Interstate 40 has a much simpler tale than that of Interstate 10 to the south. Interstate 40 enters Arizona in Topock, along the Colorado River, and follows the AT&SF (now BNSF) railroad tracks almost all the way across Arizona.
After meeting Arizona 95 (with which the freeway is silently multiplexed from the Colorado River), Interstate 40 turns north to head up through Yucca (a railroad siding) to reach Kingman, the largest town in northwestern Arizona and childhood home of Andy Devine.
Interstate 40 turns east, multiplexed with US 93, to strike out towards Seligman and Ash Fork. Both towns are railroad towns, but Seligman today is more successful than Ash Fork, primarily because of increased tourism. Beyond Ash Fork, Interstate 40 climbs over Ash Fork hill and around the San Francisco Peaks to reach Williams, entering into the high pine forests of Northern Arizona.
Heading east from Williams, another railroad town and the gateway to the Grand Canyon, Interstate 40 reaches Flagstaff, situated at the base of Humphreys Peak, the tallest point in Arizona. Flagstaff is the most important city in Northern Arizona, home to Northern Arizona University and the Lowell Observatory.
Passing Flagstaff, Interstate 40 continues east to Winona via Walnut Canyon National Monument, then leaves the pine forests behind as it heads toward Meteor Crater and Winslow. Winslow, like many other towns along Interstate 40, owes it's existence to the railroad, but is now more famous because of the Eagles. "Standin' On A Corner" park was dedicated in 1998.
Leaving Winslow, Interstate 40 passes through the high grasslands of Northeastern Arizona, passing through Joseph City and Holbrook. After leaving Holbrook, Interstate 40 passes through Petrified Forest National Park and meets US 191 before leaving Arizona.
Interstate 40 in Arizona directly replaced the Mother Road - U.S. 66. US 66 was decommissioned in 1985, after the last section of Interstate 40 opened on October 13, 1984. Flagstaff was the first town bypassed, in 1968, and the loss of business was so great that Arizona DOT (ADOT) closed the freeway until from October 12-28, when new signs could be posted to direct people into Flagstaff.
In 1965, there was a proposal to reroute Interstate 40 from Kingman to Searchlight, bypassing Topock. This proposal did not come to fruition, and the Topock route was confirmed in 1966.
Construction Timeline for Interstate 40:
1967: Miles 0-2 (Colorado River Bridge to Needle Mtn Road) open.
1977: Miles 2-4 (Needle Mtn Rd to East of Needle Mtn Road) open.
1972: Miles 4-13 (East of Needle Mtn Road to Franconia Rd) open.
1971: Miles 13-26 (Franconia Rd to Proving Ground Rd) open.
1966: Miles 26-28 (Proving Ground Rd to Old Trails Rd) open.
1965: Miles 28-37 (Old Trails Rd to Griffith Rd) open.
1975: Miles 37-44 (Griffith Rd to Oatman Rd) open.
1981: Miles 45-52 (Kingman bypass) open.
1979: Miles 53-59 (Kingman east to DW Ranch Rd) open.
1967: Miles 59-75 (DW Ranch Road to east of US 93) open.
1969: Miles 121-139 (Seligman west to Crookton Road) open.
1965: Miles 139-144 (Crookton Rd to Ash Fork west) open.
1981: Miles 144-148 (Ash Fork bypass) open.
1964: Miles 148-155 (County Line Road to before Devil Dog Rd) open.
1984: Miles 155-167 (Devil Dog Rd to Garland Prarie Rd, Williams Bypass) open.
1963: Miles 167-178 (Garland Prarie Rd to Parks Rd) open.
1964: Miles 178-185 (Parks Rd to Bellemont) open.
1966: Miles 185-191 (Bellemont to Flagstaff West) open.
1967: Miles 191-195 (Flagstaff West to Interstate 17) open.
1968: Miles 195-219 (Interstate 17 to Twin Arrows) open.
1971: Miles 219-245 (Twin Arrows Rd to Arizona 99) open.
1968: Miles 245-251 (Arizona 99 to west of Winslow) open.
