Colorado’s Shortest Highway Exists for This One Reason

When you first see the length of Colorado’s shortest highway, it feels like a mistake. Who would make a highway you could practically walk faster than you can drive?

So how does a stretch of road just 740 feet long end up as an official state highway? Most folks passing through Silverton don’t even realize it exists. So why does Colorado hang on to this tiny highway and keep it maintained? Let’s dig in.

The Shortest Highway in Colorado

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It’s so small, most people have never heard of it. State Highway 110 begins in Silverton, Colorado, right off U.S. 550. In 0.186 miles, it ends. City blocks in downtown Denver are larger than that. SH-110 connects U.S. 550 with a CDOT maintenance yard, as well as the starting point of Colorado’s famous Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. The highway seems microscopic, but CDOT lists this highway right next to I-70 and U.S. 50.

How It Got So Small

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SH-110 was not always as small as it is today. In fact, many think the state of Colorado should resume maintaining the full length of the original highway.  The road once stretched north from Silverton into the mountains toward Howardsville, Eureka, and Gladstone. As mining stopped, the state trimmed the route. As of 2023, most of SH-110 has been decommissioned. Only the short spur into Silverton is all that remains of the once rugged mountain highway.

Why It Still Exists Today

So why do Colorado and San Juan County continue to maintain SH-110? The highway is practical for two reasons. Ever see it snow in Silverton? SH-110 ensures snowplows, as well as emergency and heavy equipment, can quickly access U.S. 550. The highway also serves as a courtesy to those heading into the backcountry, providing a safe gateway to Colorado’s Alpine Loop.

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