U.S. Route 95 is a north-south U.S. highway in the western United States. Unlike many other US highways, it has not seen deletion or replacement on most of its length by an encroaching Interstate highway corridor, due to its mostly rural course. It is the primary north-south highway in both
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
and
IdahoIdaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans." Idaho was admitted to the Union on 3 July 1890 as the 43rd state....
.
As of 2008, the highway's northern terminus is in
Boundary CountyBoundary County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 9,871 . The county seat and largest city is Bonners Ferry....
,
IdahoIdaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans." Idaho was admitted to the Union on 3 July 1890 as the 43rd state....
, at the Canadian border crossing of Eastport, where it continues north as BC 95. Its southern terminus is in
San LuisSan Luis is a city in Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The population was 15,322 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Yuma Metropolitan Statistical Area. San Luis was the second fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona of any size from 1990 and 2000...
,
ArizonaThe State of Arizona is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed in size by the four Phoenix metropolitan area cities of Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, and Scottsdale.Arizona was the 48th and...
, on the Mexican border, where a short spur leads to
Mexican Federal Highway 2Mexican Federal Highway No. 2 runs along the United States-Mexico border.-Route description:The highway is divided into two discontinuous segments. The western segment begins in Tijuana, Baja California, and terminates at Porvenir, Chihuahua, near Ciudad Juárez...
at
San Luis Río ColoradoSan Luis Río Colorado is a city and its surrounding municipality lying in the northwestern corner of the state of Sonora, Mexico.- Location :...
,
SonoraSonora is a state in northwestern Mexico with an area of 182,052 square kilometers, making it around the size of Syria. It is surrounded by the states of Baja California and the Sea of Cortez to the west, Chihuahua to the east, Sinaloa to the south, and Arizona to the north.The capital is...
.
Route description
| Major cities |
- San Luis, Arizona
San Luis is a city in Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The population was 15,322 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Yuma Metropolitan Statistical Area. San Luis was the second fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona of any size from 1990 and 2000...
- Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2006 Census Bureau estimated population of 87,423....
- Quartzsite, Arizona
Quartzsite is a town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. According to Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 3,397 in 2006.Interstate 10 runs directly through Quartzsite.-Geography:Quartzsite is located at ....
- Blythe, California
Blythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Colorado River Valley , an agricultural area along the Colorado River. Blythe was named after Thomas Blythe, a gold prospector who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877. The city was...
- Needles, California
Needles is a city located on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in Mojave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95. The population was 4,830 at the 2000 census, and was...
- Henderson, Nevada
Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It is the second largest city in Nevada, after Las Vegas, with an estimated population of 252,064 in the 2008 Census Bureau...
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of...
- Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place in Nye County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,627 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Nye County.Tonopah Test Range is located nearby.-Geography:Tonopah is located at the junction of U.S...
- Hawthorne, Nevada
Hawthorne is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 3,311 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mineral County...
- Fallon, Nevada
Fallon is a city in Churchill County, located in western Nevada, United States. The population was 7,536 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Churchill County and is located in the Lahontan Valley.Fallon is primarily an agricultural community...
- Winnemucca, Nevada
Winnemucca is a city in and the county seat of Humboldt County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 7,174. Interstate 80 passes through the city, where it meets U.S. Route 95....
- Homedale, Idaho
Homedale is a city in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2000 census. Homedale lies on the banks of the Snake River and is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Payette, Idaho
Payette is a city in and the county seat of Payette County, Idaho, United States. The population was 7,054 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area....
- Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. It is the second largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Nez...
- Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the largest city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census the population of Coeur d'Alene was 34,514...
- Sandpoint, Idaho
Sandpoint is a city in, and the county seat of, Bonner County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 6,835 at the 2000 census.Sandpoint's major industry is tourism and recreation, thanks to its proximity to scenic Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort...
- Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Bonners Ferry is a city in and the county seat of Boundary County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,515 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bonners Ferry is located at , at an altitude of 1,896 feet ....
|
Arizona
US 95 begins in the United States at the border with
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
at Mexico's Federal Route 2. It then follows the
Colorado RiverThe Colorado River , or the Red River, is a river in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains...
northward to
San LuisSan Luis is a city in Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The population was 15,322 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Yuma Metropolitan Statistical Area. San Luis was the second fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona of any size from 1990 and 2000...
and on to
YumaYuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2006 Census Bureau estimated population of 87,423....
