U.S. Highway 93 North - Wickenburg to Interstate 40
Perspective from Northbound U.S. 93
The first major junction along northbound U.S. 93 is with Arizona 89, which heads northeast toward Congress, Prescott, Chino Valley, and Ash Fork, with connections to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Flagstaff via Arizona 89A. U.S. 93 is a safety corridor, and headlights are required for the entire stretch from Wickenburg north to Interstate 40. Photo taken 10/24/03.
These shields show that U.S. 93 continues straight ahead, while Arizona 89 exits right. U.S. 93 is only two lanes wide here but widens to four lanes upon reaching the intersection. This interchange, along with the interchange for Arizona 71, is slated to have a continuous set of four lanes from Wickenburg north to Interstate 40 as part of the process to upgrade U.S. 93 to four-lane, divided highway standards. U.S. 93 is part of the CANAMEX Corridor and is the most direct route from Phoenix to Las Vegas. For more on the proposed expansion of U.S. 93, visit the Wickenburg Bypass and U.S. 93 Improvements webpage. The bypass around Wickenburg is proposed to be constructed to the south and west of the city. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This intersection (junction Arizona 89) was the southern terminus for U.S. 93 until 1989, when U.S. 89 was truncated at Flagstaff. At that time, U.S. 93 was extended south to Wickenburg, taking over the previous alignment of U.S. 89. Now this is the intersection between U.S. 93 and Arizona 89 (old U.S. 89). Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next interchange along northbound is for Arizona 71, which heads southwest to meet U.S. 60 near Aguila and northeast to meet Arizona 89 in Congress. Photo taken 10/24/03.
While U.S. 93 remains two lanes, it still features a diamond interchange with Arizona 71. U.S. 93 crosses over Arizona 71; U.S. 93 does not stop for Arizona 71. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This picture shows the ramp from Arizona 71 merging back onto northbound U.S. 93. U.S. 93 remains two lanes, but plans call for expansion of this stretch to expressway (four lanes, divided highway) over the next several years. Photo taken 10/24/03.
U.S. 93 is mileposted from north to south, meaning that mileposts decrease as you drive further north. It is opposite how Interstates are mileposted (increase from south to north). However, they are helpful in determining the distance to Hoover Dam (180 miles from this marker). Photo taken 10/24/03.
View of roadside Joshua Trees as seen on the west side of U.S. 93 from the northbound lanes. Several signs identify the Joshua Trees to passing motorists, and U.S. 93 is known as the Joshua Forest Parkway (see next photobox for picture of the sign). Photo taken 10/24/03.
Signs such as this one identify U.S. 93 as the Joshua Forest Parkway due to the prominent Joshua Trees found along the highway between Wickenburg and Wikieup. Photo taken 10/24/03.
More Joshua Trees may be found on both sides of the highway. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The mountains spread out over the desert horizon as U.S. 93 continues its northerly journey toward Wikieup and Kingman. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound U.S. 93 at Milepost 167. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Several power transmission lines parallel U.S. 93 for its entire length through Arizona. These particular lines interconnect Central Arizona with the hydroelectric power generated on the dams of the Colorado River, the nuclear power plant at Palo Verde, and the fossil fuel generation facilities in northeastern Arizona and Shiprock, New Mexico. Photo taken 10/24/03.
U.S. 93 is designated as a scenic route for the length of the Joshua Forest Parkway. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound U.S. 93 at Milepost 164. Photo
taken 10/24/03.
The aforementioned power transmission lines
cross over U.S. 93 just after Milepost 164. Photo taken
10/24/03.
Continuing north, the terrain begins to
change as U.S. 93 gains elevation. Photo taken 10/24/03.
U.S. 93 cuts through several mountains and
hills such as this one as the highway continues north.
Photo taken 10/24/03.
Construction is underway here to widen U.S.
93 from two lanes to four lanes. Ultimately, the entire
corridor will be widened to expressway standards with
interchanges at major highways (such as Arizona 89 and
Arizona 71). Notably, there are not many intersections
along U.S. 93 north of Arizona 71. One intersection along
this segment that we did not photograph is the intersection
with Arizona 97, which leads northeast to Arizona 96 and
the town of Bagdad. Photo taken 10/24/03.
View of the completed divided highway a
few miles north of the construction zone. This divided
highway segment lasts all the way to the Burro Creek Bridge.
Photo taken 10/24/03.
U.S. 93 briefly loses the barrier between
the two directions to accommodate a left turn. Photo taken
10/24/03.
Northbound U.S. 93 at a left turn along
the divided highway segment. The federal Bureau
of Land Management - Burro Creek Recreation Site is
near located here (turnoff at Milepost 132, one mile south
of Burro Creek Bridge), and it features camping and hiking.
The recreation area is located along the original alignment
of former Arizona 93 (see photos at the bottom of this
page). Photo taken 10/24/03.
The divided highway segment along northbound
ended abruptly upon reaching the Burro Creek Bridge. This
view of the steel arch bridge is seen from the former
rest area on the west side of U.S. 93, looking north.
This former rest area was destroyed as part of the widening
in 2005. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Built in 1964, the Burro Creek Bridge is
a cantilever construction using temporary cable-stays.
This section of road was upgraded to four lanes in 2006,
adding a paralell bridge built in similar style to the
original bridge. The approaches to the bridge were built
as part of highway construction in the mid-1950s, but
the bridge was not completed until 1964 due to financial
and technical reasons. Photo taken 10/24/03.
As for Burro Creek itself, the creek actually
flows continuously through all seasons, a perennial stream
that flows relatively undisturbed (no dams or diversions)
into the lower desert. The stream cut the canyon, which
necessitated the bridge for U.S. 93. This view shows the
bridge looking north from the west side. Photos taken
10/24/03.
Northbound U.S. 93 at the Burro Creek Bridge
sign. The top of the bridge is not as remarkable as the
substructure of the bridge. Photo taken 10/24/03.
View of the east side of the Burro Creek
Bridge, looking north. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This photo of the Burro Creek Bridges was
taken from old Arizona 93, looking upstream along the
creek. Photo taken March 25, 2007.
Now approaching Wikieup, U.S. 93 again widens
out to four lanes. At Wikieup, the road again narrows
to two lanes for the final distance to Interstate 40.
Photo taken 10/24/03.
U.S. 93 is a safety corridor, and headlights
are required for the entire stretch from Wickenburg north
to Interstate 40. This sign denotes the end of the headlight-required
section. Photo taken 10/24/03.
With the end of the headlight section, U.S.
93 approaches Interstate 40. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Interstate 40 east heads to Ash Fork, Williams,
and Flagstaff, while westbound Interstate 40 and northbound
U.S. 93 continue northwest toward Kingman, Bullhead City/Laughlin,
Hoover Dam/Las Vegas, and Barstow/Los Angeles. Photo taken
10/24/03.
These trailblazer shields indicate that
U.S. 93 will merge onto westbound Interstate 40. U.S.
93 remains merged with westbound Interstate 40 until reaching
Kingman. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The northbound lane for U.S. 93 becomes
a transition ramp onto westbound Interstate 40. Yes, that
is the same annoying red car that was in our pictures
at the intersection between U.S. 93 and Arizona 89. Photo
taken 10/24/03.
