http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us666.htm

The map itself came from the 1927 issue of New Mexico Highway Journal. Click for an enlarged view.

Route

The information below was taken in part from information on my map collection. However, the ultimate source of information because of more precision in years and routings, are the web site operated by Robert Droz, www.us-highways.com/nm-us.htm, and (I believe) the original source of this information, James Allen, http://www.ees.nmt.edu/~jaguar/nmus/. Much of the information reported below was complied by these researchers, though where my information differs from that they present, I use my sources.

Look for active links to web sites for adjoining states.

Cropped from the photo below, taken March 2008.

Length (NM): 356.076 mi.

NHS: Entire length in New Mexico

County: Otero, Lincoln, Torrance, Guadalupe, Quay

History: The original extent of U.S. 54 was from Nara Visa to Tucumcari (Route 18), and then southwest to Vaughn (Route 3), where it terminated at U.S. 70 (now 60). It was extended south along NM-29 and 3 through Carrizozo and Alamogordo to El Paso in 1934, replacing in part U.S. 70 in its second alignment.

Improvements: Two lane except between Tularosa and the Texas state line, which is divided. The segment from Tularosa north to Corona has relatively narrow shoulders and a frustratingly slow 55 mph speed limit through open country (albeit with poor sight distance). This raises to 65 mph north of Corona.

Comments: Most of 54 is more or less east-west, but the most westerly segment turns due north-south. This was matched on this route's east end in Illinois, where it ran due north into Chicago until that last part of the route was decommissioned in the 1970s. It is marked as north-south south of I-40.

And, is there a Business Route 54 at Alamogordo? The Relief Route was approved as the relocation of 54-70 by AASHTO, and at the same time they approved a Business U.S. 54-70. But, BOTH the Relief Route and original routing along White Sands Blvd. are posted as U.S. 54-70. Nowhere is there a Business banner on the route through town. The marker at left is along White Sands Blvd. No BUSINESS banner in sight. There are even newer looking markers along that boulevard. Also, a few obviously old ones, a couple of which still sport U.S. 82 signs.

Length (NM): 94.172 mi.

NHS: Only the section concurrent with U.S. 64, NE of Clayton

County: Colfax, Union

History: .U.S. 56 was extended into New Mexico around 1957. This was a new route laid over existing U.S. and state routes in Kansas and Oklahoma. It replaced NM-58 between Springer and Clayton, and was overlaid on U.S. 64 going towards Oklahoma.

Improvements: Two-lane

Comments: U.S. 56 is now overlaid in its entirety in New Mexico with U.S. 412. 412 is one of the non-systematically numbered routes approved by AASHTO in the 1980s and 1990s. See the separate listing for 412 below. This route ends at I-25 Business Loop in Springer, and is accessed from I-25 via the south or north offramps to Springer. There is no direct connection to I-25.

Length (NM): 397.895 mi.

NHS: West of I-25 at Socorro, and the segment concurrent with U.S. 84 E of Ft. Sumner

County: Catron, Socorro, Torrance, Guadalupe, de Baca, Roosevelt, Curry

History: U.S. 60 terminated east of New Mexico until 1932. In that year, it replaced the original route of U.S. 70, which took it westward through Fort Sumner, Vaughn, Willard, Socorro, and Datil. In Arizona, U.S. 60 took a new southwestward route toward Globe rather than the northwestward route originally taken by U.S. 70 toward Holbrook along what is now U.S. 180.

Improvements: Generally two-lane, except for the common section with U.S. 285 from Encino to Vaughn, and from west of Clovis to the Texas border, which are segments of divided highway.

Comments: The designation U.S. 60 was initially proposed for the route that became U.S. 66. This was printed on some maps, but never actually marked.

Length (NM): 109.712 mi.

NHS: Entire length in New Mexico

County: Eddy, Lea

History: First signed in New Mexico in 1930 along the original NM-16, and at that time it followed a different route eastward into Texas. Until the 1940s, it turned north before Hobbs and followed present day NM-483, U.S. 82, NM-206, and U.S. 380 eastward. The route toward Hobbs was then NM-16. In 1944, the second incarnation of U.S. 180 was established in Texas and was overlaid on U.S. 62, which was rerouted onto its current alignment in far eastern New Mexico, all the way through New Mexico and to El Paso. (U.S. 62 has a brief independent existence just before entering Mexico in El Paso.)

Improvements: Divided from Carlsbad east to the Texas border east of Hobbs.

Comments: In New Mexico, U.S. 62 only exists in tandem with U.S. 180. The highway is shown on the state highway inventory as U.S. 62 rather than 180, since concurrent routes are designated by the lower number. Note that 62 manages to be an east-west, border-to-border route, thanks to a serious turn to the north in Pennsylvania and New York.