, where it goes through town and crosses
I-8In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 8 is a Interstate Highway that extends from the Arizona-California border to Interstate 10 near Casa Grande, Arizona. It serves the cities of Yuma and indirectly Phoenix and Tucson; it is the major route westwards to San Diego, California...
. As it leaves Yuma, US 95 is an undivided two-lane highway which passes through the
U.S. Army'sThe United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services...
Yuma Proving Ground.
It then travels northward between the proving ground to the west and the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to the east until
QuartzsiteQuartzsite is a town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. According to Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 3,397 in 2006.Interstate 10 runs directly through Quartzsite.-Geography:Quartzsite is located at ....
. Here it merges with
I-10In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 10, the major east–west Interstate Highway in the southern United States, runs east from California, enters Arizona and continues through Phoenix and Tucson and exits at the border with New Mexico.-Route description:...
and runs
concurrentA concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
, heading westward for 17 miles (27 km) until the
Colorado RiverThe Colorado River , or the Red River, is a river in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains...
, where it enters
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
, just shy of
BlytheBlythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Colorado River Valley , an agricultural area along the Colorado River. Blythe was named after Thomas Blythe, a gold prospector who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877. The city was...
.
California
US 95 in
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
is a short segment of poorly maintained two-laned road that connects the southern tip of
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
with southwestern
ArizonaThe State of Arizona is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed in size by the four Phoenix metropolitan area cities of Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, and Scottsdale.Arizona was the 48th and...
. Travel without a high-clearance vehicle during the rainy season, from January to March, can be difficult as there are very few bridges over the
arroyosAn arroyo , also called a wash or draw, is a usually dry creek bed or gulch that temporarily fills with water after a heavy rain, or seasonally. As such, the term is similar to the word wadi. Arroyos can be natural or man-made. The term usually applies to a mountainous desert environment...
. After a heavy rainstorm, deep water up to a meter (3.3 ft) frequently turns the road into impassable gullies. In the summer, the desert temperatures often reach 45 C (115 F) degrees. South of
Interstate 40Interstate 40 is a major west-east Interstate Highway in the United States. Its western terminus is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern terminus is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Much of the western portion of I-40,...
, it is 90 miles (145 km) from
NeedlesNeedles is a city located on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in Mojave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95. The population was 4,830 at the 2000 census, and was...
(with no filling stations or towns with services) until
I-10In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 10 , is the major east-west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States, runs east from Santa Monica, California, on the Pacific Ocean, through Los Angeles and San Bernardino to the border with Arizona...
and
BlytheBlythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Colorado River Valley , an agricultural area along the Colorado River. Blythe was named after Thomas Blythe, a gold prospector who established primary water rights to the Colorado River in the region in 1877. The city was...
.
Nevada
US 95 in Nevada is a divided highway between the
LaughlinLaughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 7,076. Laughlin is a port located on the Colorado River 94 miles south of Las Vegas...
junction and
Boulder CityBoulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2000 census the population was 14,966, with a 2006 estimated population of 15,005....
. Upon entering the
Las VegasLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of...
area, the highway becomes a multi-lane divided freeway and is
concurrentA concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with I-515 and
US 93In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 93 is a major U.S. highway traversing the eastern edge of the state. The highway connects the Las Vegas area to the Great Basin National Park, and provides further connections to Ely and Wells...
between
HendersonHenderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It is the second largest city in Nevada, after Las Vegas, with an estimated population of 252,064 in the 2008 Census Bureau...
and
Downtown Las VegasDowntown Las Vegas is the central business district of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is where the majority of the city's high-rise buildings are located and is the center for downtown gaming.-Tourism:...
. After crossing
I-15In the U.S. State of Nevada, Interstate 15 begins in Primm, continues through Las Vegas and it crosses the border with Arizona in Mesquite. The freeway runs entirely in Clark County...
, the highway continues as a freeway for several miles until again becoming a divided highway outside the Las Vegas urban area.
