U.S. Route 91

U.S. Route 91
Route information
Length: 172.663 mi[2] (277.874 km)
Existed: 1926[1] – present
Major junctions
South end: I-15 / I-84 in Brigham City, UT
  US-89 in Logan, UT
US-30 in McCammon, ID
I-86 in Pocatello, ID
North end: I-15 Bus. / US-26 in Idaho Falls, ID
Highway system

United States Numbered Highways
List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced

U.S. Route 91 is a north–south United States highway. The highway currently serves as a connection between the Cache Valley area of Utah and Idaho to the Salt Lake and Idaho Falls population centers. Prior the mid-1970s, U.S. 91 was an international commerce route from Long Beach, California to the Canadian border north of Sweetgrass, Montana. The highway served as the main street of most of the communities it served, including Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas and State Street in Salt Lake City. The route has been largely replaced by Interstate 15.[3] A portion of the highway's former route in California is currently State Route 91.

Contents

Route description

Utah

US-91 begins at Brigham City and winds its way through the Wellsville Mountains using Box Elder and Wellsville Canyons for its path to the Cache Valley. Along the way it passes Mantua and Lake Mantua and passes over Sardine Summit. Once entering Cache Valley it serves as the major thoroughfare of the valley. Logan is the largest city in the valley. Both the Utah and Idaho portions of Cache Valley are part of the Logan Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The Utah section of US-91 is defined at Utah Code Annotated § 72-4-115(1).[4]

Idaho

U.S. 91 continues serving the Idaho portion of the Cache Valley with Preston as the largest city. The highway passes by the Bear River Massacre Site, a National Historic Landmark, near Preston, and over the geologically significant Red Rock Pass, near Downey. The U.S. 91 corridor in Idaho's Cache Valley was the primary filming location for the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite.

After leaving Cache Valley, the highway then crosses back to rejoin Interstate 15. At Pocatello, U.S. 91, U.S. 30, and I-15 Business Loop separate from Interstate 15 and run concurrently, passing through a small portion of the Idaho State University campus. U.S. 30 separates from U.S. 91 near Pocatello's city hall at what was once the starting point of one of Idaho's first designated highways, the Yellowstone Park Highway. From this point the highway generally follows the original route of the Yellowstone Park Highway northeastward, until it reaches its terminus at its intersection with U.S. 26, south of Idaho Falls.

History

At its peak, from 1947 to 1965, U.S. 91 extended from the Pacific Ocean at Long Beach, California to Coutts, Alberta. North of Riverside, California, U.S. 91 mostly paralleled modern I-15. There are some parts where U.S. 91/I-15 had divergent paths. The more southerly is from Littlefield, Arizona to Saint George, Utah where the two routes took different paths through the Arizona Strip. The more northerly and longer is the surviving portion of U.S. 91 from Brigham City to Downey, where Interstate 15 follows an old route of U.S. Route 191.[5]

Utah first submitted a petition to AASHTO to have the U.S. 91 designation truncated in 1971. This petition was approved on June 21, 1971. However, the state did not take action until 1974. Utah officials co-ordinated a second petition with the transportation departments of California, Nevada and Arizona. In this unified petition officials in Utah proposed the number changeover take place in 1974. Nevada requested postponing the deletion of U.S. 91 as Nevada expected to complete the last piece of I-15 in 1975. Nevada officials suggested U.S. Route 40 be similarly truncated, as this highway largely duplicated Interstate 80 in the same states. Despite Nevada's request, the petition was submitted and approved in 1974.[3]

Retracing the path of historic U.S. Route 91 is possible but difficult. In most cities the route of U.S. 91 is still in use as a local street or highway. In many rural areas, I-15 was literally built on top of the former U.S. 91.

The highway passed through the following states:

California

Main article: California State Route 91

U.S. 91's original southern terminus was at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue (historically SR 15) and East Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1) in Long Beach. This intersection also marked the historic western terminus of US 6, which proceeded west from that intersection. East of the intersection, U.S. 91 proceeded east along East Pacific Coast Highway to Los Alamitos Circle.