Photo taken at junction NM-527 in Gobernador in San Juan County.

Length (NM): 439 mi.

NHS: West of U.S. 550 at Bloomfield, East of Raton to the Oklahoma border

County: San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos, Colfax, Union

History: From 1926 to about 1949, U.S. 64 entered New Mexico just west of Kenton, OK, and followed present-day NM-456 and NM-325 to Capulin, where until 1931 it ended at U.S. 385 (now 87). My 1926 road atlas does not show an old state route number for this highway. In 1931, it was extended westward to Raton and southwestward as a replacement for U.S 485 to Santa Fe. In the late 1940s, the eastern segment was realigned along a more southerly route, entering New Mexico from Oklahoma just northeast of Clayton and following U.S. 87 to Raton. In 1974, the west end was realigned from Taos north and west to follow former NM-111 and NM-553 over the mountains west of Tres Piedras to Tierra Amarilla. It then followed U.S. 84 west of Chama and NM-17 to Farmington, where it terminated at (then) U.S. 550. In 1989, it was extended west, replacing 550 to Shiprock and following NM-504 and AZ-504 to U.S. 160 just inside Arizona.

Improvements: Divided from Shiprock to Bloomfield, two-lane the rest of the way (see U.S. 87 for status of common section). A twisty, slow road over Taos Pass. East of Raton, it is a wide two-lane road with good shoulders and a 65 mph speed limit. The segment from Raton to Clayton may be eventually expanded to four lanes.

Comments: Crosses the Rio Grande Gorge bridge northwest of Taos. This is an impressive 600 foot-deep gorge in an otherwise flat plain, showing a geologic rift that extends from northern New Mexico to west of Santa Fe.(A really good view of the rift can be seen from White Rock Park in White Rock, near Los Alamos.) The crossing of the southern San Juan Mountains east of Tierra Amarilla, over which this was rerouted in the mid-1970s, has a summit elevation of 10,500 feet. This makes U.S. 64 the highest continuous highway in New Mexico.

There is a "Truck Bypass" at Farmington that is shown on the state map as NM-5001, but is marked along its length as U.S. 64. The old mainline through downtown is now marked as BUSINESS LOOP U.S. 64. I feel foolish that I was in Farmington in June 2004, noted the truck bypass and its U.S. 64 marking along it, and totally missed the existence of the marked business loop thinking erroneously that both routes were marked U.S. 64. But pictures don't lie (in this case anyway) [Mark Roberts' site].

Length (NM): 368 mi.

County: McKinley, Valencia (later Cibola), Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Torrance, Guadalupe, Quay

History: U.S. 66 in New Mexico originally ran from Gallup to Los Lunas (Route 6, now marked NM-6 where it branches off I-40), then northward along U.S. 85 through Santa Fe almost to Las Vegas (Route 1) ; southwestward to Santa Rosa (Route 56, now U.S. 84); and eastward through Tucumcari to Texas (Route 3). It was rerouted from Santa Rosa through Albuquerque to Mesita around 1937. The route from Santa Rosa to south of Las Vegas became the extension of U.S. 84.

Comments: New Mexico has excellent signage marking both the pre-1937 and post-1937 routes of U.S. 66. The signage is generally white on brown, HISTORIC U.S. 66.

Photo taken on West Pine St., BL I-10, in Deming, March 2008. (Remnant sign? Not actually part of U.S. 70 today).

Length (NM): 448.264 mi.

NHS: East of I-10 at Las Cruces

County: Hidalgo, Luna, Doña Ana, Otero, Lincoln, Chaves, Roosevelt, Curry

History: U.S. 70 was relocated at least twice in New Mexico after its initial establishment. Initially, it followed present-day U.S. 60 from east of Springerville, AZ to Socorro (Route 5); then via Route 19 east through Willard, Vaughn, Fort Sumner, and Clovis. In 1932, U.S. 60 was extended into New Mexico from Texas and took over this route, and U.S. 70 was then rerouted southwest over former U.S. 366 (I) through Portales, Roswell, Alamogordo, and south to El Paso. I have a 1934 map that shows a third alignment westward from Hondo to San Antonio (replacing U.S. 380) and then south to U.S. 180 (I) and replacing that route through Hillsboro to Silver City and Lordsburg. However, Allen and Droz report that U.S. 70 was actually realigned that year along NM-3, its current route from Alamogordo to Las Cruces, then west to Lordsburg and replacing U.S. 180 (I) from here towards Arizona. U.S. 54 replaced the old routing of U.S. 70 to El Paso.

