Colorado State Highway 83

State Highway 83
Map of central Colorado with SH 83 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length:	77.26 mi (124.34 km)
Major junctions
South end:	SH 21 in Black Forest
	E-470 in Parker I-225 in Aurora
North end:	SH 2 in Denver
Location
Counties:	El Paso, Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver
Highway system
Colorado State Highways Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← SH 82 US 84 →

State Highway 83 is a state highway that runs from SH 115 interchange in southern Colorado Springs to SH 2 at Leetsdale Dr. / Colorado Blvd. in Denver. The first 21 miles, from SH 115 to SH 21, is now maintained by the city of Colorado Springs; signage is inconsistent within the city limits.

The highway begins in southern Colorado Springs at the intersection of SH 115 and the terminus of SH 83 which is called South Academy Blvd. It runs east then north through the center of the city, where it is called North Academy Blvd. Several city intersections have been upgraded with overpasses (at Proby Parkway, US 24 and Woodmen Rd) to avoid making this just another city street. The highway continues north then northwest through the city, and then just before connecting to I-25 it turns directly north and speed up to 55 mph. After paralleling I-25 for several miles, it turns east as it overlays Interquest Parkway. The highway is solely named SH 83 beginning in far northeastern Colorado Springs, at the intersection of CO 21 and InterQuest Parkway. From there it becomes a 60 mph rural highway, continuing northward through rural countryside for 30 miles to Franktown, through a tree heavy and hilly portion of Douglas County, and passing the east border of Castlewood Canyon State Park, then intersecting SH 86. The route becomes a six lane divided expressway at Bayou Gulch Road with a 55 mph speed limit. The route continues on and enters the City of Parker and the southeastern portion of the Denver Metropolitan Area, where it interchanges with E-470. After, it enters Arapahoe County just north of E-470 and descends into Centennial where it interchanges with Arapahoe Road, which recently was upgraded to a grade-separated interchange. SH 83 continues as a 55 mph an expressway as it enters Aurora, intersecting Hampden Avenue and Interstate 225. The route enters suburban Aurora, and it becomes more of a city street, dropping to a 45 mph speed limit and narrowing to 4 lanes. It soon enters the Cherry Creek district of Denver and ends at Colorado Boulevard/SH 2.