interstate arizona interstate east west interstate highway mile section state arizona connecting sections california new mexico enters arizona west crossing southwest travels eastward northern portion state connecting cities williams continues new_mexico heading highway major junctions main highway connecting phoenix las_vegas nevada interstate linking phoenix majority routing arizona follows historic alignment route lone exception stretch took northerly direct route state route construction ongoing 1960s 1970s reached completion completion entire routing bypassed led year later route description california enters arizona california bridge crosses heads east begins curve north completes curve north interstate continues head north reaches city junction exit heads northwest junction las_vegas south begins run concurrently head east separate exit heads south phoenix heads east continues east passing town meets state route main highway heads south passes williams exit heads north grand canyon national park continues east junction exit heads south interchange phoenix new mexico east heads east southeast direction goes town continues direction reaches curves northeast stretch passes continues northeast passing chambers enters highway continues northeast new_mexico border southwest new_mexico continues history exception stretch directly replaced famed northern arizona possible upgraded interstate standards directly exceptions central business districts cities towns passed built bypass outside cities october section completed williams removed state highway system arizona portions cities overlap business loops highways routing road near current corridor arizona surveyed built soldiers built road 35th parallel come known wagon road smith arkansas serve military wagon road road popular route immigrants 1860s 1870s railroad built northern arizona 1880s early 1900s road route baltimore maryland california park highway auto trail linking national parks west route 1920s nationwide system highways called united_states numbered highways developed route given designation route designation controversial designations assigned east west routes route diagonal route chicago los_angeles compromise states east chicago felt state different route given number route chicago los_angeles given number routing arizona laid paved nearly entire route paved lone exceptions short stretch northeast valentine stretch entire route arizona paved realigned california border alignment southeast avoid mountain curves grades original alignment sections highway expanded lane divided highway anticipation coming interstate highway lane sections included section near section east section east near planning different alternatives considered potential routing new interstate area alternatives consisted routing north downtown south downtown downtown right way near alignment elaborate alternative routing downtown long january recommended route south downtown approved recommendation accepted planned routing business owners opposed routing draw motorists away main route time result created pass committee sent proposal roads conduct study feasibility route downtown railroad right way committee sent inquiry railroad concerning proposal railroad rejected proposed main rail lines citing result worse grades currently exists order reduce grades considerable rail line required routing town question business owners drafted city ordinance known initiative filed city november appear general election ballot march ordinance effect ban new commercial businesses routes leading area record voter turnout voters overwhelmingly voted ordinance vote routing west planned route california route north passing southern nevada connecting north present connection rationale proposal overall shorter route cost construct proposal met stiff opposition including senators california arizona sending secretary commerce letters requesting routing retained proposal eventually abandoned routing kept construction construction mile route arizona took nearly years complete segment completed longer ambitious goal finishing end miles completed additional miles miles worked construction schedule miles complete additional miles construction funding issue time state lacked available funds stay pace completion goal arizona completed half highway miles complete miles construction bypass complete interchanges end split enter city interchange additional interchange butler avenue completed year later big improvements construction segment mile section direct route cities travels far miles south alignment bypassing peach springs creating ghost towns construction million segment safer route alignment highest fatality rates section highway arizona section interstate complete construction million bypass began completed arizona completion mile section williams section bypassed interstate led transportation officials following year exit list
Interstate 40 in Arizona