Interstate 10 begins its eastbound journey after departing from the Grand Canyon State of Arizona and entering the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. Four miles after the state line, this distance sign is found immediately prior to Road Forks, after crossing the Arizona/New Mexico state line. Immediately after this sign is Exit 5, Junction New Mexico 80 (Old U.S. 80) southwest to Douglas, Arizona. There is no access from eastbound Interstate 10 to southbound New Mexico 80. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
After Road Forks, Interstate 10 parallels Animas Dry Lake with the associated dust storm warning signs. Dust storms are common along Interstate 10 from Phoenix to El Paso, and are often hazardous. Photos taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Advance signage for Exit 11, Junction New Mexico 338 south to Cotton City and Animas, with a connection to east-west New Mexico 9. New Mexico 9 is a rather long route that parallels both Interstate 10 and the U.S.-Mexico border, but the state highway runs much closer to the border. There are not many services or towns along the length of New Mexico 9, which ends near Sunland Park west of El Paso, Texas. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
New Mexico 338 travels south to its end in Animas. A secondary road continues south from Animas into the Coronado National Forest near the U.S.-Mexico International Border. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 15 to Gary. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Exit 15 serves Gary, a railroad siding. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
This distance sign shows mileage to the three major cities along Interstate 10 in New Mexico - Lordsburg, Deming and Las Cruces. Much of the Interstate highway replaces former U.S. 80, which today ends in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that truncation, U.S. 80 was a transcontinental route, generally following Interstate 8, Interstate 10, and Interstate 20 from San Diego east to Dallas. Significant deviations included the route into Phoenix via Arizona 85 and the route to Douglas, Arizona, via Arizona 80 and New Mexico 80. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Mileage sign to the three Lordsburg exits. All three cities along Interstate 10 have similar signage before reaching town. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Advance signage for Business Loop I-10, old U.S. 80 through Lordsburg. New Mexico generally signs old U.S. 80 in towns as a business loop; older sections in rural areas may have a state route designation. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Just before the West Motel Drive (Business Loop I-10) exit is the New Mexico welcome center, which offers free maps and (believe it or not) free internet access. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Exit 22 serves Main Street in Lordsburg. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Use Main Street to connect northeast to Silver City, via New Mexico 90. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 22, Junction New Mexico 494, which also connects to Business Loop I-10, Motel Drive and U.S. 70. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Advance signage for Exit 24, Junction U.S. 70 and East Motel Drive (Business Loop I-10). U.S. 70 is another former transcontinental route that used to extend from downtown Los Angeles, California, east to Phoenix, Arizona, and then southeast to Lordsburg via Globe, Arizona. Today, U.S. 70 reaches its western terminus in Globe, well east of Phoenix. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
U.S. 70 joins Interstate 10 at Exit 24. To the west, U.S. 70 diverges from this point on an alternate route to Phoenix. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Continuing east, U.S. 70 becomes silently merged with Interstate 10 until reaching Las Cruces. Generally speaking, New Mexico does not sign shared route alignments with Interstate highways, but there are some exceptions. Neither U.S. 70 nor U.S. 180, which joins Interstate 10 in Deming, are signed on their shared alignment with Interstate 10. Meanwhile, the next exit is Exit 29, which serves as a ranch access road and connection to the frontage. Through New Mexico, certain exits are simply signed with the exit number, such as this one east of Lordsburg. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Here we reach Exit 29 sign on eastbound Interstate 10 and U.S. 70, with no name for the exit, just an arrow. Several other exits through New Mexico are signed this way. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Exit 34 serves New Mexico 113, which traverses south across the Playas to meet New Mexico 9. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Mileage sign for Separ, Deming and Las Cruces. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
I-10 between mile 35 and Deming is a Safety Corridor. While there is no speed limit reduction, this stretch of road is a double fine area. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Advance signage for US 180 north in Deming. US 180 travels northwest of Deming toward Silver City. Exit 82B serves central Deming as the continuation of US 180. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Exit 82A for US 180. US 180 continues east of this exit along Interstate 10 as an unsigned multiplex until El Paso. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Exit 82B serving Cedar Street and downtown Deming. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Now on the east side of Deming, we find advance signage for East Motel Drive (Business Loop 10). Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
Old US 70/80 merges back into Interstate 10 at Exit 85. This is the last exit for Deming, home of "pure water and fast ducks". Deming draws it's water from the underground Miembres River, and has annual duck races. Photo taken 2/27/05 by Kevin Trinkle.