Improvements: 2-lane west of Lordsburg. Divided from Las Cruces to north of Alamogordo, with a freeway segment just east of Las Cruces, and including a "relief route" bypass of Alamogordo. Divided from the junction with U.S. 380 to Roswell. Has a common "relief route" bypass of Roswell with U.S. 285.

Comments: Not currently marked where it runs along I-10 between Las Cruces and Lordsburg. Now improved to freeway status --- New Mexico's first non-interstate freeway, I believe --- east of Las Cruces. Also, the only non-freeway in the state with a 75 mph speed limit across the White Sands Missile Range.

See comments about a possible Business route through Alamogordo under U.S. 54, above.

Photo of a remnant sign taken along Business Loop I-10 in Deming, March 2008.

Length (NM): 191 mi.

County: Hidalgo, Luna, Doña Ana

History: Established in 1926 along Route 4 and Route 1. Decommissioned by 1990, replaced mostly by I-10, but by NM-80 south of I-10 on the west end, and NM-478 through Las Cruces. Had an Alternate route south of Las Cruces prior to opening of I-25 (now NM-478), then a new Alternate was marked along the Anthony connector from I-10, now NM-460, in the early 1960s.

Improvements: It is interesting to note that a two-lane highway carrying U.S. 80-85 that bypassed the old Rio Grande Valley route (which became U.S. 80-85 ALTERNATE, later NM-478) was constructed in the 1950s along the alignment that became I-10 south of Las Cruces.

Comments: Still exists east of Dallas, TX.

Taken March 2008 at Cloudcroft. I don't think the grayish numbers are an artifact of the digital photography.

Length (NM): 192.557 mi.

NHS: None

County: Otero, Chaves, Eddy, Lea

History: Until the early 1960s, U.S. 82 ended at Lubbock. It was extended from Texas into New Mexico in the early 1960s, replacing NM-337 from the Texas border west to Lovington and NM-83 from there west to Alamogordo. It was originally overlaid on U.S. 70 from Alamogordo to Las Cruces so that it terminated at U.S. 80, but was eliminated along this segment around 1990.

Improvements: Generally just two-lane.

Comments: A few U.S. 82 signs are still posted along U.S. 70 across the White Sands Missile Range and in Alamogordo along White Sands Blvd. The rise out of Alamogordo is dramatic - you gain over 4000 feet in elevation in about 16 miles.

Photo taken south of I-40 in Santa Rosa.

Length (NM): 356 mi.

NHS: South of I-25 near Las Vegas to I-40 and southeast from there to Ft. Sumner, then east to the Texas border

County: Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Guadalupe, de Baca, Roosevelt, Curry

History: Extended into New Mexico around 1937, at the same time U.S. 66 was realigned to a more east-west routing. It entered New Mexico from Texas along U.S. 70 and followed U.S. 60 to Fort Sumner. From there, it turned north along NM-20 to Santa Rosa, then along the old alignment of U.S. 66 to Las Vegas. Like original U.S. 66, it followed U.S. 85 to Santa Fe. Maps from the late 1930s, likely reflecting the original alignment, show it then following U.S. 285, as it then existed, north from Santa Fe and northwest to NM-96 west of Abiquiu. Then, it followed NM-96 to NM-55 (the alignment that later became NM-44) to Bloomfield and Aztec. From there, it followed U.S. 550 west to U.S. 666 at Shiprock. The 1940 state map shows it ending at Santa Fe, which indicates that the Shiprock alignment was cut back after just a few eyars. The realignment onto its present route northwest of Santa Fe probably occurred when U.S. 285 was realigned along former NM-74 north through Tres Piedras. U.S. 84 then was rerouted along former U.S. 285 to Chama, and via NM-17 and NM-136 northwest into Colorado. Robert Droz indicates this took place in 1943, and I don't have maps to show an earlier date.

Between Santa Rosa and Santa Fe.

Improvements: Two-lane except for the common section with U.S. 285 north of Santa Fe, which is divided highway through Santa Fe (St. Francis Drive), a true freeway from NM-599 to Pojoaque, and divided to the junction with NM-68 in Española. See photos of the freeway section of this road.

Comments: This route is way out of place by the time it enters Colorado. In fact, it allows Colorado to boast the largest spread of any state between its lowest and highest even-numbered (2-digit)U.S. routes --- 6 and 84 --- though they don't meet. It is not marked along its common section with I-25. It is interesting to note that this route is signed as a north-south route north of Ft. Sumner where it leaves U.S. 60, all the way to the Colorado border. Mileposts on the independent portion of this route have mile 0 at Ft. Sumner.

Taken March 2007- looking east on Marquette Avenue at 3rd St., Albuquerque. See comment at right for explanation.

