Arizona State Route 89A

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State Route 89A
Maintained by ADOT
Length:	79.85 mi[1] (128.51 km)
South end:	SR 89 in Prescott
Major junctions:	I-17 in Flagstaff I-40 in Flagstaff
North end:	I-40 Bus. in Flagstaff
State routes in Arizona < US 89A SR 89L > Unconstructed - Former

State Route 89A (SR 89A) is a 79.85-mile (128.51 km) state highway that runs from Prescott north to Flagstaff in the U.S. state of Arizona. The highway is notable for its scenic value as it passes through Sedona and the Oak Creek Canyon. SR 89A was initially established as a state highway in 1927 as SR 79. It later became U.S. Route 89A in 1941 before becoming SR 89A in 1992.

Contents 1 Route description 1.1 Prescott to Jerome 1.2 Jerome to Sedona 1.3 Sedona to Flagstaff 2 History 3 Junction list 4 References

[edit] Route description

SR 89A runs from its southern terminus in Prescott northward through the towns of Jerome, Cottonwood and Sedona to its northern terminus in Flagstaff.^[1] The highway is known for its scenic views as it passes through the Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.^[2]

[edit] Prescott to Jerome

The southern terminus of SR 89A is located at a junction with SR 89 north of Prescott near the Antelope Hills Golf Course and Ernest A. Love Field. The highway heads east from the junction with SR 89 as a four-lane divided highway with diamond interchanges located at some intersections. It continues as a divided highway until it reaches Fain Road in Prescott Valley. The highway continues beyond this intersection as a two-lane undivided highway.^[1][3]

As the highway continues to the northeast, it begins to ascend the Black Hills mountain range. The highway follows the terrain through a series of hairpin turns as the it climbs in elevation. Once the highway reaches passes over the mountains, it begins its descent into the Verde Valley. During its descent, SR 89A enters the town of Jerome. In Jerome, the highway provides access to the Jerome State Historical Park.^[1][3]

[edit] Jerome to Sedona

SR 89A heads northeast as it leaves Jerome through the Verde Valley. After it enters the town of Clarksville, it turns towards the southeast at an intersection with 11th Street. The highway provides access to the Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse Ranch State Park along this stretch. It continues towards the southeast through Clarksville before it enters the town of Cottonwood. In Cottonwood, the highway begins to follow Cottonwood Street until it reaches an intersection with Main Street. It turns towards the southeast to follow Main Street to an intersection with SR 260. SR 260 heads towards the south towards the city of Camp Verde while SR 89A heads towards the northeast towards Sedona.^[1][3]

As the highway heads towards the northeast from Cottonwood, it becomes a divided highway north of Rocking Chair Road. Before reaching Sedona, SR 89A provides access to Red Rock State Park. The highway remains a divided highway until it reaches Sedona. Sedona is an arts and resort community known for its red sandstone formations.^[2] As it enters Sedona, SR 89A is known as the Si Birch Memorial Highway. The highway continues east through Sedona, providing access to the Sedona Airport. SR 89A continues towards the east through Sedona to an intersection with SR 179. SR 179 heads south from this intersection through the southern part of Sedona and also provides access to Interstate 17.^[1][3]

[edit] Sedona to Flagstaff

The highway heads northeast from Sedona and follows Oak Creek as it enters Oak Creek Canyon. SR 89A curves to the north as it follows the creek and provides access to Slide Rock State Park along this portion of the highway. The highway leaves the creek as it begins to ascend the canyon. It goes through a series of hairpin turns to reach the top of the canyon on the Mogollon Rim. There is a scenic view area off of the highway at the top of the canyon. SR 89A continues north away from the canyon towards Flagstaff. The highway curves towards the northeast as it passes to the west of the Forest Highlands Gold Club. The highway continues to the northeast to I-17 in Flagstaff near Flagstaff Pullial Airport. SR 89A begins to run concurrently with I-17 towards the north from this point. The two highways continue north to an interchange with I-40. I-17 ends north of I-40 at McConnell Drive as SR 89A continues north along Milton Road. SR 89A passes to the west of Northern Arizona University before reaching its northern terminus at Interstate 40 Business in Flagstaff.^[1][3]

[edit] History

The routing of SR 89A first became a state highway in 1927 as SR 79. At the time, only the portion from Prescott to Clarksville was built, but the remaining portion to Flagstaff had been planned.^[4] By 1929, the highway had been extended north to Sedona, although the entire highway was not paved at this time.^[5] By 1930, a graded dirt road was built between Flagstaff and Sedona.^[6] By 1934, the southern half of the section between Sedona and Flagstaff had been improved to a gravel road, with the northern half under construction.^[7] By 1935, the construction on the northern section near Flagstaff was complete. The southern end of the highway near Prescott and the section between Jerome and Cottonwood had been paved by this time.^[8] By 1938, the entire route had been paved.^[9]

By 1941, the highway was redesignated from SR 79 to U.S. Route 89A. Before the establishment of the route for Interstate 17, the only route to Flagstaff was through Prescott. There were two routes available: US 89A through Jerome, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon or north through Chino Valley via US 89 to US 66.^[10] In 1993, the highway was redesignated from US 89A to SR 89A.^[11]

[edit] Junction list

County	Location	Mile[1]	Junction	Notes
Yavapai	Prescott	0.43	SR 89
	Cottonwood	36.23	SR 260
Coconino	Sedona	54.80	SR 179
	Flagstaff	79.66	I-17	South end of I-17 overlap
		82.62	I-17 / I-40	North end of I-17 overlap
		83.85	I-40 Bus.	Old US 66

[edit] References