 6 at Edwards. For more information on unmarked business spurs, see the Silt entry above. Click here for more information.
Avon Decommissioned The unmarked Avon business spur used to extend from Interstate 70 Exit 167 south to U.S. 6 at Avon. According to Matt Salek, it was eliminated in 1999. A traffic roundabout exists on the south end of the interchange. Click here for more information.
Frisco Decommissioned/Local Business Route In both directions of Interstate 70 as it approaches Frisco, signs announce that Colorado 9 (Exit 203/westbound) and Main Street (Exit 201/eastbound) are the "Frisco Business Loop." In spite of this sign, the Frisco Business Loop is not signed at all, even on the state maintained portion (that is, Colorado 9). According to Matt Salek, the entire loop may have been a state maintained facility previously, but it is not anymore. Click here for more information.

Idaho Springs Active This business loop serves Idaho Springs from exits 239 to 241, and it follows old U.S. 6-40 north of Interstate 70 through town before Interstate 70 was built. Each end has only a partial interchange with Interstate 70. This is an officially defined business loop of Interstate 70 in the route logs, and it runs for 2.54 miles per Matt Salek and the Colorado state route log. Click here for more information.
Golden and Denver Active Business Loop I-70 serves Golden and Denver via Colfax Avenue. According to the Denver Rocky Mountain News from June 19, 2000, Colfax Avenue is "the longest continuous commercial thoroughfare" in the United States. The business route follows all of Colfax Avenue, and it is cosigned with U.S. 40 throughout and with U.S. 287 for eastern half. Not signed on Interstate 25 exit to Colfax Avenue. The Golden portion of the business route is signed as U.S. 40, not Colorado State Route 40, contrary to many maps. Much of the following information on this business route comes from the Colorado Highways guru, Matt Salek:

This business loop serves metro Denver between Interstate 70 Exits 259 to 288 for 26.80 miles. Goes entire length of Colfax Avenue concurrent with U.S. 40 and with U.S. 40-287 from Federal Boulevard east. It's either "BR I-70" or "LOOP I-70" depending on the map you're using. When driving along Colfax, wherever there are U.S. 40 and 287 trailblazers, there is a green "Business Loop I-70" shield above them. However, on Interstate 25 the Colfax exit is only referred to as U.S. 40; U.S. 287 and Business Loop I-70 aren't mentioned. Not mentioned in the route logs because it's concurrent with other state highways. Colfax Avenue is named after Schyuler Colfax, an Indiana congessman who passed through Colorado in 1865 and later became Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. If it weren't named Colfax, it would be 15th Avenue.

U.S. 40 west of Golden is a source of confusion for me. If you pay attention to the signing on Interstate 70, the next place eastward that U.S. 40 will appear is Exit 259 south of Golden, where Colfax Avenue starts, and curves northeast, then east into the west metro. However, there are a couple of sections of old U.S. 40 left on the north side of Interstate 70 in Vernon Canyon, but I'm not sure which ones are still state-maintained or ghosts left over from days gone by. The 1976 route log has one defined from Interstate 70 "at the bottom of Floyd Hill" east to "interchange structure F-15-CF", just west of the Colorado 74 interchange. This would be from Exits 247 to 251. There is also a U.S. 40 marker just north of Exit 256, and DeLorme shows U.S. 40 extending from Exit 254 to where it starts again at Exit 259. This is quite obviously the historic routing of US 40, but I don't know if that section was added sometime after the 1976 route log or is a ghost. As near as I can tell, the section for Exits 247 to 251 most definitely is still a state highway. The Denver insert appears to show the frontage road as state-maintained from Exit 256 west to whatever the next exit is (but not as far west as Exit 251).

