Historic U.S. Highway 80
This replica U.S. 80 shield was constructed using specifications set during the era when route markers had the California Department of Public Works, Division of Highways logo at the bottom of the six-point U.S. shield. Replica cat-eyes allow for nighttime reflectivity of the numerical designation. Photo taken 06/18/11.
Routing
U.S. 80 used to follow the southern tier of California, connecting San Diego with La Mesa, El Cajon, Alpine, Boulevard, Jacumba, Mountain Springs, Ocotillo, Plaster City, El Centro, Holtville, Buttercup Valley, and Winterhaven. With the designation of Interstate 8 in 1964, U.S. 80 was phased out as segments of freeway bypassed the older U.S. 80 alignment. Many extant segments of former U.S. 80 are still in service today. The various business loops of Interstate 8 in California (serving San Diego/La Mesa, Alpine, El Centro, and Winterhaven/Yuma) all incorporate old segments of U.S. 80.
History
Until 1974, U.S. 80 was signed along the current Interstate 8 corridor, connecting San Diego on the coast with the mountain communities of Alpine, Pine Valley, and Jacumba before heading into the Imperial Valley, passing by Seeley, El Centro, and Holtville before crossing the Colorado River and entering Arizona at the town of Winterhaven. Legislatively decommissioned in 1964, the route markers for U.S. 80 were not completely removed until 1974, which is largely due to the fact that Interstate 8 was not complete at that time. By 1974, most of Interstate 8 was complete and could be linked together as a continuous route across the southern tier of California.
In the city of San Diego, U.S. 80 had several routes. In chronological order, U.S. 80 followed the several alignments through the city:1, 2, 3, 4
- From U.S. 101/Broadway at Horton Plaza north along the 4th/5th Avenue couplet to University Avenue, then east on University Avenue to La Mesa (circa 1926-1930); this 1933 AAA map of San Diego (fair use) shows the route of U.S. 80 via 5th Avenue; compare this routing to the one shown in the 1940 Gousha Map (fair use)
- From U.S. 101/Market Street north along 12th Avenue (now Park Boulevard) to El Cajon Boulevard, then east on El Cajon Boulevard to La Mesa (circa 1930-1938)
- From U.S. 101/Harbor Drive near today's Grand Hyatt Regency hotel east along Market Street to 12th Avenue (Park Boulevard) north, then east on El Cajon Boulevard to La Mesa (this extension occurred due to the relocation of U.S. 101 onto then-new Harbor Drive) (1938 to 1947 or 1948)
- Around 1940-1943, a possible extension of U.S. 80 was to carry the route from downtown San Diego northwest along U.S. 101/Pacific Highway to Barnett Avenue, then west along Barnett Avenue, Rosecrans Street, Canon Street, and Catalina Boulevard to end at Cabrillo National Monument near the tip of Point Loma. This extension only appeared on Gousha maps during the World War II timeframe, and it is not clear whether U.S. 80 markers were ever placed on this alignment. A fair use scan of the 1940 Gousha map of San Diego shows this extension.
- From U.S. 101/Harbor Drive near today's Grand Hyatt Regency hotel east along Market Street to 10th/11th Avenue couplet north to the Cabrillo Freeway then east on Washington Street, Normal Street, and El Cajon Boulevard to La Mesa (1947 or 1948 to 1953). The Cabrillo Freeway was constructed between 1942 and 1947.
- From U.S. 101/Pacific Highway near Old Town east along the Mission Valley Freeway through Mission Valley toward La Mesa (June 1953-1964; this became Interstate 8, and U.S. 80 signs were gradually removed thereafter until 1974, when Interstate 8 was completed)
Many sections of U.S. 80 were constructed using Portland Cement Concrete, and they date back to the 1930s and earlier (in some rare cases, abandoned concrete dates back to 1917, just after the Old Plank Road and Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge were opened to traffic in 1915). Several of these segments can be seen in San Diego and Imperial Counties as frontage roads, realigned curves, and old bridge approaches. Several other segments remain in use today, especially the long stretch of Old Highway 80 in eastern San Diego County through Jacumba that largely dates to the 1930s.
