U.S. Route 60 in Arizona

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 60 in Arizona. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 60.

U.S. Route 60 marker

U.S. Route 60
Route information
Maintained by ADOT
Length: 369.30 mi[1] (594.33 km)
Existed: 1932 – present
Major junctions
West end: I-10 near Quartzsite
 
East end: US 60 at New Mexico state line
Highway system
  • State Routes in Arizona
SR 51SR 61
SR 347360SR 364
View east along Route 60, Phoenix

U.S. Route 60 (US 60) is an east–west United States Highway within Arizona. The highway runs for 369 miles (594 km) from a junction with Interstate 10 near Quartzsite to the New Mexico State Line near Springerville. As it crosses the state, US 60 overlaps at various points: I-17, I-10, SR 77, SR 260, US 191, and US 180. Between Wickenburg and Phoenix, the route is known as Grand Avenue (or the Phoenix–Wickenburg Highway). From Tempe to Apache Junction, it is known as the Superstition Freeway.

Route description

I-10 to Wickenburg

The western terminus of US 60 is located at an interchange with I-10 east of Quartzite. It heads northeast from this junction to Vicksburg Junction where it curves towards the east. It continues to the east to Hope where it intersects SR 72. East of Hope, the highway briefly curves towards the north-northeast before curving towards the northeast. It continues this direction until it reaches Aguila. The highway heads east to an intersection with SR 71 after passing through Aguila. US 60 continues towards the east until it reaches Wickenburg and an intersection with US 93. From Wickenburg, the highway heads towards the southeast towards Phoenix. It has an intersection with SR 74 in Morristown as it continues towards the southeast.

Grand Avenue

As US 60 enters the Phoenix metropolitan area, it carries the name Grand Avenue and cuts a diagonal path through the northwestern part of the metropolitan area. It intersects Loop 303 in Surprise as it continues to the southeast. It continues to a junction with Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in Peoria before heading through Glendale. The highway enters the Phoenix city limits and continues towards the southeast until it reaches an interchange with 27th Avenue near Thomas Road.

Improvements to the Grand Avenue portion of US 60, which were included in the Maricopa Association of Governments' 20-year Regional Transportation Plan, have been made. Among such improvements is the reducing of many of the busiest six-legged intersections to four-legged intersections by constructing overpasses, underpasses, and access roads.

US 60 Marker

I-17/I-10 concurrencies

After briefly heading south along 27th Ave., US 60 turns left onto Thomas Rd. for 14 mile (0.40 km) until it reaches I-17. At I-17 the highway begins to run concurrently with I-17 towards the south. It passes through an I-10 interchange known as "The Stack." US 60 continues to run concurrent with I-17 around the Durango Curve and continues east until it again reaches I-10 at the interchange known as "The Split." US 60 begins to run concurrently towards the east with I-10 after the interchange. Along the freeway, US 60 passes along the south side of the airport and over a bridge traversing the Salt River. Once over the river, the freeway continues towards Tempe to an interchange with SR 143. The freeway curves back towards the south following the SR 143 interchange.

Superstition Freeway

After the curve, I-10 and US 60 part ways in Tempe, with I-10 continuing towards the south and US 60 now heading east along the Superstition Freeway. The freeway continues towards the east to a second interchange with Loop 101 (Price Freeway). The freeway enters Mesa city limits after the interchange as it continues towards the east to the SuperRedTan interchange with Loop 202. The freeway enters the city limits of Apache Junction in Pinal County as it continues eastbound. The freeway portion of the highway ends in Apache Junction as US 60 curves towards the southeast.

Apache Junction to the state line

US 60 Marker

The highway continues towards the southeast passing through Gold Canyon to an interchange with SR 79 at Florence Junction. US 60 curves towards the east at this junction as it heads to Superior and an interchange with SR 177. From Superior the highway begins to head towards the northeast to Miami and Claypool. It continues to a junction with SR 188 before passing through Midland City and turning towards the south towards Globe. US 60 curves back towards the east in Globe and continues to an intersection with US 70 and SR 77. US 60 heads northeast from the intersection concurrent with SR 77. The two highways curve towards the north before curving back towards the northeast as they head towards Show Low. As the highway continues towards the northeast it enters the San Carlos Indian Reservation. Within the reservation, the highway goes through a series of hairpin turns as it enters the Salt River Canyon. After descending into the canyon, the highway passes over the Salt River and enters the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The highway continues towards the northeast and enters Navajo County before reaching an intersection with SR 73. It continues northeast from this intersection to the city of Show Low.

In Show Low, US 60 intersects SR 260 and briefly runs concurrently with SR 260 as it heads northeast through the city. The concurrency with SR 77 also ends in Show Low as SR 77 heads north to Snowflake and US 60 continues towards the east. US 60 leaves the Show Low city limits and heads east to a junction with SR 61 which heads northeast towards Concho. US 60 continues east from this intersection before curving towards the southeast as it heads towards Springerville.

