Old route question

I'm a highway history nerd. Here's an example of my nerdry:

US80 in Arizona used to be the longest highway in the state at 500 miles. This was due to the odd loop that US80 made, connecting Douglas, Benson, Tucson, Phoenix and Yuma. US80 followed the path of current AZ80 to Benson, them along the current path of I10, splitting off and following what's now called Benson Highway. The TTT was there when US80 ran along there. Then ran north on what is now AZ77 and AZ79 to the junction of US60. US60 and US80 paralleled each other into Phoenix. US60 ran along its current route to Wickenburg and US80 ran west along Buckeye Road.

AZ85 aka the Phoenix Bypass was the link bringing US80 down to Gila Bend though the original route ran west a bit though Arlington and then south. Arlington was eventually bypassed. AZ85 crosses the old alignment which is currently Maricopa County route 85.

The old alignment through Arlington and south to Gila Bend still exists linking the farms along there.

 

The original plan was to widen US80 to a four lane route with at grade intersections. Many parts were completed by the time the interstate bill was passed. Interstate 20 BL through Midland-Odessa for example.

NM549 east of Deming, NM has a short 4 lane section that had its construction halted when I10 was surveyed on its present path. What's interesting is the easement for the widening of the road still exists and residents along the road still have their property line set back to make way for the second half of the roadway that was never completed.

 

Headed to California but today I'm going to detour onto US70 in Lordsburg, NM and run the old shortcut to Phoenix via Globe and US60.

 

Try and stop in at the Taylor Freeze in Pima. Great burgers and shakes. You can round the block and park along side

 

If you're ever headed out west on 40 in AZ and have a little xtra time and the weather is nice, you can run an old section of 66 that is still well maintained. Runs from Seligman and comes out at the Flying J in Kingman. Nice stretch of road. I delivered some metal roofing material to a place about half way in between many years ago

 

I'll have to check it out. I have done this route between Safford and Phoenix before. Nice change of pace.

 

It was closed.

Taking my 30 in Globe at Dave's Fast Stop.

 

Closed as in permanently? Oh well. Been 6 months or so since I stopped in there. Loved their chocolate shakes and onion rings

 

Had a closed sign but the outside lights were on and it didn't look boarded up so maybe it's just a Sunday thing.