Length (NM): 483

County: Doña Ana, Sierra, Socorro, Valencia, Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Mora, Colfax

History: Established in New Mexico in 1926 along Route 1, and later (1935) extended to El Paso. It was not significantly realigned from that route until construction of I-25. By 1990, New Mexico ceased to mark U.S. 85 and renumbered all of its routes that had deviated from the interstate. These routes, from south to north, are NM-478 (Anthony to Las Cruces, though U.S. 85 was moved off this route by the 1960s except for the north end of 478 in Las Cruces); NM-185 (Las Cruces to Hatch);NM-187 south of T or C; NM-181 (north of T or C); NM-1 (Redrock to Socorro, though U.S. 85 was moved off this route by the early 1970s); NM-116 (Bernardo to Pueblitos); NM-314 (Belen to Albuquerque); NM-313 (Albuquerque to Bernalillo); NM-14 into Santa Fe; NM-466 (exiting Santa Fe on the east); and NM-445 (Maxwell to U.S. 64). Also, there are marked business loops through Raton, Springer, Las Vegas, Belen, Socorro, and T or C.

U.S. 85 also had Alternate routes, including one at Albuquerque (now NM-47) and a bypass route at Santa Fe (now NM-466) and Las Cruces (now NM-188).

Improvements: The only segment of U.S. 85 that was improved beyond 2-lane paved was from north of Bernalillo to Santa Fe. This was divided highway before it was upgraded to I-25.

Comments: Not formally removed by AASHTO, and present in Colorado and Texas, but this route has not been marked in New Mexico since around 1990. Where it left the interstate to pass through adjoining towns, these routes have either been redesignated as interstate business loops or given state route numbers. Nor is U.S. 85 even considered an "invisible" overlay on I-25 like it is in Colorado, at least by NMDOT (the state map does not show it, nor do nationally published maps, which would indicate that New Mexico is indicating the route is nonexistent). Thus, it is shown on this page as eliminated.

The photo at left is interesting in that it is a rare remnant of this route. Around 1976, Albuquerque closed 4th Street, which carried U.S. 85, between Central and Marquette Avenues for a mall and civic plaza. Originally, Marquette was one-way west, which forced southbound traffic west two blocks to 6th St., because 5th St. was one-way northbound. Northbound traffic had to detour to 2nd St. (then marked U.S. 85 Alternate) because 3rd St. was one-way southbound. I never saw any signage for the rerouted U.S. 85 before I moved away (1977). Apparently, Marquette and other streets in the area were changed to two-way operation and U.S. 85 was routed east one block to 3rd St. prior to 85 being eliminated - thus, this sign probably dates from the early 1980s.

2. South of Las Cruces (with U.S. 80): Established on old U.S. 80-85 south of Las Cruces when new U.S. 80-85 alignment to the east (same as current alignment of I-10) opened, late 1950s. Marked until early 1960s, when route became NM-478.

Length (NM): 100 mi.

NHS: East of I-25 at Raton to the Texas border

County: Colfax, Union

History: In 1935, it replaced U.S. 385 east of Raton and wsa connected to U.S. 87 running south from Colorado.

Improvements: Two-lane its entire length, though the segment east of Raton has wide paved shoulders and a 65 mph speed limit. There is talk of expanding it to divided highway to Clayton.

Comments: This route is marked east-west in New Mexico as noted in the to/from listing above. From its junction with I-25 at Raton, U.S. 87 is not marked at all along I-25 in New Mexico or Colorado, and (except for a rogue sign in Denver) the first U.S. 87 sign north of Raton is at the Wyoming border. North from Raton, U.S. 87 does not really have a significant existence separate from I-25 or I-90 until it reaches Billings, Montana.

Length (NM): 0.861 mi.

NHS: None

County: San Juan

History: Redesignated from U.S. 164 about 1970. This rerouting of 160 (which had previously extended northwest from Cortez, CO into Utah and ultimately to U.S. 6-50/I-70) was part of a larger reshuffling of routes, including establishment of U.S. 163 from Arizona north to incorporate the north end of U.S. 160, and extension of U.S. 666 from Cortez to Monticello, UT.

Improvements: Two lane

Comments: Ironically, the old U.S. 164 designation, which was non-standard at the time it was established, would have become an appropriate number once U.S. 64 was extended west into Arizona around 1990.

Length (NM): 0.861 mi.

County: San Juan

History: A new road was constructed near the Four Corners in the early 1960s, running just southeast of the Four Corners and thus clipping the extreme northwest corner of New Mexico. The road was first designated AZ-364 and CO-40, but I have no information on what it was designated in New Mexico (364?). Around 1966, a new U.S. route, 164, was established along AZ-64 and this road. Only about four years later, the road was renamed U.S. 160 as part of a reshuffling of the other U.S. routes in Arizona and Utah.

Comments: This was one of the first non-standard U.S. designations assigned by AASHTO.

