Colorado State Highway 16


State Highway 16 is east–west state highway in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, that connects Interstate 25/U.S. Route 87 on the border of Fort Carson and Fountain with Colorado State Highway 21 in Fountain. SH 16 constitutes the westernmost portion of a longer road known as the Mesa Ridge Parkway.

Route description

SH 16 is a four-lane expressway for its entire length. It begins at an interchange with I-25/US 87. From its western terminus SH 16 heads east with a 45 mph speed limit. After briefly leaving the city limits of Fountain, the highway crosses over Fountain Creek.
Just after re-entering Fountain, SH 16 passes over the CanAm Highway/North Santa Fe Avenue, forming a partial cloverleaf interchange.
After the interchange with US 85, the speed limit increases to 55 mph and the route makes a southeast trajectory through neighborhoods in northern Fountain. SH 16 then turns to the northeast and reaches its eastern terminus at an intersection with the southern end of SH 21 at a T intersection..

History

The route was established in 1970 and the first mile was constructed from I-25 east to US 85. It was gradually extended in 2007 from CanAm Highway/Santa Fe Avenue to Powers Boulevard, when Mesa Ridge Parkway was added to the route, and the route length almost tripled.

Major intersections