State Route 96

Arizona State Route 96

Arizona 96 is a short route that connects Bagdad to Hillside. The road is only connected to the rest of the state highway system by Arizona 97, itself a short connecting road between Arizona 96 and U.S. 93.

Arizona 96 was commissioned on December 16, 1962 to connect the then-new mine at Bagdad to the rail yard at Hillside. The road continues, as Yavapai County Route 15, to meet Arizona 89. The road was added to the State Highway System at the request of Yavapai County, because of mining activity in Bagdad and travel to commercial activities in Prescott.

Originally, Yavapai County requested the continuation of Arizona 96 to U.S. 89, however, the Highway Commission rejected this request due to concerns about funding for maintenance.

The section from Bagdad to Arizona 97 was reconstructed in 1977 to eliminate sharp curves.

The 2005 State Highway System log showed Arizona 96 erroneously ending at Arizona 97. Subsequent State Highway logs have corrected this issue.

References:

  1. Minutes of the State Highway Commission. 10/23/1962, Arizona Highway Commission.
  2. Minutes of the State Highway Commission. 12/16/1962, Arizona Highway Commission.
  3. Right Of Way Map D-13-T-388. Arizona Department of Transportation

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Page Updated Tuesday February 14, 2012.