(I)

Length (NM): ~140 mi.

County: Hidalgo, Grant, Sierra

History: Established in 1926 along Route 45 from Duncan, Arizona to Lordsburg, then northeast along Route 42 to Silver City. From there, it was routed over an impassible route over Emory Pass through Hillsboro to U.S. 85. By 1935, U.S. 70 replaced the segment from Lordsburg northwest to Arizona, and the remainder of the route became NM-180. (Today the segment east of Lordsburg is NM-90 and NM-152.)

Comments: This route over the Black Mountains may have never been completely passible while it had this designation. The designation was reused about 10 years later with new U.S. 180.

(II)

Photo taken at Santa Clara at junction of NM-152, March 2008.

Length (NM): 248 mi (West Leg), 109.7 mi (East Leg)

NHS: From Silver City southeast to I-10 at Deming, and the entire east leg (concurrent with U.S. 62)

County: Catron, Grant, Luna, Doña Ana, Eddy, Lea

History: Established 1944, routed along U.S. 62 from Texas west to El Paso. Around 1961, the route was extended along U.S. 80 to Deming and replaced U.S. 260 northwest to Arizona.

Improvements: West leg is two-lane except for Silver City to Bayard. East leg is divided from Carlsbad to Hobbs and into Texas.

Comments: The west leg of this route is overlaid on I-10 between Deming and the Texas border, and is not marked along this common segment. The east leg is overlaid in its entirety in New Mexico on U.S. 62.

Length (NM): 166 mi.

County: Catron, Grant, Luna

History: Established in 1935 along NM-11. Replaced by the westward extension of U.S. 180 in 1961.

Comments:

Length (NM): 412.654 mi.

NHS: Entire segment north of Carlsbad to the Colorado border

County: Eddy, Chaves, de Baca, Lincoln, Guadalupe, Torrance, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos

History: Established around 1934 and routed along entire length of NM-2 from northeast of Chama, south through Tierra Amarilla and Española to Santa Fe, then southeast through Encino and Vaughn to Roswell, then south through Carlsbad to Texas. The segment northwest of Española was realigned onto former NM-74 in the early 1940s, and the alignment north to Chama became U.S. 84.

Improvements: 2-lane through northern New Mexico, but a divided highway from I-40 to Carlsbad. Includes a 2-lane "relief route" bypass of Roswell. The common section with U.S. 84 north of Santa Fe is also divided, and includes a 13-mile freeway section (see U.S. 84 for more details).

Travelogue: You see a great deal of variation in the 400+ miles of this route. Entering from Texas, you have been traveling through a rather desolate desert climate with scrubby mesquite. The Guadalupe Mountains, which form the highest peaks in Texas, are visible in the distance to the west. Soon after entering New Mexico, you pass through small, struggling towns that appear to have been dependent on both the oil industry and the agriculture in the area before entering Carlsbad. U.S. 62-180 joins on the south end of Carlsbad and exits downtown. U.S. 285 takes you through the bulk of the Carlsbad business district, bending west and then north again before leaving town. Be sure to visit the Living Desert State Park on the north side of Carlsbad, which has great examples of Chihuahuan Desert vegetation and wildlife. From Carlsbad to Roswell, the landscape consists of limited agriculture combined with high plains vegetation. 285 is a divided highway, posted 70 mph except near population centers. At Roswell, 285 is marked through the city but officially runs along the 2-lane "Truck Bypass" around the west. Your choices are to follow the former route (still marked as U.S. 285) through downtown Roswell, with numerous stoplights and substantial traffic, or take the two-lane bypass where you can easily be stuck behind a truck. Before leaving the city, be sure to check your gas gauge --- next fuel is 90 miles north.

"Lonely" is the only word to describe the Roswell to Vaughn segment. There are no towns, no service stations, and only two junctions - NM-247 west to Corona and NM-20 north to Fort Sumner. It is a divided, 70 mph segment with little to look at except the mountains to the west. (However, there is a sign marking the road to the alleged UFO crash site northwest of Roswell.) Just east of Vaughn, you intersect U.S. 60 and 54. Vaughn is a city that appears to have fallen on hard times, possibly due to cutbacks in jobs connected with the railroad. The main drag consists of mostly boarded-up businesses, but there are a couple of service stations.

Photos below taken by Matt Salek, November 2007

	Got gas? Yes, it's that lonely between Roswell and Vaughn. This is pretty much what the road looks like for that 90 mile stretch. I wonder why NM doesn't apply a 75 mph speed limit along here instead of 70 mph.
	Gas at last! Looking northbound, the junction with U.S. 54-60 on the east side of Vaughn. Matt wondered why that informative sign wasn't placed before the turn. (I believe there is a junction sign, probably with no directional information, in advance). That is typical New Mexico signage, unfortunately.

