Why is US 84 in San Miguel County, NM have a zig zag?

[roadman65]

I was noticing that US 84 in San Miguel County, NM is built north into I-25 from  Los Montoyas instead of turning west from there to meet I-25 at Serafina.

I know the route was established before I-25 was built, but the interstate follows the original path of US 85 in which US 84 had a concurrency then with.  However, I'm surprised to shave miles off US 84 that they didnt build a new road across the desert to do just that.

[Max Rockatansky]

Brand new roads cost money.  They now require money plus an EIR, even for something small. 

[Rothman]

Brand new roads cost money.  They now require money plus an EIR, even for something small. 

EIR?  I didn't know NM was in California. ;D

[pderocco]

Viewed in Google Maps, it looks like a good idea. Viewed in Google Earth, you see there's no route that wouldn't have to deal will significant elevation changes, not to mention a river crossing or two. And it probably has a very low AADT anyway.

[The Ghostbuster]

I know that US 84 between Interstate 40 and Interstate 25 was the original alignment for US 66 (which then followed US 85 to Albuquerque, before continuing westward).

[pderocco]

I know that US 84 between Interstate 40 and Interstate 25 was the original alignment for US 66 (which then followed US 85 to Albuquerque, before continuing westward).

Yup. It's in TravelMapping as Historic US-66. I hope to drive it all in NM this summer.

[Max Rockatansky]

I know that US 84 between Interstate 40 and Interstate 25 was the original alignment for US 66 (which then followed US 85 to Albuquerque, before continuing westward).

Yup. It's in TravelMapping as Historic US-66. I hope to drive it all in NM this summer.

Too bad La Bajada Hill is essentially off limits without tribal permission.

[DJStephens]

I know that US 84 between Interstate 40 and Interstate 25 was the original alignment for US 66 (which then followed US 85 to Albuquerque, before continuing westward).

The original US 66 alignment, traveled S to Las Lomas, before turning WNW and "rejoining" today's alignment at Laguna Pueblo.   So 66 originally ran N-S through Albuquerque.  So there was a gigantic snake alignment for 66 in the state.   Roughly 15 years later, a "straight" E-W routing was made, eliminating the snake alignment.   Central Avenue became the E-W US 66 corridor, at that time.   

[pderocco]

I know that US 84 between Interstate 40 and Interstate 25 was the original alignment for US 66 (which then followed US 85 to Albuquerque, before continuing westward).

The original US 66 alignment, traveled S to Las Lomas, before turning WNW and "rejoining" today's alignment at Laguna Pueblo.   So 66 originally ran N-S through Albuquerque.  So there was a gigantic snake alignment for 66 in the state.   Roughly 15 years later, a "straight" E-W routing was made, eliminating the snake alignment.   Central Avenue became the E-W US 66 corridor, at that time.   

You mean Los Lunas.