Historic U.S. 60/70 - Whitewater

The Whitewater River bridge carries Old U.S. 60-70-99 over the Whitewater River near Whitewater, which is northwest of Palm Springs. This bridge is visible to motorists driving by on Interstate 10.

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Wind turbines at San Gorgonio Pass overlook the Whitewater River bridge.

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A narrow concrete bridge carries Whitewater Cutoff Road over Interstate 10 at Exit 114. An old bridge crosses the Whitewater River around the bend ahead.

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This ramp connects to Interstate 10 west toward San Bernardino and Los Angeles.

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Passing the Whitewater Rock & Supply Company, Old U.S. 60-70-99 features twin-slab concrete.

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Wind turbines from the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm populate the hillside east of the census designated place of Whitewater.

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U.S. 60-70-99 used to cross this bridge over the Whitewater River. The Whitewater River drains from Mount San Gorgonio, and during the Winter and Spring months, water flows through from the high country down toward Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley, and the Salton Sea. Much of the old road standards still remain here, including the banked roadway and approach onto the bridge.

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The bridge railings and supports are all made of concrete, just like the bridge deck. The Whitewater River bridge was built in 1925, just before it was signed as U.S. 99 in 1926.

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With only two lanes in width, the Whitewater River bridge is fairly narrow and would not be sufficient to meet today's larger vehicles. A replacement pair of bridges were built in 1952 (opened in 1953) as part of the new U.S. 60-70-99 expressway. Since widened to eight lanes in 1967, those bridges are part of Interstate 10.

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At the east end of the bridge, the old U.S. 60-70-99 roadway banked to the south, with white wooden fencing still in place to act as guardrail.

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The shoulder of this old road was widened a bit with concrete and again with asphalt. At one time, this road was striped.

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After making the banked turn to the south, the old road reverts from concrete to asphalt.

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The fence guardrail has certainly seen some better days, especially considering the baking sun in the desert. However, it is still used today, and it is in fairly decent condition considering the age of the road and bridge.

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U.S. 60-70-99 westbound just ahead of the Whitewater River bridge. The concrete road leading to the bridge was also built with the bridge in 1925.

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The bridge railings and supports are all made of concrete, just like the bridge deck.

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For a bridge that was 80 years old at the time of this photo, it was in remarkably good condition.

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A few expansion joints such as this one separate the sections of the Whitewater Bridge bridge.

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Beyond the Whitewater River bridge, Whitewater Cutoff Road (old U.S. 60-70-99) continues west past the Whitewater Rock & Supply Company.

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This section of old road retains its concrete, which is uncommon for much of old U.S. 60-70-99 in the desert.

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Originally, the concrete road continued straight onto the right-of-way for Interstate 10 west to Whitewater. It was realigned in the early 1950s when the new U.S. 60-70-99 expressway was built.

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A parclo interchange joins Whitewater Cutff Road to the north and Tipton Road to the southwest with Interstate 10 at Exit 114.

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The entrance ramp for eastbound Interstate 10 to Indio, Blythe, and Phoenix, Arizona follows at the succeeding right-turn.

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Whitewater Cutoff Road transitions directly onto Tipton Road, which carries former U.S. 60-70-99 along the south side of Interstate 10. Tipton Road connects with SR 111 (Palm Canyon Drive) 2.4 miles south of the exchange with I-10.

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Interstate 10 proceeds east across the Whitewater River from Whitewater Cutoff Road and next meets SR 62 (29 Palms Highway).

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