Condition of Roads on Arizona State Highway System

Page Twelve ARIZONA HIGHWAYS April, 1927 Get Acquainted With Arizona Condition of Roads On Arizona State Highway System

(Editor's Note-These road conditions present the most accurate data obtainable up to the time of going to press. Rains may cause some changes.)

By M. SHUMAKER

YUMA-PHOENIX-TUCSON-DOUGLAS HIGHWAY U. S. Route 80

Leaving California traveling U. S. Route 80 you cross the Colorado River bridge at Yuma. Yuma to Wellton fair. F. A. 82-B, Telegraph Pass Section, under construction, 88 per cent complete. When this road is open to traffic it will shorten this route 6.5 miles. Wellton to Gila Bend, road in excellent condition. Gila Bend to Gillespie Dam fair. The approach to Gillespie Bridge completed. Part of this road is being used by the public. Gillespie Dam bridge is 66 per cent completed. Construction was delayed on bridge during past recent rains. Crossing on apron of Gillespie Dam, except during high water actual danger stage. The Arizona Highway Department has available at all times a large truck for towing and transporting cars across. Gillespie Dam to Hassayampa resurfaced gravel road, excellent condition. Paved from Hassayampa river to Phoenix. Agua Fria bridge which was washed out during recent rains has been repaired. Distance from Yuma to Phoenix 204.56 miles. Driving time 7 hours.

Route 80-from Phoenix to Tucson intercedes with U. S. Route 89. Phoenix to Desert Wells paved. Desert Wells to Florence-Superior Junction gravel surfaced highway with a section of b miles asphaltic concrete pavement, excellent condition. Florence-Superior Junction to Gila River, very good. Gila River to Florence one mile, fair. Florence streets fair to good.

Florence to Oracle Junction excellent, with numerous dips which become heavily sanded during high water. Caution should be taken in driving dips after rain. These dips are cleared by the maintenance crews immediately after the water recedes. Oracle Junction to Tucson excellent with 5 miles concrete pavement.

Phoenix to Tucson 136 miles, driving time 4 hours. Tucson to Vail gravel surfaced, fair to good. Vail to Benson excellent gravel surfaced highway. Benson to St. David bridge, fair to good. St. David bridge washed out during heavy rains. Has been replaced with temporary structure. St. David bridge to Tombstone, road in good condition with a few slow grades.

Tucson to Tombstone distance of 81 miles, driving time two and one-half hours.

Tombstone-Bisbee, road in excellent condition. 16.3 miles of asphaltic concrete. With the remaining 10 miles of gravel surfaced mountain highway.

Bisbee-Douglas paved.

Douglas-New Mexico State Line at Rodeo; this is an excellent surfaced highway with the exception of a few sections which become slippery during rainy seasons.

Distance from Tombstone to New Mexico State Line 100.59 miles.

Total distance of U. S. Route 80, as covered in this log, 520.8 miles.

NOGALES TO TUCSON PHOENIX-ASH FORK VIA PRESCOTT U. S. Route 89

Nogales-Tucson, 68 miles, excellent gravel surfaced and concrete pavement.

Nogales to a point 3 miles north paved. 56.5 miles gravel surfaced. 11.5 miles south of Tucson paved. At Tucson Route 89 intercedes with Route 80 to Phoenix.

From Phoenix to four miles beyond Marinette a paved highway extends 20.15 miles, end of pavement through Nada and Beardsley to Hot Springs Junction to Wickenburg excellent. Wickenburg to Congress excellent.

Note: During recent rainy weather considerable damage done to road between Hot Springs Junction and Wickenburg with approach to Wickenburg bridge washed out for a distance of 120 feet. The Arizona Highway Department is maintaining a truck to tow cars across during high water stage. The approach to the bridge at Peoples valley washed out February 16th, a detour is taking care of the traveling public.

Repairs to all damaged sections of road being rushed and nearing completion.

Congress to Yarnell, Federal Aid Project 72-B, completed and open to traffic. Condition very good. During recent heavy rains travel was slightly held up due to small slides. Yarnell to White Spar over 72-A excellent.

Prescott-White Spar Forest highway excellent.

Note: Slides occur during and following heavy rains on this section. The bureau of Public Roads has a maintenance force on this section and are keeping the road open and safe for traffic. New route 112-888 miles. Driving time three and one-half hours.

Driving time three and one-half hours.

Prescott-Ash Fork, distance 50.4 miles. First six miles out of Prescott under construction, detour necessary. Remainder of road excellent but care should be taken in passing cars as road surfacing is only 12 feet wide. Driving time over new route, Phoenix to Ash Fork, five hours. Total distance 167.42 miles. Saving in mileage over route via Kirkland 26.54 miles.

DOUGLAS-SAFFORD State Route 81

From Douglas to Pearce, gravel surfaced road, good condition. Pearce to Cochise, fair. Cochise to Safford, natural surfaced, road good. Length 184 miles.

NOGALES-TOMBSTONE State Route 82

Nogales to Patagonia, 22 miles of good dirt road well drained, and well maintained. Patagonia to Sonoita road excellent. At Sonoita this route connects with State Route 83, which runs north to Vail-Benson Junction, length 27.7 miles. Approximately 11 miles of this road was completed this past year. Entire length good to excellent. From Sonoita to Fairbanks resurfaced road in excellent condition at all time. Fairbanks to a point 4 miles this side of Tombstone excellent gravel surfaced highway, at this point State Route 82 intersects with U. S. Route 80. Total length 71 miles. Driving time 22 hours.

CHANDLER-CASA GRANDE State Route 87

Chandler-Casa Grande highway from Chandler south 6 miles paved. From San Tan Junction to Gila River use detour through pass. Fair condition. The 6 miles south of Chandler to the Junction of the San Tan Road surfacing is completed and in excellent shape. New Bridge across the San Tan Canal is now open. Gila River to Casa Grande good. Note: Crossing of Gila River during high water impossible. Sacaton (Continued on page 18)