Begin Northbound U.S. 95/Truck U.S. 95 at the Truck Crossing at the International Border. This is the first U.S. 95 signage heading northbound at the truck crossing. As shown by the sign, U.S. 95 turns left (west) toward the auto crossing, then turns north through downtown San Luis. Truck U.S. 95 goes straight north from this point, bypassing downtown, and reunites with U.S. 95 about a half-mile northwest of here. Photo taken 11/00.
From the truck crossing, U.S. 95 goes west for a block or two, then turns north, as indicated by this sign, to enter downtown San Luis. If you were to turn left at this intersection, you'd cross into Mexico via the auto crossing. Photo taken 11/00.
U.S. 95 turn right sign in San Luis at 17th Street in San Luis. At this point, northbound U.S. 95 is parallel to the border heading westerly. The right turn will take travelers into downtown San Luis and eventually northbound out of town. Photo taken 11/00.
Strip malls, restaurants, and other commercial establishments line U.S. 95 north as it wends through downtown San Luis. The highway is four lanes with a center turn lane. Note the use of Botts Dots. Photo taken 11/00.
After leaving downtown is this U.S. 95 north shield and an Arizona Welcome Sign. This welcome sign is actually several miles north of the international border, beyond the northern city limits of San Luis. Photo taken 11/00.
After the junction with Business Loop I-8 in Yuma, U.S. 95 travels due east on 16th Street (signed as "north") toward its junction with Interstate 8. Photo taken 10/05/02.
U.S. 95 (16th Street) east (north) approaches its junction Interstate 8 just north of Yuma. The south side of this interchange (hidden by the hill) has a proliferation of fast food, motels, and chain restaurants near the freeway entrance/exit ramps. The control cities for Interstate 8 are San Diego (west) and Tucson (east) with Phoenix listed for the connection via Arizona 85. Photo taken 01/14/05.
This trailblazer shield for Interstate 8 east is posted after the overhead signs shown in the previous photo. The interchange with Interstate 8 is a standard diamond with traffic signals at both intersections. The next right connects to Interstate 8 east to Gila Bend, and the next left connects to Interstate 8 west to Winterhaven. Photo taken 01/14/05.
A freeway entrance assembly for Interstate 8 east used to be in place for the ramps onto Interstate 8 from U.S. 95. However, these signs were removed in 2006. Today, there is a trailblazer for Interstate 8 but no "freeway entrance" sign. Photos taken 01/14/05.
A chain link fence-enclosed pedestrian walkway crosses Interstate 8 along northbound U.S. 95. At this exact moment, there was no traffic on the U.S. 95 bridge! But this is a rarity, as the bridge is usually quite busy with traffic. Photo taken 01/14/05.
Junction Business Loop I-10 and Arizona 95 along northbound U.S. 95. Business Loop I-10 is shown here as "To Interstate 10." Note the milepost 109 of U.S. 95, indicating this sign is 109 miles north of the International Border with Mexico at San Luis. Photo taken 11/00.
U.S. 95 south
This mileage sign is posted on southbound U.S. 95 after the intersection with Imperial Dam Road within the Yuma Proving Grounds. Distances to Yuma, San Luis, and the International Border with Mexico are provided. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Between Quartzsite and Yuma, this power line parallels U.S. 95. Photo taken 01/15/07.
A 500kV power line, which forms part of the Southwest Powerlink between Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and the Imperial Valley crosses U.S. 95 at this point. Part of Path 46, this powerline connects the Imperial Valley substation with the North Gila substation, which in turn connects to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Shortly thereafter, U.S. 95 approaches Dome Valley Road, which travels east to Old U.S. 80 in Dome Valley and connects to Interstate 8 east en route to Gila Bend and Casa Grande. Continue straight ahead to follow U.S. 95 southwest to Yuma. Photo taken 01/15/07.
U.S. 95 crosses the Gila River on this 1993 bridge. Look to the west to see the McPhaul Suspension Bridge, which used to provide the primary crossing for north-south travelers over the Gila River. Since U.S. 95 was not commissioned in Arizona until the 1960s, the suspension bridge was never part of the signed U.S. highway. Photo taken 01/15/07.
U.S. 95 crosses an irrigation canal at this bridge, then changes direction from southbound to westbound. The federal highway will travel for about twelve miles due west across the fertile Colorado River valley to the city of Yuma. This can cause some confusion, because U.S. 95 and Interstate 8 parallel each other for this distance. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Crossing under another power line, U.S. 95 briefly parallels the Union Pacific Railroad. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Now traveling west, U.S. 95 south approaches Fortuna Road (Avenue 11E), which travels south to Interstate 8. Through traffic to Yuma may find the freeway to be faster than U.S. 95. Interstate 8 and U.S. 95 parallel each other between Interstate 8's Exits 12 and 2. Photo taken 01/15/07.
The Fortuna Road intersection is governed by a traffic signal. From here, U.S. 95 widens to four lanes undivided highway. Farmland dominates on both sides of the highway as the road travels toward Yuma. Photo taken 01/15/07.
