Arizona State Route 89A

State Route 89A (SR 89A) is an 83.85-mile (134.94 km) state highway that runs from Prescott north to Flagstaff in the U.S. state of Arizona. The highway begins at SR 89 in Yavapai County and heads northward from Prescott Valley, entering Jerome. From Jerome, the route then heads to Cottonwood and Clarkdale. The road then continues out to Sedona. The highway is notable for its scenic value as it winds over and through Mingus Mountain as well as passing through Sedona and the Oak Creek Canyon. The route then enters Coconino County soon after leaving Sedona. The highway proceeds to Flagstaff, where it crosses Interstate 17 (I-17) and I-40. The highway ends at I-40 Business in Flagstaff. What is now SR 89A became a state highway in the late 1920s as SR 79. The highway was extended and improved several times through 1938. SR 79 was renumbered to U.S. Route 89A (US 89A) in 1941 and then to SR 89A in the early 1990s.

State Route 89A marker
State Route 89A
Map
SR 89A highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ADOT, City of Sedona
Length83.85 mi[1] (134.94 km)
Existed1993[2]–present
HistoryOriginally designated as SR 79 in 1927;[3] redesignated as US 89A by 1941[4]
Tourist
routes
Mingus Mountain Scenic Road
Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road
Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road
Major junctions
South end SR 89 in Prescott
Major intersections
North end BL 40 in Flagstaff
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountiesYavapai, Coconino
Highway system
  • Arizona State Highway System
US 89ASR 89A SR 90
SR 78SR 79
(1927–1940)
SR 79

Route description

edit

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 area and Oak Creek Canyon.[5]

Prescott to Jerome

edit

SR 89A's southern terminus is at a junction with SR 89 north of Prescott near the Antelope Hills Golf Course and Ernest A. Love Field.[6] The road heads east from the junction with SR 89 as the Pioneer Parkway, a four-lane divided highway with diamond interchanges at most intersections. It continues as a divided highway until it reaches Fain Road in Prescott Valley.[7] The route continues beyond this intersection as a two-lane undivided highway.[1][8] The only at-grade intersection in this stretch is a junction with Great Western Drive, near milepost 321.[1]

 
SR 89A north of Cottonwood

As SR 89A moves to the northeast, it begins to ascend the Black Hills mountain range.[1][8] ADOT has designated this section of SR 89A as the Mingus Mountain Scenic Road by ADOT.[9] The roadway follows the terrain through a series of hairpin turns as it climbs in elevation. Once SR 89A 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 nearby Jerome State Historic Park.[1][8]

Jerome to Sedona

edit
Jerome–Clarkdale–Cottonwood Historic Road
LocationJerome to Cottonwood
Length9.99 mi[10] (16.08 km)
Existed1992–present

Upon exiting Jerome, SR 89A heads northeast through the Verde Valley.[8] The highway also picks up the Historic US 89A designation on the south end of Jerome. Officially named the Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Historic US 89A is one of only four state designated historic routes in Arizona, the others being Historic Route 66, Historic U.S. Route 80 and the Apache Trail Historic Road.[9][11] The historic route was designated on May 13, 1992 by ADOT and is about 10 miles long.[12]

After SR 89A and Historic US 89A enter the town of Clarkdale, SR 89A turns southeast at a roundabout with Clarkdale Parkway. The route continues toward the southeast through Clarkdale before entering the town of Cottonwood. There, the highway starts heading east at Cottonwood Street before reaching an intersection with Main Street.[1][8]

Historic US 89A, runs through the old downtown areas of both Clarkdale and Cottonwood. From the present day traffic circle between SR 89A and Clarkdale Parkway, Historic 89A continues north along Clarkdale Parkway, turning right at Main Street in Clarkdale, and then right again at Broadway. It continues past Tuzigoot National Monument, becoming Main Street in Cottonwood, and providing access to Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The route intersects Cottonwood Street, where the bypass route now intersects Main Street.[9][8]

 
SR 89A in Sedona

Following the intersection with Cottonwood Street, the road follows Main Street to an intersection with SR 260, which heads to the south toward Camp Verde and I-17. SR 89A then moves northeastward towards Sedona.[1][8] As the highway leaves Cottonwood, it again becomes a divided highway north of Rocking Chair Road, heading into desert. Before reaching Sedona, SR 89A provides access to Red Rock State Park.