Shortly after entering
Nye CountyNye County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 32,485. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 46,308. At 18,159 total square miles, Nye is the third largest county in terms of area in the United States, excluding the boroughs of Alaska....
, US 95 becomes an undivided two-lane highway, as it meanders northwestward through the state, roughly paralleling the California border. The highway is concurrent with
US 6In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 6 cuts across the middle portion of the state, serving the cities of Tonopah and Ely, en route to Utah and points further east....
for several miles north of
TonopahTonopah is a census-designated place in Nye County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,627 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Nye County.Tonopah Test Range is located nearby.-Geography:Tonopah is located at the junction of U.S...
and concurrent with
I-80In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wells and West Wendover on its way through the state.I-80 follows...
for 93 miles (150 km), from Exit 83 west of
LovelockLovelock is a city in Pershing County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,003 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pershing County...
to Exit 176 at
WinnemuccaWinnemucca is a city in and the county seat of Humboldt County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 7,174. Interstate 80 passes through the city, where it meets U.S. Route 95....
. It then heads north to the border with
OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
at
McDermittMcDermitt is an unincorporated community straddling the Nevada–Oregon border, in Humboldt County, Nevada, and Malheur County, Oregon in the United States. For statistical purposes, the census bureau has defined the portion of McDermitt in Nevada as a census-designated place...
, a distance of 73 miles (117 km).
Oregon
In
OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, US 95 is an under-maintained, undivided two-lane highway in the sparsely populated southeastern corner of the state, running completely in rural
Malheur CountyMalheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county was named for Malheur River, which flows through it. , the population was 31,615...
. From the
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
state line at
McDermittMcDermitt is an unincorporated community straddling the Nevada–Oregon border, in Humboldt County, Nevada, and Malheur County, Oregon in the United States. For statistical purposes, the census bureau has defined the portion of McDermitt in Nevada as a census-designated place...
, the highway heads north and gradually climbs to its crest at Blue Mountain Pass, an elevation of 5293 feet (1613 m) above sea level. US 95 descends to Basque and
Burns JunctionBurns Junction is a highway junction and unicorporated locale in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. Burns Junction lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 95 and Oregon Route 78, about 80 miles southeast of the Harney County city of Burns....
at 3960 feet (1207 m), then eastward down to Rome (3400 ft, 1183 m) and up to
Jordan ValleyJordan Valley is a city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city was named after Jordan Creek, a tributary of Owyhee River, which runs through the city; the creek is named for a 19th century prospector, Michael M. Jordan...
(4389', 1338 m). The highway heads north-northeastward to the
IdahoIdaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans." Idaho was admitted to the Union on 3 July 1890 as the 43rd state....
state line, entering southwest of
MarsingMarsing is a city in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States. The population was 890 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Marsing is located at ....
.
US 95 is designated the
I.O.N. Highway No. 456 (see Oregon highways and routes), with the I.O.N. for Idaho-Oregon-Nevada. This section of highway is a primary commercial route between
BoiseBoise is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Idaho. Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho as well as the county seat of Ada County...
and northern
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
, connecting to
Interstate 80In the U.S. state of Nevada, Interstate 80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, and also goes through the towns of Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Wells and West Wendover on its way through the state.I-80 follows...
at
WinnemuccaWinnemucca is a city in and the county seat of Humboldt County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 7,174. Interstate 80 passes through the city, where it meets U.S. Route 95....
,
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
. US 95 crosses into the
Mountain Time ZoneThe Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, sometimes called Greenwich Mean Time during the shortest days of autumn and winter, and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
approximately 35 miles (56 km) north of
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
.
Idaho
US 95 is an undivided two lane highway during most of its length in Idaho, which is over 538 miles (866 km). The state is widening US 95 to a four lane divided highway from the
OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
state line to the
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
border at Eastport.
US 95 enters Idaho from Oregon in
Owyhee CountyOwyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County in the north central region of the state. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
, about 50 miles southwest of
BoiseBoise is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Idaho. Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho as well as the county seat of Ada County...