After the Fortuna Road intersection, this mileage sign provides the distance to Yuma (10 miles), Somerton (21 miles), and the international border with Mexico (31 miles). Photo taken 01/15/07.
The winter sun sets over the pastoral farmland of the Colorado River Valley, illuminating palm trees as it sets into the horizon. In the distance, Yuma twinkles into life. Photo taken 01/15/07.
The next traffic signal on U.S. 95 west is with Avenue 7E, which travels south to Interstate 8 Exit 7 and Business Loop I-8/Old U.S. 80. At this point, we ran out of daylight for any more photography of this final distance into Yuma. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Suburban development encroaches onto the farmland until U.S. 95 arrives at the Interstate 8 interchange, which has all kinds of motorist service available (gas, food, lodging). After passing through this congested interchange, U.S. 95 continues west through Yuma. This U.S. 95 south reassurance shield is posted on westbound 16th Street in Yuma after the Interstate 8 interchange (Exit 2). Photo taken 01/14/05.
U.S. 95 (16th Street) approaches its junction with Business Loop I-8 in Yuma. Photo taken 10/05/02.
Southbound U.S. 95 finally turns southerly at this intersection between 16th Street and Avenue B in Yuma. 16th Street continues straight west from this point toward the Colorado River. Photo taken 11/00.
U.S. 95 shield on a traffic signal mast arm along Avenue B in Yuma. Avenue B carries U.S. 95 from 16th Street south out of Yuma. First photo taken 11/00; second photo taken 5/01.
U.S. 95 south leaves Yuma en route toward San Luis. Photo taken 11/00.
U.S. 95 more or less parallels the Colorado River south from Yuma to San Luis, passing through some agricultural areas close to the river and some desert regions further away, such as the terrain shown in this photo. Photo taken 11/00.
As shown in this photo, U.S. 95 south of Yuma is gradually being widened to four lanes, with an ultimate facility with four lanes between Yuma and San Luis. Through the town of Somerton, U.S. 95 was under construction at the time of this photo. By April 2001, the highway had been widened to four lanes. Photo taken 11/00.
The houses in the distance mark a recent development south of Yuma. Projects such as this are appearing even in areas such as Yuma due to the soaring popularity of such homes. Photo taken 11/00.
U.S. 95 also passes by some agricultural areas south of Yuma. Photo taken 11/00.
Southbound U.S. 95 at the Truck U.S. 95 split. Truck U.S. 95 avoids downtown San Luis and feeds directly into the commercial port of entry. Mainline U.S. 95 enters downtown San Luis, provides a direct connection into the non-commercial port of entry, then turns east briefly to rejoin Truck U.S. 95. U.S. 95 then turns south into the commercial port of entry, where it ends. Photo taken 11/00.
Signage on southbound U.S. 95 at the International Border that guns and ammunition are illegal in Mexico. Photo taken 11/00.
These photos show the primary border crossing at San Luis. Another border crossing is located just to the east of this point for commercial vehicles. Although not well signed along southbound, U.S. 95 does not actually cross into Mexico at this point. It turns east to parallel the border for a few blocks, meets Truck U.S. 95, then ends as it enters the commercial port of entry. The reason it is not well-signed on southbound is clear: most travelers do not need to enter through the commercial port of entry, and they can cross into Mexico here. Photos taken 11/00 and 05/01.
Truck U.S. 95 north (San Luis Truck Border Crossing)
This Truck U.S. 95 reassurance shield is posted on northbound in San Luis after leaving the border crossing. Truck U.S. 95 provides an alternate route for commercial vehicles so they can bypass downtown San Luis and reach the commercial port of entry directly. Regular U.S. 95 goes through downtown San Luis, connects with the primary port of entry, then connects with Truck U.S. 95 at the commercial port of entry. Photos taken 11/00.
Truck U.S. 95 south (San Luis Truck Border Crossing)
End Southbound U.S. 95 shield at the Truck Port of Entry and Border Crossing. Traffic that continues past this port of entry enters the town of San Luis Colorado in the Mexican state of Sonora. This marks the southern terminus of U.S. 95. Photos taken 11/00.
Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 95
The McPhaul Suspension Bridge, which was built in 1928 by the state of Arizona and Yuma County, was part of the early link along the Yuma to Quartzsite road. It was named in honor of Harry McPhaul of Yuma and opened to traffic in the following year, 1929. McPhaul Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in Arizona at the time it was constructed (the main span between suspension towers is 798 feet). However, it was replaced in 1967 when s new U.S. 95 concrete bridge was constructed across the Gila River (the 1967 bridge was destroyed by flood and was replaced in 1993 - but the McPhaul Bridge survived the flood). As a result, the suspension bridge had not been used as the main route for over forty years by the time these pictures were taken. Vehicular traffic is prohibited on the McPhaul Bridge, especially because the bridge deck is made of wood. Concerns about the durability of the wood have resulted in warning signs being posted for people trying to cross the bridge, even by foot.1 Photos taken 01/15/07.