As it enters the Springerville city limits, it intersects and begins to run concurrently with US 180 and US 191. The three highways continue along the same alignment through Springerville, passing over the Little Colorado River. As the three highways continue through the city, they eventually split with US 180 and US 191 heading south towards Alpine and US 60 continuing towards the east. US 60 continues towards the east leaving the Springerville city limits and crossing over the state line into New Mexico.[1][2]

History

State Route 74
Location: Ehrenberg-Wickenburg
Existed: 1927–1932

State Route 360
Location: Tempe-Apache Junction
Existed: 1970–1992

In 1927, what is now US 60 was signed as or roughly followed by SR 74 between the California border near Ehrenburg and Wickenburg, US 89 from Wickenburg to Florence Junction, US 80 from Phoenix to Florence Junction, US 180 from Florence Junction to Globe and US 70 between Springerville and the New Mexico border. The segment of highway between Springerville and Globe had not been constructed yet.[3][4][5] US 60 was extended into Arizona in 1932, from its original western terminus at US 66 in Springfield, Missouri.[6] While what is now US 60 was under construction between Globe and Springerville, US 60 was temporarily routed down SR 73 as US 60T through San Carlos and McNary. The current route through Show Low was completed sometime between 1935 and 1938.[7] US 60 through Arizona has had far fewer major changes than some other U.S. routes, but one notable example is being replaced by Interstate 10 between Los Angeles, California, and the highway's current terminus near Quartzsite. US 60 is now the only U.S. Route to serve Phoenix. US 70 (decom. 1969), US 80 (decom. 1977) & US 89 (decom. 1992) have all been truncated outside of Phoenix. The only other major change was being realigned from an "in-town" route along city arterials through Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix to the old SR 360 alignment a few miles south and merging with I-10 and I-17 into Downtown Phoenix.[6]

The Pinto Creek Bridge in 1955.

In 1949, the Pinto Creek Bridge won an Annual Award of Merit for being the "most beautiful steel bridge", given by the American Institute of Steel Construction.[6]

In 1952, the Claypool Tunnel was bypassed by the Queen Creek Tunnel, upgrading from a simple 'hole in the rock' type tunnel to a more modern tunnel.[6]

Present

US 60 shield used from 1926 to 1955

In recent years, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has been working to widen and improve US 60 through the Metropolitan Phoenix Area, as it is one of the area's principal freeways. Along the Superstition Freeway segment in the East Valley between I-10 and Loop 202, ADOT has completed its project of adding additional general purpose lanes (6 total plus an HOV in each direction), adding auxiliary lanes between exits, improving sound barriers, replacing signs, improving lighting conditions, adding rubberized asphalt to reduce noise, adding variable message signs, installing cameras, and adding traffic sensors.[8] A new partial interchange at Meridian Road, along the MaricopaPinal county line, opened in October 2015.[9]

Directional colored shields found on US 60 in Arizona during the 1950s.

Along the Grand Avenue segment in Phoenix, ADOT has been widening portions of Grand Avenue in addition to constructing additional overpasses and underpasses at six former six-way intersections to improve traffic flow along US 60 in the Northwest Valley.[10]

ADOT is currently in the study phase of adding additional lanes between Loop 101 and Loop 303 in the far West Valley.

An unsigned U.S. Route 60X is also listed by ADOT. US 60X is divided into two discontinuous segments, both of which are located within Maricopa County in the Phoenix area. Both sections of US 60X were portions of the pre-freeway alignment of US 60 between Apache Junction and central Phoenix.[11] US 60X begins near Grand Avenue and Thomas Road, where it shares Exit 160 (27th Avenue to Thomas Rd.) with US 60. It then follows Grand Ave. southeast over I-17/US 60 to an intersection with 18th Avenue and Willetta Street where the western segment terminates.[12] Access to I-17 is via Thomas Rd. by way of either 24th Avenue or 27th Ave. US 60X(1) picks up at Sossaman Road, traveling east across Apache Trail crossing Loop 202 and Ellsworth Road before terminating at Meridian Drive (the Pinal County line).[12][13]

Future

Due to rapid growth in the far eastern Phoenix suburbs within Pinal County and increasing road congestion in the Gold Canyon area, ADOT has begun to study potential freeway-grade realignments of US 60 past the current eastern terminus of the Superstition Freeway in Apache Junction. The new freeway alignment would bypass the existing at-grade section of US 60 through Gold Canyon, and would either rejoin the existing alignment southeast of town (in the vicinity of the Arizona Renaissance Festival grounds) or at the newly constructed freeway-grade junction with SR 79 at Florence Junction.[14] This new alignment could also potentially serve as the northern terminus of the proposed Pinal North-South Freeway.