The portions in California were replaced with:

Nevada

Main article: Interstate 15 in Nevada

The route of U.S. 91 in Nevada was replaced with I-15.

In Las Vegas, U.S. 91 was better known as Las Vegas Boulevard (State Route 604). The intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street is the historic intersection with U.S. 93 and U.S. 95. Here, U.S. 466 left U.S. 91 and headed south on Fremont Street with U.S. 93 and 95. At this intersection, U.S. 93 and 95 left Fremont Street and turned north onto Las Vegas Boulevard, heading north with U.S. 91. One block further up, at Bonanza Road, U.S. 95 turned west until it hit Rancho Drive, then continued north. U.S. 91/93 stayed aligned with Las Vegas Boulevard.

Leaving Las Vegas, U.S. 91 followed I-15 to exit 112 (NV 170) to Mesquite (NV 144) and then to Hillside Drive into Arizona, where the road became Fairview Avenue.

Arizona

U.S. 91 entered Arizona from Nevada on Fairview Avenue and followed it northeast to Littlefield. Once Fairview Avenue crosses I-15, it became Cane Beds Road through downtown Beaver Dam and into Utah, where the road continued as Old Highway 91.

Utah

From the State Line to Saint George US-91 followed a semi-circular route that is now simply called Old Highway 91. Old Highway 91 continues to Santa Clara and what is now SR-18 to St. George.[6]

From St. George to Springville US-91 is in the shadows of I-15. At places the old pavement is visible off to the side of the freeway; at others I-15 was paved over the old US-91.

US-91 first joined U.S. Route 89 in Springville at one of the oldest grade-separated interchanges in Utah (this portion is now State Route 51).[6] From this junction to Logan the two highways ran mostly concurrent. This portion is mostly intact as US-89.

US-91 did have a unique route between Farmington and Ogden and where US-89/91 split and then rejoined on what is now State Route 126 and State Route 26. These highways form the Main Street through Kaysville and Layton; State Street from the Layton-Clearfield border to Main Street in Clearfield though the city of Sunset turning into 1900 West at the Sunset-Roy border, then following 1900 W to a junction with Riverdale Road in Roy, then following Riverdale Road through Riverdale, and then meeting back up with US-89 at Washington Blvd in Ogden.

Idaho

U.S. 91 formerly entered Idaho Falls along Yellowstone Highway, and returned to the course of modern I-15 north of town. The highway then proceeded north toward Monida Pass where the highway entered Montana. In some small towns streets used by the route are called "Old Highway 91".[7]

Montana

In Montana the highway's alignment slightly changed with the construction of the Clark Canyon Dam. In Dillon the former route of the highway is now known as Atlantic Street and Montana Street.[8] North of Dillon I-15 was built on a new alignment. The highway formerly joined with U.S. Route 10 in Butte and formed the main street of Boulder. The highway was routed through Helena along what is now Montana Secondary Highway 518 and Montana Secondary Highway 229.

