I considered asking Cecil this question, but thought I would put it to the Teeming Millions first.
I’ve lived in Denver my whole life (27.75 years) and people here have always refered to the section of Interstate 25 that runs through Denver as “The Valley Highway”.
Why? What valley are they referring to? I’ve never noticed Denver to be a particular “hills and valleys” kind of place. Or is it a really big valley, so big that I didn’t know I was in one? Plus, nothing else is called the “Valley” whatever and nobody talks about being in the valley or going through the valley, etc.
So, Teeming Millions, why call it The Valley Highway?
I believe that people are referring to the Platte Valley (which I’m sure you’ve heard of). It’s where Elitch’s, the Children’s Museum, Ocean Journey, etc. are. It’s created by the Platte River as it flows through Denver and generally follows the path of I-25.
You should, of course, just be glad you still refer to it as the Valley Highway. As opposed to all those newbies who call it I-25, have no idea where Stapleton is, don’t know Hampden and 285 are the same thing, and who can’t remember Dave Cook on 16th Street.
A-ha! Of course! That thought never occurred to me. Of course, Platte Valley doesn’t really seem like a valley to me, so maybe that’s why it eluded me.
And Dave Cook! I had totally forgotten about that!
It’s so funny when giving directions and you say to take 285…and then you get that blank stare until you say “Hampden” and then you still get a puzzled look.
Thanks, Necros!
The “Valley Highway” was planned, named and built before it got the I-25 designation. I have an old pre-Interstate map of Denver showing the Valley Highway and the Boulder Turnpike (called a turnpike because, at one time, it was actually a toll road).
Supposedly other Denver limited access highways were given names that aren’t ever used. FRIU, I-225 is the “Aurora Expressway,” and I-76 is the “Centennial Expressway.” Don’t know abut I-70, CO 470, or I-225.
The Mousetrap got its name YEARS ago, when the interesction was REALLY f****d up. The revision of the early 90’s helped get rid of that problem (somewhat, from what I heard. I left Denver in '93), but the name stuck.
The mouse trap is hella-better than it was before they streamlined it.
I like what they’ve done recently with the Boulder turnpike (hwy 36) too - much better traffic flow. I look forward to 36’s expansion being completed too - it’s awful right now with all the new development in the Louisville/Superior area. In fact - to get to Denver proper from NE Boulder- I usually head east on hwy 52 until I get to 25 and take it
in rather than deal with 36.