West of Vaughn, U.S. 54 cuts off to the south and then U.S. 285 turns north from U.S. 60 at Encino. From here, you begin to gain significant altitude, crossing I-40 at Clines Corners. North of here the divided highway ends. The landscape evolves to the mountainous landscape associated with northern New Mexico. 285 intersects I-25 and follows it west ("south" on I-25), though it's not marked on the Interstate, to St. Francis Drive in Santa Fe. From here, 285 is concurrent with U.S. 84. You can bypass Santa Fe traffic by following I-25 7 miles south to the NM-599 exit and taking the relief route. St. Francis Drive can be heavily congested, especially during weekday mornings and afternoons. The route skirts the west side of the Santa Fe Plaza area, whereas it once passed through the Plaza. North of Santa Fe, at the intersection with NM-599 (Relief Route), U.S. 84-285 has been improved to freeway to just east of Española. From Santa Fe to Española, you lose well over 1000 feet in elevation and go back to the level of the Rio Grande. In Española, keep a sharp lookout for the junction with NM-68 where 84-285 were routed left onto a new river crossing south of the downtown bridge. It isn't well marked. As rerouted, the highways bypass the heart of downtown, jog north at NM-30 and immediately west onto their original route. U.S. 285 and 84 (toward Chama) split a few miles northwest of Española, with U.S. 285 turning north.

From here, you begin a real gain in altitude and enter mountainous country. 285 in this area does not go through any major population centers - the next city of any size is Alamosa, Colorado, about 34 miles north of the state line. The highway is 2-lane the whole way to Colorado. As you approach the state line, you enter the broad and flat San Luis Valley, which supports mainly agriculture that does not depend on a long growing season such as hay and alfalfa.

Comments: Not marked along its common section with I-25.

(I)

Length (NM): ~310 mi.

County: Otero, Lincoln, Chaves, Roosevelt, Curry

History: Established in 1926 along Route 50 from north of El Paso to Alamogordo, then northeast along Route 16 to Hondo and 13 to Roswell. From there, it was routed northeast along Route 18 to Clovis. By 1932, it was replaced in the Texas panhandle by U.S. 60 and in New Mexico and Texas near El Paso it became the first realignment for U.S. 70

Comments:

(II)

County: Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Torrance

History: Established in 1932 as a replacement for U.S. 470 when U.S. 70 was realigned. It continued to exist south of Moriarty for about two years after U.S. 66 was rerouted along part of this route through Tijeras Canyon, and was then decommissioned. The remaining part became an extension of NM-41.

Photo - tilt and all - taken at Carrizozo, March 2008.

Length (NM): 242.092

NHS: None except concurrent section with U.S. 70

County: Socorro, Lincoln, Chaves, Lea

History: Established in 1932, replacing NM-13 and U.S. 566.

Improvements: Two lane except for a divided section in the common segment with U.S. 70 west of Roswell.

Comments:

Length (NM): 100 mi.

County: Colfax, Union

History: Established in 1926 along Route 37 from Raton through Clayton to Texas. It was redesignated U.S. 87 by 1935.

Comments: Not directly associated with today's U.S. 385, though the two routings with this designation overlap near Amarillo.

Length (NM): 94.172 mi.

NHS: None except concurrent section with U.S. 64 NE of Clayton

County: Colfax, Union

History: U.S.412 was extended into New Mexico in 1994 from its former western terminus in Oklahoma. This extension mostly overlays existing U.S. routes, and 412 is overlaid on 56 in its entirety in New Mexico.

Improvements: See U.S. 56

Comments: 412 is one of the non-systematically numbered routes approved by AASHTO in the 1980s and 1990s. No, it doesn't somehow manage to intersect U.S. 12. Personally, I think this designation is a travesty, and it's an unnecessary overlay over existing 56. It's interesting to note that while New Mexico does not allow duplicate state and U.S. or Interstate designations, there is still a NM-412. U.S. 412 does not appear on the New Mexico log of U.S. routes, since only the "dominant" (lower numbered) route is shown for a given segment. This overlaid route is generally signed in New Mexico as depicted at right, though I did see a freestanding shield at the junction with U.S. 64-87 in Clayton. (This is not the first time New Mexico has signed multiple routes on a single shield; U.S. 64-84-285 was signed in this way in Santa Fe in the 1970s. This route ends at I-25 Business Loop in Springer, and is accessed from I-25 via the south or north offramps to Springer. There is no direct connection to I-25.

Photo taken at BL-I-25 in Springer.

Length (NM): ~63 mi.

County: Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Torrance

History: The initial U.S. route established from Albuquerque east along Route 6 through Tijeras Canyon to Moriarty, then south along Route 41 to Willard.