1980: Miles 251-257 (Winslow bypass) open.
1960: Miles 257-264 (Current AZ 87 to Hibbard Road) open.
1967: Miles 264-274 (Hibbard Rd to Joseph City west) open.
1981: Miles 274-277 (Joseph City bypass) open.
1966: Miles 277-283 (Joseph City east to Perkins Valley Road) open.
1980: Miles 283-289 (Holbrook bypass) open.
1967: Miles 289-294 (Holbrook east to Sun Valley Rd) open.
1963: Miles 294-303 (Sun Valley Rd to Adamana Rd) open.
1961: Miles 303-320 (Adamana Road to Pinto Road, through Petrified Forest NM).
1963: Miles 320-335 (Pinto Rd to past US 191 west) open.
1965: Miles 335-343 (East of US 191 west to Querino Rd) open.
1966: Miles 343-354 (Querino Rd to Hawthorn Rd) open.
1961: Miles 354-359 (Hawthorn Rd to New Mexico) open.
Eastbound Interstate 40 approaching Historic U.S. 66 at Topock (Exit 1) as it crosses the Colorado River. The speed limit is 75 mph, which is higher than in neighboring California. Exit 1 leads to Historic U.S. 66, Golden Shores/Oatman. This exit used to be the continuation of northbound Arizona 95, but now it is a local route. Photo taken 11/00.
Welcome to Arizona sign as seen from U.S. 66 westbound (even though you are looking easterly from this point). This also shows the gore point for Exit 1 off Interstate 40 eastbound at Topock. Photo taken 11/00.
Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 40
Interstate 40 Arizona Trailblazer shield at the Topock exit. Arizona consistently uses the state name in its Interstate shield design, just like California. Nevada and New Mexico, two adjoining states, use the state name sporadically, while Utah never uses it on new signs. Photos taken 11/00.
Westbound Interstate 40, Los Angeles Signage at Topock (Exit 1). Photos taken 11/00.
Signage for Eastbound Interstate 40 and Southbound Arizona 95 from westbound Historic U.S. 66 at Topock (Exit 1). The button copy on the reflective sign can clearly be seen in these pictures. Photos taken 11/00.
Signage for Historic U.S. 66 at the top of the offramp from eastbound Interstate 40 at Exit 1, Topock. Photo taken 11/00.
Eastbound Interstate 40 and Southbound Arizona 95 signage for Arizona 95 exit at Exit 9. Arizona 95 is merged with Interstate 40 between the California State Line and Exit 9, where it turns south toward Lake Havasu City. At one time, Arizona 95 used to exit Interstate 40 at Topock (Exit 1), and then it continued north through Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. This segment was abandoned in the late 1990s by Arizona DOT, and traffic using Arizona 95 is now advised to enter California via Interstate 40 to Needles, then cross the Colorado River at Needles to rejoin Arizona 95. Although spotty, Caltrans does its best to sign Arizona 95 within the state of California where it parallels Interstate 40, which means there are one or two "TO Arizona 95" guide signs. At one point along Interstate 40 in Needles, the freeway is signed with U.S. 95 and also (secretly) Arizona 95. Too bad there is no shield assembly for this! Photo taken 11/00.
Eastbound Interstate 40 and Southbound Arizona 95 shields just east of Topock and Exit 1. The mileage sign in the background shows the distance to Exit 9, Arizona 95 south. Photo taken 11/00.
Business Loop I-40 - Flagstaff
This is the first eastbound Business Loop I-40/Historic U.S. 66 after the exit from Interstate 40 near the western terminus. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40/Historic U.S. 66 enters Flagstaff. Flagstaff is at an elevation of 5,910 feet above sea level. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40/Historic U.S. 66 next meets southbound Arizona 89A, which leads south to Interstate 17 and Interstate 40. Arizona 89A continues southwest to Sedona and Prescott; Interstate 17 leads south to Phoenix. Northern Arizona is located to the southeast of this intersection. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40/Historic U.S. 66 after the Arizona 89A traffic signal in downtown Flagstaff. The highest point in Arizona, Humphrey's Peak (elevation 12,663 feet), dominates the Flagstaff skyline and is home to the Fairfield Snow Bowl ski resort. Photo taken 05/24/03.