Major intersections

Only the freeway portion of US 60 east of the I-10 interchange has exit numbers, except for a few exits on the lower section of Grand Avenue, and the interchange with SR 79. All other segments are standard divided or undivided highways with uncontrolled access.[15] The mileposts were not renumbered after the western leg was truncated, so they begin at milepost 30.89. Mileposts for US 60 are not logged on overlaps with Interstate highways, except at the junction of I-10 and I-17.

CountyLocationmi[1][16]kmExitDestinationsNotes
La PazBrenda30.8949.71 I-10 Phoenix, Los AngelesWestern terminus; exit 31 on I-10
Hope49.5579.74 SR 72 west ParkerEastern terminus of SR 72
MaricopaAguila86.07138.52 SR 71 north PrescottSouthern terminus of SR 71
Wickenburg110.33177.56 US 93 north Kingman, Las VegasTraffic circle; southern terminus of US 93
Morristown120.11193.30 SR 74 east to I-17Western terminus of SR 74
Sun City West138.48222.86 Loop 303 (Bob Stump Memorial Parkway) to I-10Via access road; future interchange once Loop 303 is converted into a freeway
Surprise142.75229.73142Bell RoadFuture interchange[17]
Peoria148.90239.63 Loop 101 south (Agua Fria Freeway)Exit 11 on Loop 101
149.23240.16 To Loop 101 north / 91st Avenue
151.97244.57Olive Avenue / 75th AvenueInterchange with Olive Avenue; at-grade intersection with 75th Avenue
Glendale153.35246.79Northern Avenue / 67th AvenueInterchange with 67th Avenue; at-grade intersection with Northern Avenue
154.74249.03Tunnel underneath 59th Avenue / Glendale Avenue intersection
155.41250.1155th Avenue north to Maryland AvenueInterchange; westbound exit and entrance
156.21251.40Bethany Home Road / 51st AvenueInterchange with 51st Avenue; at-grade intersection with Bethany Home Road
157.40253.3115743rd AvenueInterchange; no westbound exit
Phoenix157.59253.62Camelback RoadInterchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
159.01255.9035th Avenue / Indian School RoadInterchange with Indian School Road; at-grade intersection with 35th Avenue
160.09257.64160Grand Avenue southeast Downtown PhoenixInterchange; US 60 (east) splits from Grand Avenue, which becomes unsigned US 60X; exit 160 on US 60X
160.63258.51 I-17 north (Black Canyon Freeway) FlagstaffWestern terminus of I-17 concurrency; interchange ; exit 201 on I-17
 200BMcDowell Road / Van Buren StreetNo signage for Van Buren Street westbound; exit numbers follow I-17
200A I-10 Central Phoenix, Los AngelesI-10 exit 143
199BAdams Street / Van Buren StreetWestbound exit and entrance only
Jefferson StreetEastbound exit only
199AGrant Street / Buckeye RoadNo signage for Buckeye Road westbound
198Buckeye RoadWestbound exit only
197Durango Street / 19th AvenueDurango Curve; no signage for Durango Street westbound
Southern end of Black Canyon Freeway; western end of Maricopa Freeway
1967th Avenue / Central AvenueNo signage for Central Avenue westbound
195B7th Street / Central AvenueNo signage for Central Avenue eastbound
195A16th StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
168.28270.82194
150A
I-17 ends / I-10 west (Inner Loop) Sky HarborEastern terminus of I-17 concurrency; southern terminus of I-17; western terminus of I-10 concurrency; exit numbers follow I-10 (beginning with 150A)
 150B24th StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Bridge over the Salt River
151University Drive / 32nd Street
15240th Street
PhoenixTempe line153A SR 143 north (Hohokam Expressway) / 48th Street south / Broadway Road – Sky Harbor AirportSigned as exit 153 eastbound; Broadway Road not signed westbound; exits 1A-B on SR 143
Tempe153BBroadway Road / 52nd StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
171.63276.21 I-10 east (Maricopa Freeway) TucsonEastern terminus of I-10 concurrency; exit 154 on I-10; unsigned left exit 171 on US 60 west
Western end of Superstition Freeway
172.52277.64172Priest Drive Arizona Mills MallWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
173.67279.49173Mill AvenueArizona State University, Downtown Tempe
174.42280.70174Rural Road
175.41282.30175McClintock Drive
176.44–
176.47
283.95–
284.00
176 Loop 101 (Price Freeway) Scottsdale, ChandlerSigned as 176A (south) and 176B (north); Loop 101 exits 55A-B
Mesa177.43285.55177Dobson RoadMesa Community College
178.41287.12178Alma School Road
179.41288.73179 SR 87 (Country Club Drive) Chandler
180.36290.26180Mesa Drive
181.41291.95181Stapley Drive
182.40293.54182Gilbert Road
184.39296.75184Val Vista Drive
185.39298.36185Greenfield RoadMesa Falcon Field
186.38299.95186Higley Road
187.87302.35187Superstition Springs BoulevardEastbound exit and westbound entrance
188.38303.17188Power RoadPhoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, ASU Polytechnic