Length (NM): ~125 mi.

County: Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos, Colfax

History: Established in 1926 along Route 8 at Santa Fe to Taos, then over the Sangre de Christo Range on Route 33 through Agua Fria to Cimarron, and northwest through Colfax on Route 21 to U.S. 85. By 1931, U.S. 64 had replaced this route, and south of Taos it is now NM-68.

Comments:

Length (NM): 107.308 mi.

NHS: Entire length in New Mexico

County: McKinley, San Juan

History: Redesignated from U.S. 666 in 2003.

Comment: This was so designated because it begins at U.S. 191. The numbers 291 and 391 were not considered because they were in use in Colorado. The three states involved originally proposed 393 as the new designation, but thankfully AASHTO (for once) insisted on a (sort of) systematic route number.

Photo taken near Blanco Trading Post in San Juan County.

Length (NM): 174.885 mi.

NHS: Entire length in New Mexico

County: San Juan, Rio Arriba, Sandoval

History: Extended into New Mexico from Colorado over NM-19 in 1935. Shortened from Shiprock to Farmington when U.S. 64 was extended west from Farmington into Arizona in 1989. Around 2000, it was rerouted south from Aztec to Bernalillo along former NM-544 and NM-44, when this road was upgraded to divided highway. The former route from Aztec to Farmington is now NM-516.

Improvements: Four-lane highway, divided by a narrow median delineated with a double double line and rumble strips between Bernalillo and Bloomfield. Once you leave Bernalillo and the outskirts of Rio Rancho, the highway has a 70 mph speed limit.

Comments: The improvement of old NM-44 is a case study in how to efficiently upgrade a major highway. True, the cost was $312 million, but New Mexico got the work done in under three years, and has a 20 year warranty on the road due to the design-build contract that was awarded.

Length (NM): 106 mi.

County: Socorro, Lincoln

History: Established in 1926 on the western part of Route 13 as one of the original U.S. routes. Became part of U.S. 380 in 1932 when that route was established and extended into New Mexico.

Length (NM): 108 mi.

County: McKinley, San Juan

History: Designated in1926 and routed over Route 32 from Gallup north. OK folks, let's get this straight: it was the sixth named branch of U.S. 66, and consistent with the number pattern of the U.S. route system was designated 666. It was extended west and south into Arizona in the early 1940s, and when this segment was made part of U.S. 191, U.S. 666 was again truncated at Gallup. (The renumbering of the Arizona segment had nothing to do with the number controversy, but rather was due to the fact that U.S. 191 had been extended south and 666 in Arizona was directly in line with this road --- look at a map.) In 2003, it was redesignated U.S. 491.

Improvements: Divided from Gallup to Ya-Ta-Hey (NM-264) and just north and south of Shiprock. Plans are being discussed to widen the road from Gallup to Shiprock.

Comments: I think the whole number "controversy" was blown out of proportion. Governor Bill Richardson insisted on a new identity for the "Devil's Highway" not out of religious conviction, but to draw attention to the need for upgrades aong the road. All this controversy would have never occurred if the original proposed numbering for U.S. 66 as U.S. 60 had occurred, and then this route would have been U.S. 560.

Taken March 2008 on E. Pine Street in Deming (a trailblazer [with a "TO" banner] sign).

Length: 170 mi.

History: Part of the original interstate network, routed mainly along U.S. 80 (except westernmost five miles, routed along NM-14).

Improvements: Completed by mid-70s. First segments were at Arizona state line and south of Las Cruces.

Travelogue: I-10 is by far the easiest of the interstates, but also the least interesting from the standpoint of scenery. You enter from the high Arizona desert, and across New Mexico there are no significant elevation changes. The highway travels across the desert floor with mountain ranges visible to the north and the south. The highest point is near the Continental Divide, elevation approximately 4600 feet, although the area is relatively flat and does not suggest you are crossing a major drainage divide. As you approach Las Cruces, the Organ Mountains east of the city become visible. South of Las Cruces, the highway travels on the east side of the Rio Grande valley, with its well-developed agricultural base (cotton, pecans, chiles).

Comments: The segment south of Las Cruces was constructed on an alignment of U.S. 80 that had been built in the mid-1950s to bypass the southern Rio Grande valley towns.

Deming: Loop 22, Exits 81-85. 4.458 miles long on Pine Avenue.

(Both routes follow old U.S. 80.)

There was formerly a Business I-10 marked in Las Cruces, along Picacho Avenue and Main St. (bypassing the Main Street downtown mall). These are now designated as U.S. 70 and NM-478.

Photo taken at exit 364 (S exit of NM-161) N of Las Vegas.