With the elimination of U.S. 80 in California by 1974, a much greater portion of U.S. 80 was later removed from the books nationally. The first segment to be decommissioned was U.S. 80 in western and central Arizona, from Yuma east to Benson on September 16, 1977 (per state Resolution 1977-16-A-048). AASHTO approved U.S. 80's removal between these points a little more than a month later, on October 28, 1977.4 This route was replaced by Interstate 8 (Yuma to Gila Bend), Arizona 85 (Gila Bend to Buckeye), Maricopa County Route 85 (Buckeye to Phoenix), Interstate 10 (Phoenix to Tempe), U.S. 60 (Tempe to Florence Junction), U.S. 89 and Arizona 79 (Florence Junction to Catalina), Arizona 77 (Catalina to Tucson), and Interstate 10 (Tucson to Benson). (U.S. 89 was decommissioned south of Flagstaff a few years later, on August 21, 1992, per state Resolution 1992-08-A-056.) Full elimination of U.S. 80 finally occurred in Arizona on December 15, 1989, when U.S. 80 from Benson to Bisbee and Douglas was replaced by Arizona 80 and New Mexico 80 (per state Resolution 1989-12-A-096). AASHTO had approved the retraction from Arizona and New Mexico on October 6, 1989 (from Benson, Arizona, east to New Mexico Route 48 in Anthony, New Mexico). The route was removed from New Mexico at the same time, replaced by New Mexico 80 and Interstate 10 from Lordsburg to El Paso.
On October 12, 1991, U.S. 80 from the New Mexico-Texas state line near El Paso east to Dallas was eliminated; many old segments of U.S. 80 through cities were renumbered as Interstate business loops simultaneously.4 That entire stretch -- save Arizona 77 between Tucson and Florence Junction and Arizona/New Mexico 80 between Benson and near Lordsburg via Douglas -- was replaced by Interstate highways, thus relegating the old highway to frontage road status in some areas or completely gone in others. In cities, many of the old alignments became business loops of Interstate 8, Interstate 10, or Interstate 20. Several other extant sections of Old U.S. 80 (the Broadway of North America) still remain, including several sections out of sight from the freeway. U.S. 80 today extends from Interstate 30 in Dallas, Texas, to an end at a monument located in Tybee Island, Georgia.4
This page chronicles those portions within the state of California.
The Old Plank Road
One of the most popular segments of predecessor roadway along the U.S. 80 corridor is the Old Plank Road, which was built across the Imperial (Algodones) Sand Dunes. This road was built in the hopes of directing westbound transcontinental traffic to San Diego rather than Los Angeles, even though Los Angeles had already become the western hub of various railroads. Colonel Ed Fletcher, a San Diego booster, helped finance the proposed Plank Road, which was ensure a direct route from San Diego to Yuma and Phoenix.4, 5, 6
The first planks of the road were laid on February 14, 1915, and construction continued through that winter. The Plank Road officially opened to traffic two months later on April 4, 1915, over a distance of nearly six and a half miles. The first wave of motorists to cross the Plank Road in Spring 1915 was the "Glad Hand Excursion," which included 25 cars and approximately 100 people. The road was built initially as a two-track: Cars were to drive over the original Plank Road with each wheel on a pair of narrow, two-foot, one-inch wide planks laid side-by-side. Only one direction of traffic could proceed across the dunes at a time. Despite the limitations of the design, the Plank Road enabled road travel never conceived previously. With the opening of both the Plank Road and the Ocean to Ocean Highway bridge over the Colorado River between Yuma and Winterhaven in 1915, a true transcontinental automobile route was finally possible across the southern tier of the United States.
The Plank Road became a state highway in June 1915. In 1916, the state rebuilt the Plank Road with wooden cross ties laid to a width of eight feet with double-width turnouts every 1,000 feet. Maintenance was difficult due to wind-blown sand, shifting sand dunes, rough rides due to plank movement, and traffic jams due to the need to pull off to a turnout to allow opposing traffic to pass. Despite efforts to create a two-way plank road in 1924, it became clear that a permanent, paved road would be the best long-term solution for crossing the sand dunes. To that end, engineers determined that lower sand dunes moved rapidly, while other higher dunes moved more slowly. This meant that a road at a higher grade could be feasible. To that end, a new paved road opened on August 12, 1926, to replace the Plank Road.
Around this time, the transcontinental route designated along this new route was numbered as U.S. 80, an original 1926 U.S.-numbered route. While the Plank Road itself was never signed as U.S. 80, it plays a major role in the history of U.S. 80 and today is a California State Historical Landmark. The paved road is now a frontage road along the four-lane Interstate 8 freeway, which was also built to withstand the challenges of the shifting sand and desert environment.
Many thanks to the San Diego Automotive Museum for information about the Old Plank Road. A visit to the museum is a must for any old road or car enthusiast. Additional information comes from archived copies of the California Highways and Public Works magazine and Desert U.S.A. - Old Plank Road webpage.