After passing Arizona 89A, the signs start to point to U.S. 180, the fastest route from Flagstaff to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Photo taken 05/24/03.
The next major intersection along eastbound is for Junction Northbound U.S. 180, which leads north to the ski resort on Humphrey's Peak as well as Grand Canyon National Park. U.S. 180 serves as the primary connection from Interstate 17 northbound to the Grand Canyon via the business loop. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40 at Junction Northbound U.S. 180 to the Grand Canyon. Note the lack of directional banners; U.S. 180 is mostly an east-west highway through Arizona, but for its final act it heads northwest into the national park. Signage indicates that U.S. 180 northbound ends at its junction with Arizona 64; however, southbound signage begins upon leaving the park. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Located along the south edge of the business loop at the end of Birch Avenue, this shield assembly shows all the major routes in the area except for U.S. 180. A left turn leads to East Interstate 40 and North U.S. 89; a right turn leads to North U.S. 180, West Interstate 40, South Arizona 89A, and South Interstate 17. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40/Historic U.S. 66 (Santa Fe Avenue) at the Switzer Canyon Drive traffic signal. Making a left here leads northwest to meet U.S. 180. Photo taken 05/24/03.
The signing along eastbound is inconsistent; the business loop is sometimes signed alone, with historical U.S. 66 shields, or to U.S. 89 northbound. U.S. 89 starts its northerly journey to Canada at the upcoming junction between Business Loop I-40 and U.S. 89. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40/U.S. 66 trailblazer signage for northbound U.S. 89. Photo taken 05/24/03.
A very old segment of U.S. 66 veers off of eastbound Business Loop I-40 here ("Frontage Road"). The concrete roadway extends for a short distance before returning to asphalt. The business loop, meanwhile, connects to north U.S. 89 and Interstate 40. Photo taken 05/24/03.
In another quarter mile, U.S. 89 northbound begins, marking the southern terminus of a truncated route. Prior to 1989, U.S. 89 extended south from Flagstaff to Prescott and Wickenburg via Arizona 89. Passing through Phoenix joined with U.S. 60, U.S. 89 connected to Tucson via Arizona 79 and Arizona 77. U.S. 89 was replaced by Interstate 19 between Tucson and Nogales. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Eastbound Business Loop I-40 exits to the right; northbound U.S. 89 becomes the mainline as it leads northeast out of Flagstaff toward Wupatki National Monument, Page, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Photo taken 05/24/03.
U.S. 89 north begins at this exit ramp; the business loop exits to the right to rejoin Interstate 40. Photo taken 05/24/03.
Business Loop I-40 - Kingman
The Kingman business loop was a state-maintained facility until 2003, when it was decommissioned as a state route. At that time, the business loop designation was removed, and only brown Historic U.S. 66 shields remain along the route (Andy Devine Avenue). These photos show the remaining U.S. 66 shields, many of which are offset by the former location of the business loop shields. In spite of all of the business loop shields being removed, several guide signs (including those along westbound Interstate 40 and a couple of signs located along Andy Devine Avenue) still point to Business Loop I-40 as it were still an active route. The business loop decommissioning was made official by AASHTO in May 2003. Beale Street, which has its own exit, is the original route of U.S. 66 through downtown Kingman, but the historic shields remain on the later alignment of U.S. 66 along Andy Devine Avenue. At the Oatman turn off, U.S. 66 turns left along its old alignment, while the former business loop continues north to meet Interstate 40 and U.S. 93, as evidenced by the final set of signs. Photos taken 10/24/03.
Westbound (former) Business Loop I-40 approaching Junction Interstate 40 and U.S. 93. Northbound U.S. 93 continues straight ahead, while ramps connect to eastbound Interstate 40/southbound U.S. 93 and westbound Interstate 40. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Former Business Loop I-40 meets its western terminus in Kingman at the interchange with Interstate 40. Photo taken 10/24/03.
