U.S. Route 95

U.S. Route 95 is a major north-south United States Numbered Highway that runs through the western United States, passing through the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. The route spans approximately 1,574 miles, connecting the Mexico–United States border at San Luis, Arizona to the Canada–United States border at Eastport, Idaho, near the Kootenai National Forest. Along the way, it intersects with several major highways, including Interstate 8, Interstate 10, and Interstate 90, as well as U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 93, and U.S. Route 97. The route also passes through the Great Basin Desert, the Mojave Desert, and the Columbia River Gorge, near the John Day Dam and the The Dalles Dam.

● Route Description

The route begins at the Mexico–United States border in San Luis, Arizona, where it intersects with Arizona State Route 95 and Mexico Federal Highway 8. From there, it heads north through the Sonoran Desert, passing through the Yuma Proving Ground and the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, near the Imperial Dam and the Yuma Territorial Prison. The route then enters California and passes through the Mojave National Preserve, the Calico Mountains, and the Death Valley National Park, near the Furnace Creek Ranch and the Stovepipe Wells. As it continues north, it enters Nevada and passes through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the Hoover Dam, and the Las Vegas Valley, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the Valley of Fire State Park. The route then enters Oregon and passes through the Steens Mountain Wilderness, the Malheur National Forest, and the Ochoco National Forest, near the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Painted Hills. Finally, it enters Idaho and passes through the Payette National Forest, the Sawtooth National Forest, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest, near the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Redfish Lake.

● History

The route was established in 1926 as part of the original United States Numbered Highway System, which was created by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO), now known as the American Association of State Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The route was originally designated to run from San Luis, Arizona to Weiser, Idaho, but it was later extended north to Eastport, Idaho in 1956, near the Kootenai River and the Pend Oreille River. Over the years, the route has undergone several realignments and improvements, including the construction of new highways and interchanges, such as the Interstate 10 and Interstate 90 interchanges, as well as the U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 93 interchanges. The route has also been affected by various events, including the Great Depression, World War II, and the 1969 storm that caused widespread flooding and damage in the Columbia River Gorge, near the Bonneville Dam and the The Dalles Dam.

● Major Intersections

The route intersects with several major highways, including Interstate 8 in Yuma, Arizona, Interstate 10 in Blythe, California, and Interstate 90 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as well as U.S. Route 60 in Blythe, California, U.S. Route 93 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and U.S. Route 97 in Weiser, Idaho. The route also intersects with several state highways, including Arizona State Route 95, California State Route 62, and Nevada State Route 160, as well as Oregon Route 20 and Idaho State Highway 55. Additionally, the route passes through several major cities, including Yuma, Arizona, Needles, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Boise, Idaho, near the Boise River and the Lucky Peak Dam.

● Route Variations

There are several route variations and auxiliary routes that branch off from the main route, including U.S. Route 95 Alternate in Nevada and U.S. Route 95 Business in Idaho. The route also has several scenic byways and historic routes, including the Historic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway, which pass through the Mojave National Preserve and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Additionally, the route is part of the Western High-Speed Rail corridor, which is a proposed high-speed rail line that would connect Los Angeles, California to Seattle, Washington, passing through the San Joaquin Valley and the Columbia River Gorge.

● Traffic Volume

The traffic volume on the route varies greatly depending on the location and time of year, with the highest volumes occurring in the Las Vegas, Nevada area and the lowest volumes occurring in the rural areas of Oregon and Idaho. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the average annual daily traffic (AADT) on the route ranges from over 100,000 vehicles per day in the Las Vegas Valley to less than 1,000 vehicles per day in some of the rural areas, near the Great Basin National Park and the Hells Canyon. The route is also an important transportation corridor for the movement of goods and commodities, including copper from the Morenci Mine in Arizona and timber from the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The route is maintained by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Transportation Officials (AASHTO).