. It passes through
HomedaleHomedale is a city in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2000 census. Homedale lies on the banks of the Snake River and is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and crosses the
Snake RiverThe Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, flowing through the U.S. states of Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The river's watershed consists of , and the average discharge at its mouth is...
before a junction with concurrent
US 20U.S. Route 20 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, U.S. 20 is a coast-to-coast route; however, because national park roads do not have signage for U.S. numbered highways, a gap exists through Yellowstone National Park and splits the route into two sections...
and
US 26U.S. Route 26 is an east-west United States highway. It started in Ogallala, Nebraska, and gradually grew to reach the West Coast in Oregon. When the U.S. highway system was first defined, it was limited to Nebraska and Wyoming; by the 1950s, it continued into Idaho and Oregon. The highway's...
, which run together for eight miles. As it proceeds north, US 95 crosses
I-84Interstate 84 may refer to:*Interstate 84 - from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Sturbridge, Massachusetts at the Massachusetts Turnpike *Interstate 84 - from Portland, Oregon to Echo, Utah...
and
US 30U.S. Route 30 is an east-west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the eastern end is in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
before going through the
Payette National ForestThe Payette National Forest, is a U.S. National Forest located in central western Idaho, in parts of Valley, Idaho, Adams, and Washington counties. The land area consists of approximately 2.3 million acres of federally managed lands...
. Immediately after
RigginsRiggins is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. It is nestled deep in a canyon at the confluence of the Salmon River and the Little Salmon River in west central Idaho, approximately 150 highway miles north of Boise, and 120 highway miles south-southeast of Lewiston...
, the highway re-enters the
Pacific Time ZoneThe Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
as it crosses the
Salmon RiverThe Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
. US 95 follows the descending river, then climbs over
White Bird HillWhite Bird Hill Summit is a mountain pass in northern Idaho, at an elevation of 4245 feet above sea level on U.S. Highway 95. It is located in Idaho County, midway between White Bird and Grangeville....
to the Camas Prairie, then descends the Lapwai Canyon to the
Clearwater RiverThe Clearwater River is a river in north central Idaho, which flows westward from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border, and joins the Snake River at Lewiston. In October 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition descended the Clearwater River in dugout canoes, putting in at "Canoe...
.
US 95 becomes a four lane divided highway after crossing the river east of
LewistonLewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. It is the second largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Nez...
; it runs concurrent with
US 12U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east-west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost 2500 miles...
for several miles. The highways split as US 12 continues west to Lewiston, and US 95 turns northwest and climbs a steep grade up to the rolling
PalouseThe Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of eastern Washington, northern Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major wheat-producing agricultural area...
. At a junction with
US 195U.S. Route 195 is a north-south U.S. Route serving the southeastern area of Washington. One of the oldest designations in the U.S. Highway system, it was created in the original 1926 plan. The highway passes two major universities, Washington State University in Pullman, and the University of...
, US 95 proceeds north to
MoscowMoscow is a city in northern Idaho, along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the largest city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
as a recently completed divided highway. It becomes an undivided highway in Moscow and continues north to
Coeur d'AleneCoeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census the population of Coeur d'Alene was 34,514...
, crossing
I-90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels U.S. Route 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, Washington, at 4th Avenue S. next to Safeco Field and Qwest Field, and its eastern terminus...
. US 95 goes north to
SandpointSandpoint is a city in, and the county seat of, Bonner County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 6,835 at the 2000 census.Sandpoint's major industry is tourism and recreation, thanks to its proximity to scenic Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort...
, where it joins with
US 2U.S. Route 2 is an east-west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. U.S. 2 consists of two segments connected by roadways in southern Canada. Unlike some routes, which are disconnected into segments because of encroaching Interstate Highways, the two portions of U.S...
, after which the highways run concurrent until after
Bonners FerryBonners Ferry is a city in and the county seat of Boundary County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,515 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bonners Ferry is located at , at an altitude of 1,896 feet ....
, where US 2 heads east to
MontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of the state contains numerous mountain ranges; other 'island' ranges are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and US 95 continues north to
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, meeting BC 95 at the border.
Washington (former)
North of
LewistonLewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. It is the second largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Nez...
,
IdahoIdaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans." Idaho was admitted to the Union on 3 July 1890 as the 43rd state....
