U.S. Route 60 in California

U.S. Route 60 in California

U.S. Route 60 traverses the southern California corridor between the Los Angeles Basin and the Colorado River, serving as a regional arterial linking Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona, Riverside, San Bernardino County suburbs and the Colorado River gateway near Blythe. The highway parallels historic corridors used by the Santa Fe Railway, the Union Pacific Railroad, and earlier trails that connected San Pedro and inland river crossings. As part of the federal highway network created in 1926 under the auspices of the U.S. Numbered Highway System, the route has been realigned and truncated in California multiple times to accommodate the Interstate Highway System and regional freeway planning.

Route description

U.S. Route 60 enters California from the Arizona–California border near Parker and approaches the Palo Verde Valley before turning west toward the Coachella Valley. Westbound, US 60 connects with urban arterials in Rialto, joins with I-10 and I-215 corridors around Riverside and then proceeds through the San Gabriel Mountains foothills and the Pomona Freeway corridor toward Los Angeles County. The routing provides access to Ontario International Airport, the Los Angeles Basin industrial districts, and commuter suburbs such as Pomona and West Covina. Along its alignment US 60 intersects major arteries including SR 91, SR 57, and I-10, and runs adjacent to rail corridors used by Metrolink and the BNSF Railway. The character of the highway varies from two-lane segments near the Colorado River to multi-lane freeway sections in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles metropolitan area.

History

The corridor that became US 60 follows routes established during the 19th century by the Butterfield Overland Mail and later by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Designation as US 60 came with the 1926 implementation of the U.S. Numbered Highway System; initial plans envisioned US 60 as a transcontinental link connecting the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast. California alignments were modified during the Great Depression era and post‑World War II growth, as the State of California and Caltrans undertook major projects to widen and reroute highways to serve suburbs such as San Bernardino and Riverside. The advent of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and the Interstate Highway System led to truncation or replacement of many segments by I-10 and proposed interstate studies, though US 60 retained significance as an arterial and connector. Key historical milestones include construction of the Pomona Freeway and the conversion of surface alignments in Los Angeles County to freeway standards, as well as coordination with projects for Ontario International Airport and regional rail modernization initiatives such as Metrolink expansion.

Major intersections

- Near Blythe: junction with the Arizona approaches and local county roads serving the Colorado River - Connection with I-10 in the San Bernardino Valley - Interchange with SR 60 near Pomona - Junctions with SR 91 serving Orange County access - Interchanges alongside I-215 in Riverside - Urban termini and feeder links into Los Angeles arterial network and I-10 toward Santa Monica and the San Bernardino Freeway These intersections tie US 60 into the National Highway System and regional mobility networks overseen by LA Metro, Riverside County Transportation Commission, and county transportation agencies.

Related state and local routes

US 60 historically paralleled and intersected several state and local routes including SR 60, SR 57, SR 91, and I-10. Local arterials such as Foothill Boulevard and the Mission Inn Avenue corridor in Riverside serve as continuations or connectors. Freight and passenger rail services by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad operate alongside portions of the corridor, while Metrolink commuter rail lines provide regional transit alternatives. Coordination with agencies including Caltrans District 8, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, and Riverside County Transportation Commission shapes maintenance and operational priorities.

Future plans and improvements

Planned improvements affecting the US 60 corridor focus on interchange upgrades, seismic retrofits, capacity projects, and multimodal integration tied to regional planning by the Southern California Association of Governments, California Transportation Commission, and regional transit agencies. Projects under consideration include interchange reconfigurations near Pomona and Riverside to improve freight movement associated with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, enhanced ramps to I-10 and I-215 for congestion relief, and coordination with California High-Speed Rail regional planning to optimize intermodal connections. Environmental review processes reference statutes such as the California Environmental Quality Act and involve stakeholders including municipal governments of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, as well as federal partners like the Federal Highway Administration for funding and permitting.

Category:U.S. Highways in California