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[Quillz]

I found the 1964 US 97 in Alaska very interesting. The route did make sense to me. According to the US 97 page on Wikipedia, in the late 1950's the Alaska International Rail and Highway Commission lobbied to designate a US 97 from Fairbanks, AK to Mexico City, MX. I'm not sure how that would have been implemented if that proposal had been approved.

I'm interested on how US 97 can go further south than Weed, CA. Unless they move the entire route east to take over US 395, US 99 pretty much occupies the route southward. And Mexico City? There's a better chance that US 81 could make it to Mexico City in a more direct path first, not that it's saying much.

I did a renumbering project for California, and that's exactly how I did it. What I did was have US-97 move onto OR-39 from Klamath Falls to the border, then CA-139 from the border down to Susanville. At which point it then moves onto US-395 and follows the modern alignment. What is then US-97 from Klamath Falls to Weed becomes US-297, and US-395 continues to exist from Susanville north.

That's the only "realistic" way I could see such an extension working, especially as it doesn't really move US-97 outside of the grid in any way.

[Bruce]

A few groups even wanted to take Highway 97 all the way to Nome: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85221991/nomes-little-route-97-may-stretch/

This same group produced this plan (with extensive maps) that was published in the Reno Gazette-Journal: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85222236/pan-am-west-international-highway/

It looks like it takes US 395 from Alturas, CA all the way down to San Diego, then enters Mexico at Nogales after following what remains of US 80.

[Quillz]

I think taking US-97 to Nome is a little bit of a stretch. Even if you had a paved road, it's something like 500 miles between Nome and Fairbanks, right? I'd rather you assign an even number at that point. (How about US-0?)

It looks like it takes US 395 from Alturas, CA all the way down to San Diego, then enters Mexico at Nogales after following what remains of US 80.

So basically it would just have US-97 replace US-395 south of Susanville and then follow its 1969 alignment or so. This is how I have reworked US-97 for my California renumbering. Although Alturas is farther north, so it seems like it would have involved US-97 taking over a portion of OR-140 for a while eastward, and then move onto US-395 from there. Interesting.

Oh, I should have checked the map instead of guessing. It would have taken over US-395 from Susanville to Alturas, then taken over CA-299 from Alturas to Canby and replaced CA-139 and OR-39. That actually makes a bit more sense given CA-139 isn't as good a route as US-395 through Modoc County.

[Alps]

I found the 1964 US 97 in Alaska very interesting. The route did make sense to me. According to the US 97 page on Wikipedia, in the late 1950's the Alaska International Rail and Highway Commission lobbied to designate a US 97 from Fairbanks, AK to Mexico City, MX. I'm not sure how that would have been implemented if that proposal had been approved.

I'm interested on how US 97 can go further south than Weed, CA. Unless they move the entire route east to take over US 395, US 99 pretty much occupies the route southward. And Mexico City? There's a better chance that US 81 could make it to Mexico City in a more direct path first, not that it's saying much.

I did a renumbering project for California, and that's exactly how I did it. What I did was have US-97 move onto OR-39 from Klamath Falls to the border, then CA-139 from the border down to Susanville. At which point it then moves onto US-395 and follows the modern alignment. What is then US-97 from Klamath Falls to Weed becomes US-297, and US-395 continues to exist from Susanville north.

That's the only "realistic" way I could see such an extension working, especially as it doesn't really move US-97 outside of the grid in any way.

a) Stop resurrecting dead threads.
b) No Fictional Highways in regional boards.

[Max Rockatansky]

While CA 139 definitely is not a popular route of travel it definitely is on par with the quality of US 395 in Modoc County.  Almost the entire highway (CA 139) is signed as 65 MPH in Modoc County despite it being a two lane alignment.  CA 139/OR 39 is also the most practical way of getting between Klamath Falls-Alturas.  I'd have more to say regarding CA 139 but I don't want to push anything else fictional in this thread.   

[Quillz]

While CA 139 definitely is not a popular route of travel it definitely is on par with the quality of US 395 in Modoc County.  Almost the entire highway (CA 139) is signed as 65 MPH in Modoc County despite it being a two lane alignment.  CA 139/OR 39 is also the most practical way of getting between Klamath Falls-Alturas.  I'd have more to say regarding CA 139 but I don't want to push anything else fictional in this thread.   

When I drove both it was mainly the two-lane capacity that made me prefer US-395. The latter had more passing lanes and was more of a straight shot between Susanville and Alturas. CA-139 is shorter but also a bit more rural. Seeing that proposal that would have had US-97 run northbound and then westward makes a bit of sense the more I think about it. CA-139 is a pretty drive, though, especially around the Eagle Lake area.