Major intersections

State County Location Mile
[9][10][11]		 Destinations Notes
Utah Box Elder Brigham City 0.000 I-15 / I-84 – Ogden, Tremonton
1.965 US-89 south / SR-13 north – Brigham City, Willard South end of US 89 overlap
3.920 SR-90 west – Brigham City Grade separated interchange, westbound exit, eastbound entrance
Mantua 5.601 Mantua Road Grade separated interchange, eastbound exit, westbound entrance
6.638 500 North
Cache Wellsville 16.939 SR-23 north – Mendon
19.177 SR-101 – Hyrum
23.769 SR-252 north (1000 West)
Logan 26.651 SR-165 south – Hyrum, Nibley
26.886 SR-30 west – Tremonton
27.148 US-89 north – Utah State University, Bear Lake North end of US 89 overlap
North Logan 29.819 SR-252 south
Smithfield 34.021 SR-218 west – Newton
Richmond 40.004 SR-142 west – Trenton
43.694 SR-61 west – Lewiston
45.271
0.000		 Utah/Idaho state line
Idaho Franklin Preston 8.389 SH-36 west – Weston South end of SH-36 overlap
9.265 SH-34 north / SH-36 east – Montpelier, Soda Springs North end of SH-36 overlap
Bannock Downey 37.070 SH-40
42.462
35.900[lower-alpha 1]		 I-15 – Pocatello, Malad
US 91 overlaps with I-15 (exits 36–67)
Pocatello 66.806[lower-alpha 1]
0.000[lower-alpha 2]		 I-15 / I-15 Bus. / US-30 North end of I-15 overlap; South end of I-15 Bus. overlap
3.442[lower-alpha 2] US-30 west North end of US 30 overlap
4.459[lower-alpha 2]
77.890		 I-15 Bus. North end of I-15 Bus. overlap
Chubbuck 80.020 I-86 – Twin Falls, Boise
Bingham 97.024
0.000[lower-alpha 2]		 I-15 – Pocatello, Idaho Falls South end of I-15 Bus. overlap
Blackfoot 3.659[lower-alpha 2]
100.700		 I-15 Bus. – Pocatello, Idaho Falls North end of I-15 Bus. overlap
Bonneville 122.866
2.323[lower-alpha 3]		 York Road/Old I-15 Bus.
Idaho Falls 4.526[lower-alpha 3] I-15 Bus. / US-26 – Idaho Falls
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Notes:

  1. ^ a b Mileposts reflect distance along I-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mileposts reflect distance along I-15 Business.
  3. ^ a b Mileposts reflect distance along old I-15 Business alignment.

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. Department of Agriculture (1926). United States System of Highway (Map). 
  2. ^ Sum of Utah and Idaho milage logs in the Major intersections section of this article
  3. ^ a b "Highway Resolution route 91". Utah Department of Transportation. http://www.dot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=200609181116091. Retrieved 2008-03-08. 
  4. ^ "Utah Code". State of Utah. http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE72/htm/72_04_011500.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  5. ^ H.M. Gousha Company (1967). Road Atlas (hosted by Broer Map Library) (Map). p. 42. http://www.broermapsonline.org/members/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/NorthernRockies/gousha_ra_1967_024.html. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
  6. ^ a b Benchmark Maps (2002). Utah Road and Recreation Atlas (Map). 1:250000 (2002 ed.). p. 80, section G3. ISBN 0-929591-74-7. http://www.benchmarkmaps.com. 
  7. ^ "Google Maps, northern Idaho". Google Maps. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Idaho+Falls,+Idaho&ie=UTF8&ll=44.149942,-112.213669&spn=0.09287,0.114155&z=13. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
  8. ^ "Google Maps, Dillon Montana". Google Maps. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Idaho+Falls,+Idaho&ie=UTF8&ll=45.249513,-112.646084&spn=0.091123,0.114155&z=13. Retrieved 2008-03-09. 
  9. ^ "Highway Reference Information". Utah Department of Transportation. http://www.dot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:5546707862863886654:::1:T,V:814,. Retrieved 2011-09-19. 
  10. ^ "Idaho Transportation Department Milepost Log State Highway System: US 91 Main Route". Idaho Transportation Department. 2011-08-26. http://itd.idaho.gov/planning/milepointlog/pdf/mp_log_us091.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-19. 
  11. ^ "Idaho Transportation Department Milepost Log State Highway System: US 91 Main Route". Idaho Transportation Department. 2011-08-26. http://itd.idaho.gov/planning/milepointlog/pdf/mp_log_i0015.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-19. 
Main U.S. Routes
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Lists  U.S. Routes • Bannered • Divided • Bypassed
Browse numbered routes
← SR-90 UT SR-92 →
← US-89 ID US-93 →
← I-90 MT US 93 →