189.38304.78189Sossaman RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
190.42–
190.60
306.45–
306.74
190 Loop 202 Gilbert, MesaSuperRedTan Interchange; signed as exits 190A (north) and 190B (south) eastbound; Loop 202 exits 30A-B
191.39308.01191Ellsworth Road
192.39309.62192Crismon Road
193.40311.25193Signal Butte Road
MaricopaPinal county lineMesaApache Junction line194.41312.87194Meridian RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
PinalApache Junction195.41314.48195Ironwood Drive
196.41316.09196 SR 88 east (Idaho Road)Salt River Lakes, Roosevelt Dam, Apache Trail Highway
197.41317.70197Tomahawk Road
198.41319.31198Goldfield Road
199.17320.53199Old West HighwayWestbound exit only
199.44320.97Mountain View RoadEastern end of Superstition Freeway; traffic light
Florence Junction212.27341.62212 SR 79 south Florence, TucsonInterchange; northern terminus of SR 79
Superior226.87365.11 SR 177 south / Ray Road north WinkelmanInterchange; northern terminus of SR 177
GilaCentral Heights247.04397.57 SR 188 north Young, Theodore Roosevelt DamSouthern terminus of SR 188
Globe252.05405.64 US 70 / SR 77 south Safford, WinkelmanWestern terminus of SR 77 concurrency; western terminus of US 70;
Navajo 318.14512.00 SR 73 eastWestern terminus of SR 73
Show Low339.72546.73 SR 260 west (Clark Road) Heber-OvergaardWestern terminus of SR 260 concurrency
341.69549.90 SR 260 east (White Mountain Road) Pinetop-Lakeside, SpringervilleEastern terminus of SR 260 concurrency
342.25550.80 SR 77 north (Penrod Road) HolbrookEastern terminus of SR 77 concurrency
ApacheBell353.16568.36 SR 61 east St. JohnsPartial interchange; western terminus of SR 61
 384.45618.71 US 180 west / US 191 north St. JohnsWestern terminus of US 180/US 191 concurrency
Springerville387.83624.15 To SR 73 / SR 260 / South Mountain Avenue Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low
388.69625.54 US 180 east / US 191 south AlpineEastern terminus of US 180/US 191 concurrency
401.97646.91 US 60 east QuemadoContinuation into New Mexico
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Arizona Department of Transportation (2008). "2008 ADOT Highway Log" (PDF). Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  2. Google (April 15, 2008). "Overview Map of US 60 in Arizona" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
  3. Arizona State Highway Commission; Larls, W.B. (1927). Official State Routes and State Highways of the State of Arizona (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Retrieved May 6, 2015 via AARoads.
  4. National Map Company (1927). Sectional Paved Road Map (Map). Scale not given. Indianapolis: National Map Company. pp. 22 & 23. Retrieved April 1, 2015 via David Rumsey Map Collection.
  5. National Map Company (1927). Sectional Paved Road Map (Map). Scale not given. Indianapolis: National Map Company. pp. 24 & 25. Retrieved April 1, 2015 via David Rumsey Map Collection.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "US 60". Arizona Roads. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  7. "Maps". Arizona Roads. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  8. Arizona Department of Transportation. "Project Overview, Superstition Freeway". Arizona Department of Transportation.
  9. "ADOT opens new US 60 (Superstition Freeway) ramps at Meridian Road in East Valley" (Press release). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  10. US 60 (Grand Avenue)
  11. Arizona Highway Department (1971). Highway Map of Arizona (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Phoenix inset. Retrieved April 1, 2015 via Arizona Roads.
  12. 1 2 Arizona Department of Transportation (December 31, 2012). "2012 ADOT Highway Log" (PDF). Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. pp. 707, 710. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  13. Arizona Department of Transportation. "AADT & KDT Report for Year 2013 (U.S. Routes)" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  14. Arizona Department of Transportation. "US 60 (Pinal County)". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  15. ADOT GIS Database Used for locating the mile marker numbers in rural areas.
  16. Arizona Department of Transportation (December 31, 1996). "1997 Arizona State Highway System Log" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. pp. 125, 131. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  17. Arizona Department of Transportation. "U.S. Route 60 (Grand Avenue) and Bell Road Interchange". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 28, 2015.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

U.S. Route 60
Previous state:
Terminus
Arizona Next state:
New Mexico
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