Length: 460 miles

History: Part of the original interstate network, routed along U.S. 85.

Improvements: First segment from Socorro to Belen. Completed by 1980, last segment was north of Bernalillo to La Bajada Hill..

Travelogue: From Las Cruces north to Truth or Consequences (T or C), the interstate runs mostly along the east side of the Rio Grande valley, crossing the river near Arrey. The highway was not constructed in the valley itself, most likely to minimize the need to take productive agricultural land, but rather was built across the alluvial outwash hills that border the valley, making for some occasional ups and downs. North of T or C, the highway swings well west of Elephant Butte Reservoir and the Rio Grande, which in this area does not provide irrigation for agriculture. The hills to the west of the river in this area are steeper, and there are two deep canyons to cross that are marked with warnings about gusty winds; wind socks are erected to provide visual indication of the strength of the winds. North to Socorro is a relatively lonely stretch of road, with no major towns. As noted below, this piece of the interstate was originally constructed two-lane.

North of Socorro, the valley is apparently wider and one leaves the hilly terrain. Also, one again encounters small villages, and by the time you reach Belen there is again a significant agricultural base supported by the Rio Grande. Development is fairly consistent from Belen to Albuquerque. North of Albuquerque, you encounter Indian reservations such as Sandia Pueblo that limit development along the highway. To this point, because the highway has been relatively close to the Rio Grande, you have only climbed gradually. (The elevation at Las Cruces is 3900', Albuquerque downtown is 5000'.) North of the Cochiti Pueblo turnoffs, however, the highway turns up La Bajada hill at the Cochiti Pueblo exit for a fairly steep climb to Santa Fe (7000'). This hill marks a fast transition from desert landscape to the mountainous landscape around Santa Fe.

At Santa Fe, you enter the "J-trap" portion of I-25; the interstate bends east and then southeast as it climbs Glorieta Pass. This is not a significant climb from Santa Fe, but there is a fairly lengthy segment with significant curves as you descend the east side of Glorieta Pass. The mountains to your north here are the southernmost extent of the Rockies, the Santa Fe Mountains of the Sangre de Christo Range. South of Las Vegas, the interstate bends northward again and you exit the mountains. Just east of the U.S. 84 interchange, the interstate actually runs along the western border of the Great Plains; to the west are foothills, while to the east is gently undulating grassland. Between Las Vegas and Raton, you are unambiguously on the Plains, although the mountains are generally visible to the west virtually the whole way. Around Wagon Mound, look for two dramatic rounded peaks to the distant north. These are the 12,000-foot Spanish Peaks northwest of Trinidad, Colorado, which will then disappear from view as you approach Raton Mesa. Around Springer, you have a spectacular view to the west, with the Raton Mesa ahead and the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Christo Mountains to the northwest (punctuated by 14,000' Culebra Peak, just inside Colorado).

Starting around Springer, you will begin to see numerous volcanic cones. The Raton volcano field was active from around 10 million years ago to as recently as 10,000 years, and a number of cones are visible from here nearly as far east as Clayton. The Raton Mesa is a dramatic feature produced by this period of volcanism. On the north side of Raton you will exit the Plains and begin to climb Raton Mesa. The highway here has some significant curves, and the speed limit is reduced to 65 mph. The Colorado border is at Raton Pass, elevation 7834', the highest point anywhere on I-25.

Comments: This was constructed in some areas at a distance of several miles from old U.S. 85, so that road held more importance as a local connector than segments of old U.S. 66 or 80. These segments are mostly designated as independent state routes, with a few I-25 business loops (T or C, Socorro, Belen, Las Vegas, Springer, Raton). I-25 was originally constructed as two-lane between T or C and Socorro, with the road widening to four lanes at interchanges and narrowing down within 1/4 mile again. It was fully widened by the early 1980s.

Socorro: Loop 12. Exits 147-150. 2.879 miles long along California St. Includes part of U.S. 60.

Belen: Loop 13. Exits 190-195. 6.645 miles long along Main Street.

Las Vegas: Loop 15. Exits 343-347. 4.240 miles long along Grand Avenue.

Springer: Loop 16. Exits 412-414. 3.430 miles long along Maxwell Avenue.

Raton: Loop 17. Exits 450-454. 4.161 miles long along 2nd Street. Includes part of U.S. 64.

These generally follow old U.S. 85 (except for a connecting route on the north side of Belen) and are not concurrently marked with other routes.

There was previously a Business Loop 25 marked through Santa Fe. It may have followed NM-14 and NM-466 (Cerrillos Road, St. Michaels Road and Old Santa Fe Trail).

An unfortunate windshield shot while moving, at junction U.S. 84/NM-219 west of Santa Rosa,March 2008.

I'll get a better one some day.