Interstate 40 in California

Interstate 40
Needles Freeway
Route information
Defined by Streets and Highways Code § 340
Maintained by Caltrans
Length:	154.623 mi[1] (248.842 km)
Existed:	August 7, 1947 by FHWA[2] July 1, 1964 by Caltrans[3] – present
Major junctions
West end:	I-15 in Barstow
	US 95 in Needles
East end:	I-40 at the Arizona state line
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business State highways in California Interstate U.S. State Pre-1964 History Unconstructed Deleted Freeway Scenic ← SR 39 SR 41 →

In the State of California, Interstate 40 (I-40) begins on the west at its interchange with Interstate 15 in Barstow. Sometimes called the Needles Freeway, it is a major east—west highway of the Interstate Highway System that goes all the way to Wilmington, North Carolina. I-40 goes east from Barstow across the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County past the Clipper Mountains to Needles, before it crosses over the Colorado River into Arizona east of Needles. All 155 miles of I-40 in California are in San Bernardino County.

Route description

This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System^[4] and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System.^[5] However, it is not a scenic highway as designated by Caltrans.^[6] Interstate 40 from Interstate 15 to the Arizona State Line is known as the Needles Freeway, as named by Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 in 1968.^[7] Interstate 40 goes through the Mojave Desert on its entire journey through California.

I-40 starts out at a junction with Interstate 15 in Barstow. The freeway passes through Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow before leaving the city limits. I-40 provides access to the town of Daggett but passes south of the town. After passing south of the Barstow-Daggett Airport, I-40 goes through Newberry Springs and Ludlow before traveling along the south end of Mojave National Preserve. Several miles east of the preserve, I-40 intersects US 95 and the two highways run concurrently into the city of Needles. In Needles, US 95 continues south while I-40 continues east through Mojave National Preserve and across the Colorado River into Arizona.^[8]

The maximum speed limit for the entire California segment of Interstate 40 is 70 mph (110 km/h).

History

The segment of I-40 in California was approved as a chargeable Interstate on July 7, 1947.^[2] In 1957, the California Department of Highways proposed that the route be renumbered to Interstate 30 instead because of the already existing U.S. Route 40 in the state.^[3] However, this was rejected, and eventually U.S. 40 was decommissioned in favor of Interstate 80.

Today, the Needles Freeway replaced the former Route 66 across the Mojave Desert. As a result, a number of communities along the former route like Amboy have become ghost towns.^[9]

In the early 1960s, a proposal as part of Operation Plowshare would have detonated 22 nuclear explosions to excavate a massive roadcut through the Bristol Mountains to accommodate a better alignment of Interstate 40 and a new rail line. This proposal was definitively abandoned in 1968.^[10][11]

A sign in California showing the distance to Wilmington, North Carolina has been stolen several times.^[12]

Former mileage sign at start of Interstate 40 in Barstow, California

Future

The State of California submitted the segment of what is now State Route 58 between Barstow and Bakersfield for chargeable Interstate approval twice, in 1956 and 1968, presumably as an extension of Interstate 40, but it was rejected both times.^[2] As a result of these rejections, this segment of SR 58 is being upgraded to freeway standards piece-by-piece as Caltrans has funds available. However, there is no current push to apply for Interstate designation.

Needles business loop

Interstate 40 Business
Location:	Needles, California

Interstate 40 Business is a Business loop in Needles, California. It provides access to downtown Needles as Broadway Street. It also follows the former routing of U.S. Route 66.

Exit list

The entire route is in San Bernardino County.

Location	mi[1]	km	Exit[1]	Destinations	Notes
Barstow	0.00	0.00		I-15 south (Mojave Freeway) to SR 58 west – San Bernardino	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western terminus; no direct access to I-15 north; I-15 south exit 184, north exit 184A
	0.79	1.27	1	I-15 Bus. / CR 66 west (E. Main Street) to I-15 north / Montara Road	West end of CR 66 overlap; E. Main St. was former US 66 west
	2.35	3.78	2	Marine Corps Logistics Base
	4.71	7.58	5	CR 66 east (Nebo Street)	East end of CR 66 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 66 east
Daggett	7.18	11.56	7	A Street – Daggett
	12.19	19.62	12	Airport Road – Barstow-Daggett Airport
Newberry Springs	18.45	29.69	18	CR 66 (National Trails Highway) – Newberry Springs	Former US 66
	23.33	37.55	23	Fort Cady Road – Newberry Springs
	28.50	45.87	Desert Oasis Rest Area
	32.50	52.30	33	Hector Road
Ludlow	49.98	80.44	50	CR 66 (Crucero Road) – Ludlow	Former US 66
	78.17	125.80	78	Kelbaker Road
	99.73	160.50	100	Essex Road – Essex
	106.94	172.10	John Wilkie Rest Area - Fenner
Fenner	107.17	172.47	107	CR 66 (Goffs Road) – Essex	Former US 66
	115.19	185.38	115	Mountain Springs Road
	119.97	193.07	120	Water Road
	132.73	213.61	133	US 95 north / CR 66 west – Searchlight, Las Vegas	West end of US 95/CR 66 overlap; former US 66 west
Needles	139.11	223.88	139	CR 66 east (River Road Cutoff)	East end of CR 66 overlap; Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
	141.01	226.93	141	I-40 Bus. / CR 66 (W. Broadway Street / River Road)	W. Broadway St. was former US 66 east
	142.37	229.12	142	J Street – Downtown Needles
	143.76	231.36	144	US 95 south / CR 66 (E. Broadway Street) – Blythe	East end of US 95 overlap; former US 66
	148.19	238.49	148	CR 66 west (Five Mile Road) to US 95 – Blythe	Former US 66 west; West end of CR 66 overlap
			Agricultural Inspection Station (westbound only)
	153.31	246.73	153	Park Moabi Road
	154.64	248.87		I-40 east – Kingman	Continuation into Arizona; Eastern terminus of CR 66
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

See also

• California Roads portal

References

1. Warring, KS (January 8, 2008). "Interstate 40 Freeway Interchanges" (PDF). California Numbered Exit Uniform System. California Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
2. "California Highways: Interstate Highway Types and the History of California's Interstates". Cahighways.org. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
3. "California Highways: Interstate 40". Cahighways.org. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
4. "CA Codes (shc:250-257)". Leginfo.ca.gov. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
5. "CA Codes (shc:260-284)". Leginfo.ca.gov. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
6. "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways". California Department of Transportation. December 7, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
7. 2008 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California (PDF). Caltrans. p. 74. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
8. San Bernardino County Street Atlas (Map). Thomas Brothers. 2008.
9. Anton, Mike (2007-01-17). "Destiny in the desert". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
10. "Project Carryall Marker". Hmdb.org. 2012-01-09. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
11. "Preliminary Design Studies In A Nuclear Excavation - Project Carryall - Trb Publications Index". Pubsindex.trb.org. 1994-07-26. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
12. "I-40 Barstow, Calif., sign gone for good". Star-News. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-11-13.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

• Interstate 40 @ Interstate-Guide.com
• Interstate 40 Business @ Interstate-Guide.com
• California @ AARoads.com – Interstate 40
• Caltrans: Interstate 40 highway conditions
• California Highways: Interstate 40