, US 95 entered Washington for 0.54 miles (0.87 km), partially concurrent with
U.S. Route 195U.S. Route 195 is a north-south U.S. Route serving the southeastern area of Washington. One of the oldest designations in the U.S. Highway system, it was created in the original 1926 plan. The highway passes two major universities, Washington State University in Pullman, and the University of...
. The route was moved to a new 4-laned divided road that bypassed
WashingtonWashington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington was carved out of the western part of Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. It was admitted to the Union as the...
in the 1970s.
The route is now U.S. Route 195 Spur.
History
The modern route of US 95 includes the entire former route of
U.S. Route 630U.S. Highway 95 Spur is a short spur route of U.S. Highway 95 in the U.S. states of Oregon and Idaho. The highway's eastern terminus is in Weiser, Idaho, at an intersection with U.S. Highway 95. Its western terminus is at an intersection with Oregon Route 201 in unincorporated Weiser Junction,...
, the shortest signed US route ever, in the form of a rare "spur" route.
Future
Between 2009-2010, the Arizona Department Of Transportation has decided to make the beginning stretch of US 95 between Yuma and Parker four lanes instead of the current two-lane configuration to make it safer, quicker, and easier to travel on.
In April 2005, the Idaho legislature approved a bill to widen the entire highway from two lanes to four lanes for the entire route starting at the US-Canada port of entry in Eastport, and ending at the
OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
border in remote
Owyhee CountyOwyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County in the north central region of the state. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
. The contract for the project was awarded to
Washington Group InternationalWashington Group International was an American corporation which provided integrated engineering, construction and management services to businesses and governments around the world. Based in Boise, Idaho, it had approximately 25,000 employees working in over 40 states and more than 30 countries...
and
CH2M HillCH2M HILL is a global provider of engineering, construction, and operations services for corporations, nonprofits, and federal, state, and local governments. The firm is headquartered in Meridian, an unincorporated area of Douglas County, Colorado in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area...
. The contract is worth more than $1.2 billion, and is slated to last for more than six years, cover 13 major reconstruction projects, affecting over 250 miles (402 km) of the highway's nearly 460 miles (740 km) in the state.
The major factors in the reconstruction are due to the fact that US 95 is the only route that runs from north to south in western Idaho, starting at Eastport in the north and ending in remote
Owyhee CountyOwyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County in the north central region of the state. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
; as well as safety concerns because there have been numerous accidents and fatalities on the narrow and very dangerous curves. This change started with the re-construction and improvements made to White Bird Hill. Major projects have been undertaken including on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation:
The first stage was completed in August 2005 from just south of Coeur d'Alene to Fighting Creek Road, and is an upgraded four-lane highway for approximately ten miles (16 km).
The second stage, from Fighting Creek Road to Lake Creek on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, was completed in late July-early August 2006 and upgraded a seven-mile (11 km) stretch of the highway.
The third stage, from Lake Creek to
WorleyWorley is a city in southwestern Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. The population was 223 at the 2000 census. The city is within the Couer d'Alene Indian Reservation.-Geography:...
, is expected to start mid-to-late 2006 and is not expected to be completed until late 2007 or early 2008. This section is significant, as it is on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. The "new" highway will bypass the
Coeur d'Alene Casino, the largest business on the reservation, with the old highway becoming an alternate route that will connect the highway to the casino and the more remote regions of the reservation.
When this 20-mile (32 km) stretch of highway is completed, the length of the highway will have been shortened by about 20 miles (32 km).
Also, a nearly 20-mile (32 km) stretch was completed in 2007 from just north of
LewistonLewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. It is the second largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Nez...
to 6 miles (10 km) south of
MoscowMoscow is a city in northern Idaho, along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the largest city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
.
See also
- U.S. Route 95 Spur
- U.S. Route 95 Alternate
- U.S. Route 95 Truck
State Route 362 is a short state highway in Mineral County, Nevada, USA. It serves as a bypass route for trucks taking U.S. Route 95 past Hawthorne in either direction, as US 95 itself goes through that community. The SR 362 designation is hidden; the highway is signed solely as U.S...
(unsigned Nevada SR 362)
External links