Alignments Since 1925
Here is a year-by-year listing of all of the major
Route 40 alignments. If you spot an error or omission,
please contact me.
1925/26
U. S. Route 40 established as a transcontinental
highway between State Road, Delaware, and San Francisco,
California. The State Road terminus was at the junction
of U.S. Route 13; the San Francisco terminus was at
the Palace of the Legion of Honor.
A "Split Route" existed in
Kansas and Colorado. U.S. Route 40N ran from Manhattan,
Kansas and Limon, Colorado, by way of Clay Center, Beloit,
Osborne, Stockton, Hill City, Hoxie, Colby, Goodland
and Burlington. U.S. Route 40N was eventually decommissioned
and made U.S. Route 24.
The second part of the "Split Route"
was U.S. Route 40S which ran from Manhattan, Kansas
to Grand Junction, Colorado, by way of Junction City,
Abilene, Salina, Ellsworth, Russell, Hays, WaKeeney,
Oakley, Sharon Springs, Cheyenne Wells, Hugo, Colorado
Springs, Hartsel, Buena Vista, Leadville, Eagle and
Glenwood Springs.
This is speculation, but there was probably
some intent for U.S. Route 40S to rejoin U.S. Route
40 at Soldier Summit, Utah (see below). When Route 40
was realigned west of Duchesne, those plans probably
abandoned.
Between Duchesne and Salt Lake City,
the original alignment of U.S. Route 40 bears no resemblance
to what followed a year later. The 1925/26 plan called
for the Route to proceed southwest on Strawberry River
Road and Timber Canyon Road to Soldier Summit, thence
to Thistle, Springville, Provo, Orem and finally Salt
Lake City.
U.S. Route 40 follows the Goodyear Road
southwest of Fairfield, California, crossing the Sacramento
River at Benicia.
1927
The eastern terminus changed to Atlantic
City (the intersection of Albany, Atlantic and Pacific
Avenues). In the process, the Route through Delaware
shifted slightly as the highway was extended into Wilmington
for ferry service across the Delaware River. The western
terminus also changed to Oakland (Jack London Square).
Between Duchesne and Salt Lake City,
Utah, the 1925/26 alignment is decommissioned; the present
day alignment through Heber City and Park City is commissioned.
Carquinez Bridge spanning the Sacramento
River opens; Route 40 realigned through Vallejo.
1929
Wilmington, Delaware bypassed by the
new ferry service between New Castle, Delaware, and
Pennsville, New Jersey.
1936
The San Francisco Bay Bridge opens and
the western terminus returns to San Francisco (Harrison
& 10th). The unofficial western terminus continues
to be the Palace of the Legion of Honor.
1948
New alignment opens between Frederick
and Hagerstown, Maryland; old alignment is designated
Alternate Route 40.
1950
Alignment through Park City decommissioned
and becomes Alternate Route 40 and eventually SR 224.
The new alignment parallels Silver Creek to the east
of Park City.
1951
The Delaware Memorial Bridge opens replacing
the ferry service across the Delaware River. The alignments
on both side of the bridge shift slightly.
Alignment between Topeka and Junction
City, Kansas shifts south of the Kansas River.
1955
Alternate Route 40 built as a bypass
around the often snow-clogged Donner Pass. The route
starts at Reno and goes through Chilcoot, Beckwourth,
Blairsden, Sloat, Quincy, Keddie, Storrie, Oroville,
Yuba City, Knights Landing and reunites with Route 40
at Davis.
1964
Decommissioned in California on July
1. Alternate Route 40 between Reno and Davis also decommissioned.
1966
Western terminus moved to Reno, Nevada.
1975
Decommissioned in Nevada and west of
Silver Creek Junction, Utah.
Route 40 realigned around newly constructed
Starvation Reservoir west of Duchesne, Utah.
1983
The last bypass around Lovelock, Nevada
completed. The last of the through sections of former
Route 40 in Nevada disappears. In fact, the Lovelock
section is the last section of I-80 to be completed,
making it the first completed transcontinental Interstate
Highway.
Circa 1985
The last official U.S. Route 40 sign
(in Reno) comes down. Apparently a highway crew had
overlooked the sign for many years.
1990's
Alignment rerouted around newly constructed
Jordanelle Reservoir, north of Heber City, Utah.
1998
California Assembly Concurrent Resolution
180 designates the portions of US 40 that are still
publicly maintained and not already designated as part
of Historic US 40 as "Historic US 40."
1999
Approximately two miles west of Kansas
City are destroyed when the Kansas Speedway is built
on top of Route 40. In 2001, the alignment is rerouted
around the racetrack.
2004?
Approximately two miles west of the
historic National Road and Route 40 are destroyed when
the Dayton (Ohio) International Airport expands it runways
in the vain attempt to lure jumbo jets and international
air traffic. The highway is rerouted on a roundabout
new alignment.
It's not too late to stop the airport
proponents from digging up Route 40. Learn
more.