The route remains a divided highway until it reaches Sedona, an arts and resort community known for its red sandstone formations.[5] As it enters the city of Sedona, the route is known as the Si Birch Memorial Highway. The route continues east through Sedona, providing access to the Sedona Airport.[13] SR 89A continues toward the east through Sedona to an intersection with SR 179, which heads south from this intersection through the southern part of Sedona to provide access to I-17.[1][8]

 
SR 89A descending Oak Creek Canyon
 
View of Oak Creek Canyon

Sedona to Flagstaff

edit

Upon leaving Sedona, SR 89A becomes the state designated Sedona–Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road.[9] The highway heads northeast into a wooded area from Sedona and follows Oak Creek as it enters Oak Creek Canyon. SR 89A then curves to the north as it follows the creek and provides access to Slide Rock State Park along this portion of the highway. The roadway leaves the creek as it begins to ascend through the canyon. At the edge of the canyon, the Scenic Road designation ends.[14][8]

Upon ascending, the road goes through a series of hairpin turns (no trucks over 50 ft.) toward the Mogollon Rim. The roadway continues northward away from the canyon towards Flagstaff. It curves northeastward as it passes to the west of the Forest Highlands Golf Club. The route continues to the northeast towards I-17 near Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.

SR 89A begins to run concurrently with I-17 as a freeway northward. The two highways continue north to an interchange with I-40, where I-17 terminates. The route continues north along Milton Road, to the west of Northern Arizona University before reaching its northern terminus at I-40 Business in Flagstaff.[1][8]

History

edit
 
SR 89A south of Sedona
State Route 79
LocationPrescott to Flagstaff
Existed1927–1941

The routing of SR 89A was first defined as a state highway in 1927 as SR 79 by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). At the time, only the portion from Prescott to Clarkdale was built, but the remaining portion to Flagstaff had been planned.[3] By 1929, the highway had been extended north to Sedona, although the entire highway was not paved at this time.[15] A graded dirt road was built the following year between Flagstaff and Sedona.[16] The southern half of the section between Sedona and Flagstaff had been improved to a gravel road by 1934, with the northern half under construction.[17] The next year, 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.[18] By 1938, the entire route had been paved.[19]

By 1941, the highway was redesignated from SR 79 to US 89A. Before the establishment of the route for I-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.[4] The route was redesignated from US 89A to SR 89A in 1993.[2]

Before 2001, SR 89A had veered south into the granite dells near Watson Lake, but due to an aging Granite Creek bridge and increased traffic, Yavapai County acquired the necessary land to realign SR 89A away from the dells and near the airport.[20]

Junction list

edit
CountyLocationmi[1]kmExit[1]Destinations[9]Notes
YavapaiPrescott317.42510.84  
 
Pioneer Parkway west / SR 89 to I-40 – Prescott, Chino Valley
Southern terminus; interchange; Pioneer Pkwy. exit 317
318.45512.50318Larry Caldwell DriveNo exit number northbound
319.63514.39319Granite Dells ParkwayNorth end of freeway
Prescott Valley322.14518.43322Glassford Hill RoadSouth end of freeway
323.38520.43323Viewpoint Drive
324.47522.18 
 
 
 
Fain Road (SR 89A Spur south) to SR 69 / I-17 – Phoenix, Cordes Junction
At-grade intersection; north end of freeway; northern terminus of SR 89A Spur; eastern terminus of Pioneer Parkway
Jerome343.50552.81 
 
Historic US 89A begins (Clark Street begins)
Southern end of Historic US 89A (Clark Street) concurrency; western terminus of Historic US 89A
Clarkdale349.01561.68 
 
Historic US 89A east (Clarkdale Parkway) / Cement Plant Road
Northern end of Historic US 89A concurrency; roundabout
Cottonwood353.08568.23 
 
Historic US 89A west (Main Street north)
Eastern terminus of Historic US 89A
355.20571.64 
 
 
 
SR 260 east to I-17 – Camp Verde
Western terminus of SR 260
368.37592.83Lower Red Rock Loop RoadTo Red Rock State Park
Sedona369.64594.88Upper Red Rock Loop Road
Coconino374.19–
374.20
602.20–
602.22
 
 
 
 
Hyatt Drive / SR 179 south to I-17
Roundabout; north end state maintenance; northern terminus of SR 179
374.84603.25Owenby Way – Sedona Heritage MuseumRoundabout; one-way, outbound access only; south end state maintenance
Wilson Canyon376.09605.26Midgeley Bridge
Flagstaff398.96642.06Fort Tuthill County Park / Beulah BoulevardRoundabout; north end state maintenance
398.97–
399.09
642.08–
642.27
 
 
I-17 south – Phoenix
South end state maintenance; southern end of I-17 concurrency; I-17 exit 337; south end of freeway section
339Lake Mary Road – Mormon LakeNorthbound exit only; exit number follows I-17
402.00646.96340 
 
  I-17 ends / I-40 – Sedona, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Albuquerque
Northern end of I-17 concurrency; exit number follows I-17; signed as exits 340A (east) and 340B (west); northbound left entrance from eastbound I-40, exit 195.
402.06647.05401[a]McConnell DriveNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of freeway
403.18648.86   
 
 
 
 
 
BL 40 / Historic US 66 to I-40 / US 89 / US 180 – Los Angeles, Page, Grand Canyon
Northern terminus; road continues as I-40 BL/Historic US 66 east (Milton Road north)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  1. ^ ADOT signs it as exit 341, but it is officially exit 401[1][21]

Spur route

edit
State Route 89A Spur
Fain Road
LocationPrescott Valley
Length7.22 mi (11.62 km)
Existed2004–present
 
A map of the unsigned spur highlighted in red.