Aside from some California loops, this one of the largest cities to be served by an Interstate business connection. Click here for more information.
Watkins Active The Watkins business spur runs from Interstate 70 Exit 295 north to Colorado 36 at Watkins. As of October 2004, the spur is signed as "Business Loop I-70" erroneously, and there is a trailblazer shield at the top of the ramp from westbound Interstate 70 for "North Interstate 70." At least an attempt has been made to make this route signed. Colorado 36 is signed (it is not signed U.S. 36, contrary to some maps!). Click here for more information.
Strasburg Active The Strasburg business spur runs from Interstate 70 Exit 310 north to Colorado 36 at Strasburg. For more information on unmarked business spurs, see the Silt entry above. Click here for more information.
Deer Trail Active/Unsigned The unmarked Deer Trail business spur runs from Interstate 70 Exit 328 west to Colorado 40 at Deer Trail. Interestingly, the 2000 Colorado Official State Map shows this business spur as "U.S. 40." For more information on unmarked business spurs, see the Silt entry above. Click here for more information.
Agate Active/Unsigned The unmarked Agate business spur runs from Interstate 70 Exit 340 west to Old U.S. 40 at Agate. For more information on unmarked business spurs, see the Silt entry above. Click here for more information.
Limon Active Business Loop I-70 serves Limon between exits 359 and 361. Limon is famous for being the control city of eastbound Interstate 70 from Denver, even though it is a town of about 2,000 people. It first goes southwest on Spur U.S. 24, then east on U.S. 24-40-287 through town. Not mentioned in the route logs because it's concurrent with other state highways. Click here for more information.
Vona Active/Unsigned The unmarked Vona business spur runs from Interstate 70 Exit 423 north to U.S. 24 at Vona. For more information on unmarked business spurs, see the Silt entry above. Click here for more information.
Burlington Active In Burlington, from exits 437 to 438. Goes north on U.S. 385, then east on U.S. 24. It has an autonomous section not concurrent with U.S. 24 from Exit 438 west for about two blocks, so this short section is officially defined in the route logs. According to Matt Salek, "From Exit 437, Business Loop I-70 heads concurrent north with US 385 (Lincoln Avenue), and at Rose Avenue, hits US 24. It then heads east with US 24, going to I-70 Exit 438, and ending there." A field inspection in October 2004 revealed that this route is entirely unsigned within Burlington, even though it is still signed from Interstate 70. Only U.S. 24 and U.S. 385 shields were in place along the loop. Click here for more information.
KANSAS
Goodland Not a Business Loop Business U.S. 24; not Business Loop I-70. Generally, Kansas DOT has chosen to sign business routes using the accompanying U.S. route numbering. Goodland, in the western part of the state, lies on I-70 and U.S. 24 between Exits 17 and 19.
Colby Decommissioned According to Brian O'Neill, a Business Route 70 was marked through Colby, Kansas--and a fairly long one, from exit 53 on Interstate 70 north along Kansas 25, then turning west at Colby's old high school and following U.S. 24 to rejoin Interstate 70 at the Levant Exit 45. A field inspection in October 2004 revealed that this loop is no longer signed either on the mainline nor on the route itself.
Oakley Decommissioned According to Richie Kennedy, a Business Route 70 was marked through Oakley between Exits 70 and 76 via U.S. 83 and U.S. 40. It is unlikely that this loop is still signed.
WaKeeney Not a Business Loop Business U.S. 40 (not Business Loop I-70) between Interstate 70 Exits 127 and 128.
Hays Decommissioned According to Brian O'Neill, as late as 1985, a marked Business Route I-70 was located in Hays, Kansas, between Interstate 70 exits 157 and 159. Trailblazers followed U.S. 183 from Exit 159 south through Hays to the old U.S. 40 intersection, then west and northwest to rejoin the Interstate at Exit 157. A field inspection in October 2004 revealed that the business loop shields are long gone.
Russell Not a Business Loop Business U.S. 40 (not Business Loop I-70) between I-70 Exits 184 and 189.
Junction City Not a Business Loop Business U.S. 40 (not Business Loop I-70) between I-70 Exits 296 and 300.
MISSOURI
Boonville Active Missouri signs Interstate business loops, unlike its neighbor Kansas. This is Business Loop I-70 between Exits 101 and 106.
Columbia Active The Columbia business loop serves the city between Interstate 70 Exits 125 and 128. The city even signs this stretch of old U.S. 40 as Business Loop I-70, even though it is also known as Mores Boulevard. Moreover, the city naming extends to the portion of Business Loop I-70 that is not designated by the state as Business Loop I-70 between Exits 124 and 125.
St. Charles Active Old Bypass U.S. 40, Business Loop I-70 follows First Capitol Drive and Fifth Street between Exits 228 and 229. U.S. 40 is still on its original route (future Interstate 64) in St. Charles County up to Wentzville (exit 210). This was verified against the reprint of the 1941 WPA guide for Missouri. According to a Standard Map of St. Louis from 1964, Business Loop I-70 in St. Charles once went across the Missouri River on the old Missouri State Route 115 bridge (which got blown up in December 1997) and terminated at Interstate 270 at the St. Charles Rock Road exit. It got changed when Business Loop I-70 was cosigned with Missouri State Route 94 toward the end of the 1960s.
OHIO
