Wyoming state route 89

[agentsteel53]

was this ever an 89A, or even an old alignment of US-89? 

[NE2]

It was probably an attempt by Wyoming to siphon off some US 89 traffic, like Arizona's SR 95.

[agentsteel53]

It was probably an attempt by Wyoming to siphon off some US 89 traffic, like Arizona's SR 95.

I thought AZ-95 (and also CA-95 and CA-195) were so numbered because they were planned corridors for an eventual US-95 extension.

the extension came in 1939, and ate all of CA-195 (Nevada state line to what was then US-60/70) and then crossed on 60/70 multiplex and ate AZ-95 from Quartzsite to San Luis.

CA-95 became part of the extended US-395 in 1935 (so 395 was, at one point, much longer than 95!)

[NE2]

I thought AZ-95 (and also CA-95 and CA-195) were so numbered because they were planned corridors for an eventual US-95 extension.

Possibly, though SR 95 extended north of US 60-70: http://www.arizonaroads.com/maps/1938-3.jpg

[agentsteel53]

correct - I was unclear.  US-95 ate only about half of AZ-95, leaving the northern segment (Quartzsite and north) approximately the way it is today.

now that I think about it, the extension of US-95 was in two segments.

1938*, it came down to Blythe.  1961 it came into Arizona.

* usends.com shows 1940.  I have seen a California US 95 shield with a 1939 date code, but I did not know if it had been made in advance with the actual installation taking place in 1940.  But now I see this 1938 map, which tells me that the route was extended by 1938.  good to know; thanks for the map link! 

[corco]

It was Wyoming's bid for US-89. Wyoming wanted US-89 to go that way instead of through Bear Lake, but Idaho and Utah convinced the AASHO to go the Bear Lake way. Wyoming's method of retaliation was to just sign it was Wyoming 89, and then south of Yellowstone put up a bunch of signs calling WYO 89 the fastest route from Yellowstone to Salt Lake (which it is).