Interstate 10 runs from Santa Monica, CA to Jacksonville, FL, as the southernmost transcontinental route. Interstate 10 crosses the Arizona state line in far southwestern New Mexico, rejoining old US 80 at Road Forks. Continuing east across Animas valley, the first town is the small town of Lordsburg, where US 70 joins the route. The road then crosses the Continental Divide at Separ, then proceeds across high desert to Deming. The road
continues it's trek over high desert plains until it drops into the Rio Grande Valley at Las Cruces, before turning south to parallel the Rio Grande into El Paso. Interstate 10 replaced US 80 through New Mexico.
Interstate 10 is co-signed with US 70 from Lordsburg to Las Cruces, and US 180 from Deming to El Paso, however there are no shields for these multiplexed routes along I-10.
Westbound Interstate 10 approaches Exit 144, Junction Interstate 25. This marks the southern terminus of Interstate 25, which follows the Rio Grande north to Albuquerque, then turns northeast to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, and then into Colorado and Wyoming. Although not signed here, U.S. 85 follows Interstate 25 northbound. In fact, U.S. 85 is generally not signed anywhere in New Mexico, which appears to be standard practice for all U.S. routes that are located along an Interstate freeway. Photo taken 12/31/02.
Although the exit is not numbered, this is Exit 144 (Junction Northbound Interstate 25) along westbound Interstate 10 in Las Cruces. Note the use of Interstate shields with the state name for both Interstates on these overhead signs. Photo taken 12/31/02.
This nighttime picture of westbound Interstate 10 at Exit 24/Junction Business Loop I-10 and U.S. 70 in Lordsburg turned out well with the use of a flash. This is the first time U.S. 70 is mentioned since Las Cruces. U.S. 70 remains silently merged with Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and Lordsburg. Photo taken 12/31/02.
Scenes pertaining to Interstate 10
New Mexico 404 shield posted along O'Hara Road westbound between Interstate 10 & U.S. 180 and New Mexico 460 (Anthony Drive). New Mexico 404 travels 9.7 miles between New Mexico 213 and Anthony Drive (former U.S. 80 & 85). Photo taken 01/14/06.
Eastbound New Mexico 404 (O'Hara Road) at Frontage Road 1035, the eastbound service road of Interstate 10. FR 1035 heads north to New Mexico 460 (Anthony Drive) at the former Exit 160 and Berino. Southward, FR 1035 continues to Anthony and the Texas state line. Photo taken 01/14/06.
The Exit 162 diamond interchange replaced Exit 160 as the main access point from Interstate 10 into Anthony. Interstate 10 travels in a north-south fashion between El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces. New Mexico 404 (O'Hara Road) continues east from the freeway to New Mexico 213 near Chaparral. Photo taken 01/14/06.
Business Loop Interstate 10 / Old U.S. 80
There are two business loops for Interstate 10, located in Lordsburg and Deming (both former U.S. 80). At one time, Motel Drive in Las Cruces was signed as Business Loop 10, but has since been decommissioned (as far as we can tell).
Business Loop I-10
Lordsburg
Sign showing Business Loop I-10 and Eastbound I-10. This is located at the exit from the rest area/welcome center in Lordsburg (exit 20A eastbound). Business Loop Interstate 10 follows old U.S. 80 (Motel Drive) from Exits 20 to 24. Photo taken 02/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Deming
Reassurance shield for Business Loop I-10 westbound leading to I-10 in Deming. Business Loop Interstate 10 follows old U.S. 80 via Pine Street and Motel Drive between trumpet interchanges at Exits 81 and 85. Photo taken 02/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Former Business Loop Interstate 10 (Las Cruces) west
Valley Drive, formerly both Business Loop Interstate 10 and New Mexico 188, northbound at Main Street (New Mexico 478, not signed here). Business Loop Interstate 10 west used to turn onto Main Street north. The shield remains, but the designation is no longer recognized otherwise. Photo taken 01/14/06.
Business Loop Interstate 10 reassurance marker posted along Main Street (New Mexico 478) northbound. Business Loop Interstate 10 followed Main Street northwest to junction U.S. 70 (Picacho Avenue). Photo taken 01/14/06.
Former Business Loop Interstate 10 (Las Cruces) east
New Mexico 478 (Main Street) southbound on the approach to Valley Drive (New Mexico 188). Valley Drive ties directly into the Exit 142 interchange with Interstate 10 & U.S. 180. Business Loop Interstate 10 followed this alignment. New Mexico 478 represents a former alignment of U.S. 80 & 85. Photo taken 01/14/06.
Valley Drive provides access to both directions of Interstate 10, yet a trailblazer posted on New Mexico 478 (Main Street) south directs motorists onto Valley Drive (New Mexico 188) north. New Mexico 188 meets New Mexico 28 (Avenida de Mesilla) north of its interchange with Interstate 10 & U.S. 180 Exit 140). Photo taken 01/14/06.
Interstate 10 & U.S. 180 pass over New Mexico 478 (Main Street) in the background at the intersection with Valley Drive. Valley Drive continues east to University Avenue and Exit 142. New Mexico 188 follows the street northwest 2.945 miles to U.S. 70. Photo taken 01/14/06.
New Mexico 188 originally ended at the merge with Interstate 10 & U.S. 180 (Exit 142), but was truncated to New Mexico 478 (Main Street). Pictured here is the mast arm signal assembly on Valley Drive south at Main Street, a short distance west of the Interstate 10 on-ramps. Photo taken 01/14/06.
Valley Drive (former New Mexico 188) eastbound at former New Mexico 101 (University Avenue), just west of the ramps to Interstate 10. New Mexico 101 was truncated from Interstate 25 (Exit 1) westward to New Mexico 478 (Main Street) in 2003. Photo taken 01/14/06.
Diagrammatical sign for the Interstate 10 & U.S. 180 ramps to Deming, Tuscon, and Phoenix to the west and El Paso, Fort Stockton, and San Antonio to the east. A directional ramp merges onto eastbound two miles ahead of the south end of Interstate 25. Note the state name on the Interstate 10 shields. Photo taken 01/14/06.