Springfield Decommissioned Business Loop I-70 used to follow Ohio 4 (Exit 48) and U.S. 40 (Exit 62). No shields remain along the mainline as of October 2004, and only a few sporadic shields apparently remain. Harrison Page writes, "I-70 Business Loop exits Springfield (assuming west to east travel) along U.S. 40 at Exit 62. I don't know where it begins because there are no signs for it west of Ohio State Route 72 in downtown Springfield! Sigh, imagine that. You take an exit from Interstate 70 and go into Springfield. Once you're there, you discover you're on the business loop! Wow, pretty neat stuff for the locals. Troy, Ohio, enjoys this too. If you come from the east, there is a tricolor, Business Loop Interstate 70 sign in the right-of-way at a gas station near the exit. OHDOT chose this site because the department believes it is important to let motorists know right away that they're on a business loop! There is one more tricolor before entering Springfield. In town, a familiar green sign sits along the roadway just east of Ohio State Route 72 (the main north-south artery). After that point, there are no more references to Business Loop I-70, only trailblazers for Interstate 70. Fred F. Johnson produces maps that indicate Business Loop I-70 enters Springfield via the Ohio State Route 4 freeway. Well, I drove that in both directions and did not see any reference to Business Loop Interstate 70 along the roadway. Mr. Johnson also indicates Business Loop I-70 exits Springfield via Ohio State Route 41. There are no Business Loop I-70 signs along this roadway either. Deciding to pollute some more, I drove along Ohio State Route 72 (maybe OHDOT forgot a sign, it happens), but there are no Business Loop I-70 signs there either. Oops. It seems Business Interstate 70 only goes into Springfield from the east. Eastbound travelers will have to pass Springfield, exit at U.S. 40, then go back toward town. (Why do this, OHDOT?) But, I have a caveat. There is construction along U.S. 40 in downtown Springfield, and I believe OHDOT has been busy removing signs. I visited Springfield a few months ago during the construction off-season and am certain I saw more than just two Business Loop I-70 signs in the downtown. Of course I didn't take any pictures (didn't even think about it then), so I have no proof except a rusty memory. For any hearty souls that truly want to take the business loop through Springfield, follow Mr. Johnson's advice and jump off at Ohio 4. Then dump the Johnson map and follow U.S. 40 back to Interstate 70."
Springfield Not a business route Springfield is also served by Alternate I-70. Harrison Page reported in 1997 that "Springfield is extra special because not only did the Ohio Department of Transportation bless it with a business loop, but the department sent an alternate route its way too. Alternate Interstate 70 begins at Exit 41 (again assuming west to east travel). This is the cloverleaf for Ohio State Route 4 and Ohio State Route 235, where Ohio State Route 4 jogs onto Interstate 70 for a few miles. Never wanting to led a motorist astray, OHDOT thoughtfully posted the Alternate Interstate 70 marker on a pole that is taller than the "EXIT" sign that is front of it at the off-ramp. Once on Ohio State Route 235, there is another Alternate Interstate 70 sign that points motorists away from the Interstate 70 westbound on-ramp. (That would be a very short alternate route indeed!) OHDOT decided not to bother motorists with excess signs along Ohio State Route 235, so another Alternate Interstate 70 signs does appear until the U.S. 40 junction. At this point, a sign directs motorists to go eastward on U.S. 40. Along U.S. 40, there are several Alternate Interstate 70 signs to let motorists know that OHDOT didn't forget about them. Finally, at the U.S. 68 freeway just west of Springfield (but east of the Ohio State Route 4 freeway, which is supposedly part of Business Loop I-70), signs point motorists to go south on U.S. 68. You will not see any more Alternate Interstate 70 signs after the U.S. 40/68 junction. (Darn, I forgot a ramp!) Heading north along U.S. 68, there is an Alternate Interstate 70 sign just past I-70. (Don't ask me about the ramp.) The directions are clear: U.S. 68 to U.S. 40 to Ohio State Route 235. However, something strange happens along U.S. 40 westbound (assuming you didn't accidentally take the Ohio State Route 4 freeway with the Interstate 70 trailblazers). Instead of "ALT", every Interstate 70 sign along U.S. 40 has "DETOUR" above it. (Hey, Scooby, I think we found a clue as to why this route exists!) A sign near Ohio State Route 235 directs detour-minded motorists to make the left turn and go south. As soon as you do though, the Interstate 70 signs again have "ALT" above them. This is very strange indeed. Something else that is strange is the Alternate Interstate 70 sign at the U.S. 68 south on-ramp from U.S. 40 west. Now, follow closely: the U.S. 40/68 interchange is a cloverleaf. Alternate Interstate 70 west exits at the U.S. 68 north to U.S. 40 west ramp, then goes west on U.S. 40. Alternate Interstate 70 east follows the U.S. 40 east to U.S. 68 south ramp. The U.S. 40 west to U.S. 68 south ramp is not part of Alternate Interstate 70. The Alternate Interstate 70 sign at this ramp is really a trailblazer, because Interstate 70A does not join U.S. 68 until the U.S. 40 east to U.S. 68 south ramp merges further south. For the anal, OHDOT should really post "TO" above the "ALT", which would remain above the Interstate 70 shield."

MARYLAND
In Maryland, northwest of Washington, D.C. Active This is a freeway spur from Interstate 270 that connects to Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) southbound. This short, heavily traveled route is only signed as Spur Interstate 270 on overhead signs, but trailblazers say To Interstate 495 (southbound) and To Interstate 270 (northbound). Some older maps have shown this spur route as "Interstate 470" (and as "Interstate 270" back when the modern Interstate 270 was designated as Interstate 70-S), but it is not clear if it were ever signed that way.

Page Updated October 26, 2004.