US 60

In Arizona, US 60 runs from rural western AZ near Quartzsite to New Mexico. US 60 is a pretty major cross-country highway that runs from AZ to Virginia. US 60 used to run all the way to Los Angeles, however I-10 took over most of its route past Arizona.

Length: 2,655 miles in total, 369 miles in Arizona
Existed since: 1926 nationally, 1931 in Arizona
Current Route in Arizona: I-10 east of Quartzsite to New Mexico state line
Historical Route in Arizona: California state line in Ehrenberg to New Mexico state line
Current Route Nationally: Near Quartzsite, AZ to Virginia Beach, VA
Historical Route Nationally: Los Angeles, CA to Virginia Beach, VA
Major Junctions: I-10, AZ 72, AZ 71, US 93, AZ 74, Loop 303, Loop 101, I-17, AZ 143, AZ 87, Loop 202, AZ 88, AZ 79, AZ 177, AZ 188, US 70, AZ 77, AZ 73, AZ 260, AZ 61, US 180, US 191

Cool Features

US 60 east of Phoenix has many mountainous segments. There are many cool bridges, tunnels, winding curves, and views. The highway is named the Gila Pinal Scenic Road likely for its scenic views in both Gila and Pinal Counties.

5/15/2022 - Gila Pinal Scenic Road sign on US 60.

Old Superior-Miami Highway

US 60 was originally routed on the old Superior-Miami Highway, which opened in April 1922. Due to the route's dangerous turns, cliffs, and grades, the old highway was replaced in 1952 by the current routing of US 60. The original Claypool Tunnel was also replaced with the current Queen Creek Tunnel.

Old Claypool Tunnel — 9/2/2023 - 1922 Claypool Tunnel.

Historic Queen Creek Tunnel — 11/26/2022 - 1952 Queen Creek Tunnel.

The new routing of US 60 now has a larger arch bridge across Queen Creek.

Bridges

One of the cool bridges on US 60 was the 1949 award winning Pinto Creek Bridge. You can view images of it on Arizona Roads. However, in 2021 ADOT has replaced the bridge with a modern bridge as the old one had reached the end of its useful life. You can see pictures of the new bridge here on the ADOT Flickr:

US 60, along with SR 77 goes through Salt River Canyon. The old bridge pictured below was replaced by the new, wider bridge in the late 90s. The old bridge is now a pedestrian bridge.

Old Salt River Canyon Bridge — 11/26/2022 - View of the old bridge over Salt River Canyon.

Extras

US 60 is also named in memory of Governor Rose Mofford east of Phoenix.

5/15/2022 - Governor Rose Mofford Memorial Highway sign on US 60.

Between State Route 79 and the town of Superior, there is an exempt railroad crossing on US 60.

Exempt railroad crossing warning signs — 5/15/2022 - The warning signs for the railroad crossing ahead.

Related Routes

US 60X

US 60X is an unsigned route, listed by ADOT as two separate segments. Both of these segments are portions of the original alignment of US 60 through the Phoenix area. The first US 60X segment begins at Exit 160 on Grand Avenue and follows it southeast, ending at the intersection with 18th Ave and Willetta St. The second segment of US 60X is in Mesa and runs along Main St/Apache Trail from Sossaman Rd to Meridian Dr. An interesting feature of these segments is that they have mile markers posted, likely from the previous US 60 alignment.