Highway Guides
| Scenes Pertaining to Historic U.S. 80 |
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A mural harkening back to the old days of Highway 80 is on the side of the Bekins Building at 3727 El Cajon Boulevard in the City Heights community of San Diego. It was painted in the span of week in early December 2009 by artists Werc Alvarez and Geraldine Lozano. The mural extends around to the front of the building; this view is looking west from the southern sidewalk along El Cajon Boulevard. Photo taken 10/11/10. |
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View of a bridge near Jacumba along old U.S. 80 in San Diego County as the highway passes over the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad. This railroad was in use as a freight line until around 1986; since then, the section between Campo and Plaster City has fallen into disuse. Plans call for this rail line to be refurbished and restored, but it is unclear when it might return to active service again. With steep grades, only a single track, and the section that enters into Mexico, this rail line is not likely to achieve the same level of traffic as many east-west railroads in California. Photo taken 01/22/99. |
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The U.S.-Mexico International Border in metropolitan San Diego is marked with a tall fence, one that is heavily guarded and difficult to surmount. However, throughout the Eastern San Diego County backcountry, the border is marked by a comparably short fence, paralleled by the dirt road shown in these pictures. The vantage point is just south of U.S. 80 near the railroad bridge west of Jacumba; the border is within walking distance from the south side of U.S. 80. The dirt road shown in this picture is primarily used by the U.S. Border Patrol to further their mission. On the day these pictures were taken, we encountered several Border Patrol agents, some of whom must have wondered why we were taking pictures of bridges and highway signs. The first picture is looking west; the second picture is looking east. Photos taken 01/22/99. |
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This sign is not located on Historic U.S. 80 itself, but it is located along a dirt road parallel to the U.S.-Mexico Border just south of the above railroad bridge near old U.S. 80. In Spanish, it says, "Caution! Don't expose your life to the elements. It's not worth the penalty." The sign is meant for migrants who are occasionally found wandering the desert malnourished after they have been dropped off by smugglers on the U.S. side of the international border. Sadly, many migrants perish before finding adequate water, shelter, or food in the harsh desert environment. Photos taken 01/22/99. |
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Northbound Bowker Road ends at Imperial County Route S-80 (Evan Hewes Highway/Historic U.S. 80) at this intersection near El Centro. Photo taken 03/26/06. |
| Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 80: Desert View Tower |
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The Desert View Tower looks over the vast desert horizon from its perch above Interstate 8 and the In-Ko-pah Gorge. Built between 1922 and 1928 by Bert Vaughn (who at that time owned the nearby town of Jacumba), the Desert View Tower is a well-known landmark for travelers along Historic U.S. 80, the Boulevard of America. The tower is open for visitors for a nominal fee. Photos taken 01/15/07. |
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Built between 1922 and 1928 by Bert Vaughn (who at that time owned the nearby town of Jacumba), the Desert View Tower is a well-known landmark for travelers along Historic U.S. 80, the Boulevard of America. The tower was built to honor the railroad and highway builders who opened this area for travelers. Nearby rock sculptures were carved by W.T. Ratcliffe, an engineer, during the 1930s. Photo taken 01/15/07. |
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This view shows the Desert View Tower and some of the nearby buildings adjacent to the tower, looking south. Photo taken 04/19/08. |
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The wind was howling on this day in January, after a winter storm passed through the area. The first view looks north at the tower. This resulted in clean air and stellar views of the Imperial Valley. The April 2008 photo was taken on a much calmer day; this view looks south at the tower. Photos taken 01/15/07 and 04/19/08. |
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The "desert view" promised by the aptly named Desert View Tower can be seen in nearly all directions from the tower, but the most dramatic and compelling views look east toward In-Ko-Pah Gorge and the Imperial Valley. Since Interstate 8 passes directly below the tower, a fence prevents people from accidentally traveling too far away from the tower and falling to the freeway below. Affixed to one of these safety fences is this old 3,000-foot elevation sign, which was probably located along Old U.S. 80 at some point in the past. Photos taken 04/19/08. |
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Looking east from the Desert View Tower, the alignments of Interstate 8 east and west split after the Mountain Springs Road interchange (Exit 80). In the distance is the Salton Sea. Photos taken 01/15/07. |
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| Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 80: Holtville Hot Springs |
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View of the Highline Canal looking north near the hot springs. To the left (west) of the canal, a Southern California Edison transmission line begins its northerly journey toward the Los Angeles basin via the Highline Canal, staying east of the Salton Sea. It picks up additional power from a variety of geothermal plants located along its route. The Highline Canal marks the eastern edge of the expansive agricultural area of the Imperial Valley. Agriculture is prevalent from here west to the New River, west of El Centro. The contrast between green, lush fields and brown, barren desert is startling. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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View of a geothermal plant located to the north of U.S. 80 and east of the Highline Canal. The plant produces electricity that is routed onto the transmission grid, destined for homes both in Imperial County and in the Los Angeles Basin. This plant (and others like it) takes superheated water from the ground and uses it to turn turbines and generate electricity. The entire eastern portion of the Imperial Valley is geothermicly active due to its narrow crust (and relative proximity to magma) as well as the number of fault lines that cross the region. The famous San Andreas Fault, for instance, culminates its north-south journey under the Salton Sea, a 45-minute drive northwest of here. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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At the site of the hot springs itself, there is a camping area (referred to as "long-term visitor area" in this photo) on the north side of U.S. 80. The actual hot spring is located to the south of U.S. 80, and it is squeezed between a fairly narrow space between U.S. 80 and Interstate 8. The long-term visitor area features weekly use camping areas, and many of the visitors are "snowbirds" seeking to escape the cold of the northern states in their recreational vehicles. During the mild winter months, there is a fee to stay in the long-term visitor area; during the hot summer months, it is free. The entire facility is operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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View of one of the two outhouses at the hot spring parking area just south of Historic U.S. 80. The hot spring is located behind the outhouse. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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The hot spring is pumped from a well through a pipe. A portion of the water is directed into a concrete tub, while the rest is propelled through a sprinkler, which is visible in this picture. The water is usually in the mid-100s (degrees Fahrenheit). Much of the area is surrounded by palm trees. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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This picture, looking north, shows the hot spring tub in the foreground and the sprinkler in the background. The power lines in the distance mark the location of U.S. 80 in relation to this picture. Interstate 8 is behind the spot where this picture was taken. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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Another view of the hot springs, this time looking south. U.S. 80 is behind the vantage point of this picture, and "hill" in the background is Interstate 8. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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This tiny river carries the excess hot water from the concrete hot tub into a small pond adjacent to the hot spring itself. The pond contains warm water, but it is not nearly as hot as the water in the concrete tub or the sprinkler. Photo taken 10/05/02. |
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This view of the sunset was taken from the Holtville Hot Springs. Photo taken 08/27/04. |
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These pictures show the lush environs surrounding the pond. This pond has several varieties of fish living in it, and swimmers use it to cool off after lounging in the hot springs. Photos taken 10/05/02. |
| Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 80: Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge |
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To the north of the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge lies the adjacent railroad truss bridge over the Colorado River as well as the meandering river, cutting a line between California and Arizona. Photos taken 01/27/06. |
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Looking south from the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge, the sun sets on the Interstate 8 bridge over the Colorado River. Photos taken 01/27/06. |
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Here's an evening shot taken from the same spot, looking south at the Interstate 8 bridge. Photo taken 01/15/07. |
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This suite of pictures shows the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge as seen during twilight hours from a hill next to the bridge on the California side. The name of the bridge and "Yuma" are written into the truss, adding to the allure of this bridge. Photos taken 01/27/06. |
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A year later, these photos show the Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge during the evening just after sunset. The restored bridge remains a sight to behold for fans of old highway bridges. Photos taken 01/15/07. |
Footnotes:
- Historic U.S. Highway 80 in California, Yuma to San Diego, produced for the Historic Highway 80 Committee by Steve Varner of AmericanRoads.us (2006/First Edition). This is an excellent resource for locating remaining alignments of U.S. 80 in San Diego and Imperial Counties, including the prior routes taken by U.S. 80 in the city of San Diego.
- American Roads: Historic U.S. Highway 80 - Steve Varner
- Finding U.S. 80: The Broadway of North America by Casey Cooper. This excellent site contains historical photos of U.S. 80 from California Highways and Public Works, the old California Division of Highways journal.
- U.S. Route 80: The Dixie Overland Highway by Richard F. Weingroff, Federal Highway Administration. Tybee Island became the eastern terminus of U.S. 80 in 1929, an extension from Savannah, Georgia. U.S. 80 was shortened in phases between 1964 and 1991, so it could no longer be considered a transcontinental highway today. As stated in the article, "The shortening began in California. Under State Senate Bill 64, California renumbered its State highway system, effective July 1, 1964. The State law provided that each route should have a single number, with precedence given to retention of present sign route numbers in the following order: Interstate routes, U.S. numbered routes, and State sign routes. To comply with this requirement, California asked AASHO to remove the State's section of U.S. 80 from the official log. The changed was first reflected in AASHO's U.S. route log published in 1969." Maps and field observations indicate U.S. 80 signs were removed in California by 1974, the same year Interstate 8 was completed in that state. Many similar articles can be found at FHWA Highway History Articles.
- San Diego Automotive Museum - Old Plank Road Exhibit
- Desert U.S.A.: The Old Plank Road
Page Updated August 29, 2011.
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