U.S. Route 93

Infobox U.S. Route
article_route=93
alternate_name=

---

length_mi=1457
length_round=0
length_ref= [http://www.us-highways.com/us1830.htm US Highways from US 1 to US 830] Robert V. Droz]
yrcom=1926
direction_a=South
from=Jct|state=AZ|US|60 in Wickenburg, AZ
junction=Jct|state=AZ|I|40 near Kingman, AZ
Jct|state=NV|I|15 at Las Vegas, NV
Jct|state=NV|US|6|US|50 in Ely, NV
Jct|state=NV|I|80 at Wells, NV
Jct|state=ID|I|84 at Twin Falls, ID
Jct|state=MT|I|90 at Missoula, MT
Jct|state=MT|US|2 at Kalispell, MT
direction_b=North
to=Jct|state=BC|Hwy|93 at Canadian Border at the Port of Roosville near Eureka, MT

U.S. Route 93 is a major north-south United States highway in the Western United States. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 60 in Wickenburg, Arizona. The northern terminus is at the Canadian border north of Eureka in Lincoln County, Montana, where the roadway continues into Roosville, British Columbia, as Highway 93. [http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite%2FFalls%2F3369/HwyEnds/End093/end093.htm Endpoints of US highways] ] Major cities that US 93 travels through include Las Vegas, Nevada, Twin Falls, Idaho, and Missoula, Montana.

Route description

Arizona

US 93 begins at US 60 in Wickenburg, a small town about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Phoenix. It is labeled the Arizona Joshua Parkway until it merges with I-40 to Kingman. US 93 then splits from I-40 in Kingman and heads north to the Hoover Dam.

Nevada

US 93 enters Nevada on Hoover Dam, then heads north through Boulder City towards Las Vegas The route merges with U.S. Route 95 through Henderson and southeast Las Vegas, then continues north concurrently with Interstate 15 through North Las Vegas. Outside of the Las Vegas area, US 93 diverges from I-15 to head north towards Great Basin National Park. Near here, the highway overlaps with U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 50 towards Ely. US 93 leaves US 6/50 in Ely and continues north, intersecting Interstate 80 at Wells before crossing the Idaho state line near Jackpot.

Between State Route 318 and Majors Junction (US 6/50), US 93 is designated a Nevada Scenic Byway. [http://www.nevadadot.com/pub_involvement/scenicbyways/ Nevada Scenic Byways] ]

From Ely to Lages Junction, US 93 is part of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America.

Idaho

[
Perrine Bridge near Twin Falls, Idaho] US 93 enters Idaho from Nevada from a point immediately north of the border casino town of Jackpot.

At a point west of Twin Falls, US 93 turns and runs east-west for a few miles, concurrent with U.S. Route 30. This section is known locally as a part of Addison Avenue. The highway returns to its north-south orientation in Twin Falls at the intersection of Addison Avenue and Blue Lakes Boulevard.

North of Twin Falls, US 93 traverses the Snake River Canyon via the Perrine Bridge. Approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of Perrine Bridge the highway intersects with Interstate 84.

At Shoshone US 93 meets Idaho State Highway 75 and diverts in a northeasterly route towards Arco and the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Between Shoshone and Arco the highway runs concurrently with the east-west U.S. Route 26, and also with U.S. Route 20 between Carey and Arco.

From Arco, the highway travels along a gentle slope through the Big and Little Lost River valleys. This section provides views of the Lost River Range to the north of the highway, including Borah Peak, which is the highest point in the state. The highway descends into Grand View Canyon and heads into the city of Challis.

US 93 creates the northern terminus of State Highway 75 in Challis and takes over as the northern leg of the Salmon River Scenic Byway. It runs the length of the Salmon River as it winds north around the edge of the Lost River and Lemhi ranges into the city of Salmon. Continuing north, the highway runs along portions of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The highway follows the river as it climbs into the Bitterroot Range, passing through the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The highway exits Idaho via Lost Trail Pass at the Montana border.

Montana

US 93 enters Montana from Idaho at Lost Trail Pass and travels north descending through the Bitterroot National Forest. The highway continues along the Lewis and Clark trail toward Missoula, passing through Darby and Hamilton.

From Missoula it continues north through the Flathead Indian Reservation. Portions of this section run along the National Bison Range. North of the reservation, US 93 traverses the western shore of Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. North of the lake the highway runs through the cities of Kalispell and Whitefish, traveling through the Flathead National Forest before reaching is terminus at the Canadian border near Eureka.

The portion north of Hamilton travels through one of the most densely populated areas in Montana. This section also serves as a popular north-south connection between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. As a result, the road tends to become more congested between Hamilton and Whitefish. In fact, a popular bumper sticker in Montana reads, "Pray for me, I drive Hwy 93!" [cite web | url = http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/us93info/faq.shtml | title = Frequently Asked Questions About the People's Way Highway Project — US 93: Evaro to Polson | publisher = Montana Department of Transportation | accessdate = 2007-09-21]

History

Until 1993, US 93 ended a short distance north of Wickenburg, Arizona at a junction with U.S. Highway 89. When US 89 was decommissioned in the area, the US 93 designation was carried on into Wickenburg.

Future

US 93 (with US 60 to the southeast of Wickenburg) is the shortest route between the fast-growing cities of Las Vegas and Phoenix, two of the largest cities in America. Upgrades of US 60 and US 93 to expressway status are scheduled between Las Vegas and Phoenix.

A segment of the new highway is in the very early stages of construction (in 2004) in the area of Hoover Dam; the Hoover Dam Bypass will replace a highway now closed to truck traffic due to security concerns over the dam since the September 11, 2001 attacks. The bypass will cross the Colorado River on a new bridge downstream of the dam. It will make unnecessary the truck detour through either Laughlin, Nevada or Needles, California.

A bypass route is currently being planned to redirect US 93 around Kalispell, Montana. [cite web | url = http://www.kalispellbypass.com | title = Kalispell Bypass | publisher = Montana Department of Transportation | accessdate = 2008-07-21] Currently, US 93 enters Kalispell and becomes Main Street, a convert|25|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on arterial.

Bannered routes

Lages Junction-Wells alternate

usban
route=93
banner=ALT
location=Lages Junction-Wells, Nevada

Alternate US 93 is an alternate route of US 93 in northeast Nevada. The southern terminus is at Lages Junction in northern White Pine County, where it separates from US 93. The route continues north to West Wendover, then joins Interstate 80 west to Wells, where it terminates at an interchange with US 93.

The route provides a shortcut to eastbound Interstate 80 and Salt Lake City, Utah. From Lages Junction to West Wendover, US 93 Alternate is part of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America.

hoshone-Challis alternate

usban
route=93
banner=ALT
location=Shoshone-Challis, Idaho
active=1926-1977Between 1926 and 1977 a road between Shoshone, Idaho and Challis, Idaho was also labeled Alternate US 93. This stretch of road is now designated as part of US 93. The pre-1977 routing of US 93 between those points is now designated as State Highway 75.

References

External links

* [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us93.htm FHWA - U.S. 93 Reaching For The Border]
* [http://www.bouldercitybypass.com/ Boulder City / US 93 Bypass]

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