U.S. 95 North - Blythe to Vidal Junction

Intake Boulevard north enters the diamond interchange where U.S. 95 north splits with Interstate 10 west in Blythe.

03/14/09

Signs at the eastbound on-ramp for I-10 from Intake Boulevard omit U.S. 95 south to Quartzsite.

03/14/09

The succeeding left turn from Intake Boulevard connects with Interstate 10 west to Los Angeles.

03/14/09

Departing from interstate 10 westbound, U.S. 95 turns north onto Intake Boulevard.

11/10/00

Beyond I-10, U.S. 95 (Intake Boulevard) meets Business Loop I-10 (Hobson Way) at an unmarked intersection.

03/14/09

Business Loop I-10 turns west along old U.S. 60-70 into Downtown Blythe while U.S. 95 continues north to Vidal Junction and Needles.

11/10/00

This mileage sign, found along northbound U.S. 95 (Intake Boulevard) after the intersection with Business Loop I-10 (Hobson Way), provides the distance to Vidal Junction (40 miles) and Needles (96 miles). Services are limited along U.S. 95 between Blythe and Needles.

03/14/09

The first reassurance shield along U.S. 95 north in Blythe stands after Hobson Way.

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Leaving Blythe, the two-lane highway proceeds through fertile farmland along the west bank of the Colorado River in the Palo Verde Valley.

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Northbound U.S. 95 (Intake Boulevard) at Riverside Avenue (Chanslor Way). This east-west road provides local access within the valley. Turn right to the fairgrounds.

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The next marked intersection along northbound Intake Boulevard is with 10th Avenue; the numbered avenues decrease along U.S. 95 north through the agricultural valley.

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Northbound U.S. 95 (Intake Boulevard) at 8th Avenue.

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Another U.S. 95 north reassurance shield is posted after the 8th Avenue intersection.

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6th Avenue heads eat from U.S. 95 (Intake Boulevard) to Mayflower County Park and Hidden Beaches along the Colorado River and west to Palo Verde College.

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Advancing north toward the Big Maria Mountains, U.S. 95 next intersects 4th Avenue, which provides local and farm access east and west of Intake Boulevard.

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U.S. 95 crosses D Canal ahead of 4th Avenue on this bridge with white painted guardrail.

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Northbound U.S. 95 (Intake Boulevard) next meets 2nd Avenue.

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Northbound U.S. 95 turns northeast to avoid the Big Maria Mountains and stay close to the Colorado River.

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As the roadway turns closer to the water, U.S. 95 leaves the fertile areas surrounding Blythe and advances eastward toward Palo Verde Dam.

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U.S. 95 runs north between the eastern foothills of the Big Maria Mountains and areas adjacent to the Colorado River.

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Northbound U.S. 95 at the turnoff for the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. The dam holds back water as part of an elaborate river management plan for the Colorado River south of Lake Mead. In addition to flood control, the dam is also part of a water diversion network. Water is diverted from the river for agricultural and urban uses via aqueducts that send water both west toward coastal Southern California and east toward central Arizona (Phoenix).

03/14/09

U.S. 95 enters the unincorporated community of Colorado River Communities. For the next 15-20 miles, U.S. 95 parallels the west bank of the Colorado River. Several resorts, marinas, and homes line this section of the river.

03/14/09

This mileage sign along U.S. 95 north provides the distance to Vidal (28 miles) and Needles (83 miles).

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As the mountains pull away to the northwest, U.S. 95 straightens out and continues alongside the river. A mirage brings the appearance of a reflection (of the distant car) into non-existent water on the pavement.

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Northbound U.S. 95 approaches Villa Shores Drive east to the Colorado River.

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Northbound U.S. 95 approaches Clarks Ranch Road.

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Near Pheasant Lane is this historical marker for Giant Desert Figures (Blythe Intaglios) along northbound U.S. 95.

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U.S. 95 continues north through the desert after the Blythe Intaglios.

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Northbound U.S. 95 passes by King River Road, Twin Palms Drive and Paradise Lane.

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Aha Quin Drive connects U.S. 95 with the Aha Quin Resort along the Colorado River.

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U.S. 95 straddles the foothills along the west side of Parker Valley from Hall Island north to Quien Sabe Point.

03/14/09

This mileage sign provides the distance to Vidal (16 miles) and Needles (71 miles) along northbound U.S. 95.

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Due to dips along the road, motorists along U.S. 95 are advised to reduce speed to 50 miles per hour for seven miles beyond Water Wheel Drive.

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Near mile 24 is another U.S. 95 north reassurance shield.

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Traveling northeast along the Riverside Mountains, U.S. 95 traverses a series of dips and valleys.

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Lost Lake Road stems east from U.S. 95 to the Lost Lake Resort along the Colorado River.

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Agnes Wilson Road runs east from U.S. 95 to Parker Valley and Poston, Arizona. The Colorado River crossing is one of the few between California and Arizona that is not part of the California state route system (other examples of non-state crossings include the Imperial Dam and Laguna Dam crossings).

03/14/09

A high-voltage power transmission line crosses over U.S. 95 north of Agnes Wilson Road. The Riverside Mountains remain west of the highway.

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This mileage sign provides the distance to Vidal (four miles) and Needles (59 miles).

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Northbound U.S. 95 leaves Riverside County and enters San Bernardino County just beyond the northern reaches of the Riverside Mountains.

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Angling northwest, U.S. 95 crosses Vidal Wash across an area subject to flash floods during monsoonal thunderstorms.

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Reassurance marker posted northbound at Vidal Valley.

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A high-voltage power line spans U.S. 95 from the power plant west of Blythe north and then west to Parker Dam.

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The unincorporated community of Vidal marks the location where Old Parker Road and the BNSF Railroad cross U.S. 95.

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Limited services are available at Vidal, with just a handful of buildings located off Main Street and Old Parker Road east of U.S. 95.

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The at-grade crossing with the BNSF Railroad at Vidal.

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Vidal Junction, where U.S. 95 converges with SR 62, lies six miles northwest of Vidal. SR 62 travels east to Parker, Arizona, and west to Rice and Twenty Nine Palms.

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A gas station and a California Agricultural Inspection Station line the corners of the four-way stop sign intersection at U.S. 95/SR 62.

03/14/09

The addition of the California Agricultural Inspection Station on the northeast corner of U.S. 95/SR 62 at Vidal Junction resulted in the removal of this confirming marker.

11/10/00