Historic U.S. 60/70 - Chuckwalla Valley
Through Chuckwalla Valley, the former route of U.S. 60-70 on Chuckwalla Road remains in use for local access along between interchanges along Interstate 10 with Corn Springs Road (Exit 201) and Ford Dry Lake Road (Exit 217). This long, two-lane stretch parallels the freeway to the south and offers a traffic-free route through the northern Colorado (Sonora) Desert.
Chuckwalla Road - East
The old alignment of U.S. 60/70 on Chuckwalla Road initially travels southeast from Interstate 10 by Exit 201.
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Eastbound Historic U.S. 60-70 (Chuckwalla Road) approaches Corn Springs Road southwest to Corn Spring and Aztec Well.
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Along Chuckwalla Road, former U.S. 60-70 have several bridges such as this one to direct seasonal floodwaters under the road. Some old white metal guardrail lines the north side of the old route beyond the bridge.
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Power lines spanning old U.S. 60-70 are the Devers-Palo Verde 500kV lines that connect a nuclear power plant in Arizona with a substation near Palm Springs. It is owned and operated by Southern California Edison.
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Old U.S. 60-70 crosses a second seasonal wash east of Corn Springs Road. The old bridge retains wooden railing.
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Since this is the best chance for water, clusters of trees grow by the wash. This wash is 1.1 miles east of the Chuckwalla Road dead end.
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The linear stretch of Chuckwalla Road continues southeast through Chuckwalla Valley.
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Historic U.S. 60-70 east along Chuckwalla Road crosses a third wash bridge with white wooden railing.
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The fourth wash bridge on Chuckwalla Road features white painted metal guardrail rather than wooden bridge railing.
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The fifth bridge on Historic U.S. 60-70 (Chuckwalla Road) east includes a 1952 date stamp.
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Chuckwalla Road continues east in a straight line.
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The sixth wash bridge along Chuckwalla Road was also built in 1952.
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The Little Chuckwalla Mountains line the southern horizon.
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A remaining C Block alongside Chuckwalla Road.
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Historic U.S. 60-70 east crosses a seventh wash.
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Almost all through traffic uses Interstate 10 through Chuckwalla Valley, leaving empty pavement along Historic U.S 60/70.
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Chuckwalla Road spans an eighth wash ahead of the eastern turn back toward Interstate 10.
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For some bridges along former U.S. 60-70 in the Chuckwalla Valley, old porcelain enamel signs help support the bridge abutments. These recycled signs are impossible to remove as they are firmly embedded into the bridge.
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Historic U.S. 60-70 (Chuckwalla Road) turns east toward Hopkins Well and again passes under the 500kV Southern California Edison power lines.
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Chuckwalla Road spans the ninth wash east from Corn Springs Road.
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Historic U.S. 60-70 continues to pass through the flat valley with occasional dips and rises for washes. Note that some dips could be flooded during rain events.
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The old alignment of U.S. 60/70 dead ends beyond the access road to Interstate 10 at Exit 217. The next extant section of old U.S. 60-70 does not reemerge from the freeway ntil east of Wiley's Well.
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Eastbound Historic U.S. 60-70 (Chuckwalla Road) reconnects with Interstate 10 at the Ford Dry Lake interchange.
03/14/09
Photo Credits:
- Andy Field: 03/14/09
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Page Updated Friday January 21, 2011.