State Route 89A Spur (SR 89A Spur or SS 89A) is a 7.22-mile-long (11.62 km)[22] unsigned highway routed along Fain Road in Prescott Valley.[23] SR 89A Spur was originally established on July 16, 2004, over a small section of Fain Road immediately east of the intersection with SR 89A proper.[24] The route was extended over the remainder of Fain Road to SR 69 on August 18, 2011.[25] The road was originally two lanes wide but has since been widened to a four-lane divided highway.[26] Its primary purpose is as an eastern bypass around Prescott. The Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization has planned a freeway to connect SR 169 and SR 89A via Fain Road/SR 89A Spur as part of their 2025 regional plan.[27]

Major intersections

edit

The entire route is in Yavapai County.

Locationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
7.2211.62  SR 69 – Prescott, PhoenixSouthern terminus; road continues as Prescott Country Club Boulevard
3.285.28328Lakeshore DriveInterchange
Prescott Valley0.000.00  
 
SR 89A to SR 89 – Prescott, Cottonwood
Northern terminus; road continues as SR 89A south (Pioneer Parkway west)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Arizona Department of Transportation (2013). "2013 State Highway System Log" (PDF). Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Arizona Department of Transportation. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1993-02-A-008". Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Arizona Highway Department (1927). Official State Routes and State Highways of the State of Arizona (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via AARoads.
  4. ^ a b Arizona Highway Department (1941). Road Map of Arizona (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via AARoads.
  5. ^ a b Green, Stewart (2003). Scenic Driving Arizona. Falcon Guide (2nd ed.). Guilford, CT: Falcon. p. 107. ISBN 0-7627-2701-2. OCLC 879119760.
  6. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation. "State Route 89 and State Route 89A". Arizona Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  7. ^ "ADOT Closes Viewpoint at Hwy. 89A this Weekend". Prescott Daily Courier. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Overview Map of SR 89A" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  9. ^ a b c d e Arizona Department of Transportation (2014). "Arizona Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads" (PDF). Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  10. ^ "Historic US 89A in Arizona" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  11. ^ Davis, Shaq (September 21, 2018). "Arizona's portion of U.S. Route 80, opened in 1926, wins 'Historic Road' status". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona: Tucson.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  12. ^ "Jerome, Clarkdale and Cottonwood Historic Road". America's Byways. Federal Highway Administration. 2003. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005.
  13. ^ Michael Maresh (July 16, 2010). "City Considers Route Transfer of SR 89A". Sedona Red Rock News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  14. ^ "Arizona Scenic Roads Map" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Arizona Highway Department (1929). Map of Arizona (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via AARoads.
  16. ^ Arizona Highway Department (1930). Condition Map of State Highway System (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via AARoads.
  17. ^ Arizona Highway Department (1934). Condition Map of State Highway System (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona Highway Department. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via AARoads.
  18. ^ Arizona State Highway Department (1935). Road Map of Arizona (Map). Scale not given. Phoenix: Arizona State Highway Department. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via Arizona Roads.
  19. ^ Sinclair Oil; Rand McNally (1938). Road Map of Arizona and New Mexico (Map). Scale not given. Chicago: Rand McNally. Retrieved May 12, 2008 – via Arizona Roads.
  20. ^ Yavapai County (March 16, 2001). "Resolution No. 1282" (PDF). Yavapai County. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  21. ^ "Street View: SR 89A at McConnell Drive" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  22. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation (December 31, 2015). "Centerline Miles of Roadway by Route" (PDF). Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. p. 2. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  23. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation (December 31, 2012). "2012 State Highway System Log" (PDF). Phoenix: Arizona Department of Transportation. p. 522. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  24. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation (July 16, 2004). "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 2004-07-A-030". Retrieved June 6, 2023 – via Arizona Highway Data. Establish add'l r/w as a SR & SH for widening improvements in conjunction with JPA #99-03; S33, 34, 35, 36, T15N-R1E; and Sections 30-31-T15N-R1W. Also establishes SR 89A Spur in S36-T15N-R1E; and in Sections 31,32-T15N-R1W;
  25. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation (August 18, 2011). "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 2011-08-A-058". Retrieved June 6, 2023 – via Arizona Highway Data. Establish exsisting County right of way as an access controlled state route and state highway for widening and improvements. S4, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 21 & 28; T14N; R1E; S32; T15N; R1E. Note this is 89A Spur.
  26. ^ Barks, Cindy (December 5, 2011). "ADOT: Start of Fain Road Widening Imminent". Prescott Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  27. ^ Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (February 7, 2013). "Exhibit CIR-11: Roadway System" (PDF) (Map). Prescott Valley General Plan 2025: A Community Blueprint for the Future. Prescott, AZ: Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization. p. 139. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
edit
KML is from Wikidata