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U.S. Route 80 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in the route number indicates, it was originally a cross-country route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. However, the entire segment west of Dallas, Texas has been decommissioned in favor of various Interstate highways and state highways.

Termini

As of 2006, the highway's eastern terminus is in Tybee Island, Georgia at the Atlantic Ocean. Its western terminus is at the border of Dallas and Mesquite, Texas at an intersection with Interstate 30* Endpoints of U.S. Highways. URL accessed 4 July 2006.

Original route

California

US-80 originally had its western terminus in San Diego, California. The original route is now roughly the alignment of Interstate 8 through San Diego and Imperial Counties. In Imperial County the old path of US-80 has been redesignated Imperial County Route S80 for continuity. The original alignment splits off in western El Cajon to become El Cajon Boulevard and Main St. Old Highway 80 then continues roughly parallel to Interstate 8 through Alpine. It picks up again at Japatul Rd. and goes through Descanso Junction and Guatay and crosses Interstate 8 east of Pine Valley. It continues on the south side of the freeway to near the Imperial County line through Boulder Oaks, Live Oak Springs, Boulevard and Jacumba. Most of old Highway 80 east of El Cajon to Imperial County still consists of the original pavement in excellent condition.

Arizona

East of Yuma the old route splits off Interstate 8 to the north to the Phoenix area. East of Phoenix, it heads almost due south to Interstate 10, which it follows to, and east of, Tuscon. East of Tucson at Benson, it cuts south and travels through Tombstone, Bisbee, and Douglas. At Douglas, which is on the Mexican border, it cuts northeast towards the New Mexico border.

New Mexico

East of Douglas, Arizona, old US-80 almost heads due north to Interstate 10, following a path close to the Arizona border. It ultimately hits Interstate 10 west of Lordsburg, New Mexico and from there, generally follows Interstate 10 all the way to Texas.

Texas

From the New Mexico border, Interstate Highway 10 now follows the old US 80 route to the current junction with Interstate Highway 20, where IH 10 breaks off southeast towards San Antonio. IH 20 (which begins there) then follows former US 80 all the way to Fort Worth, bypassing many old sections of US 80 on the way. They are as follows:

In Fort Worth, IH 20 breaks off the old US 80 route at Interstate Highway 30's junction with IH 20, which is also IH 30's western terminus. Just east of the junction, IH 30 leaves the pre-1991Texas Department of Transportation, - State Highway Spur 580 route of US 80, now Spur 580. Old US 80 travels due east on Spur 580 to U.S. Highway 377 (Camp Bowie Boulevard), where it heads northeast to the junction with IH 30. At IH 30, US 377 and former US 80 join the freeway into downtown Fort Worth; the old route - along Camp Bowie Boulevard and Lancaster Avenue - was once Business U.S. Highway 80.1967 Texaco map of Texas

Just east of downtown Fort Worth, US 80 split from IH 30 onto present State Highway 180 until 1991.Texas Department of Transportation, - State Highway 180 Approaching downtown Dallas, the older route of US 80 used Fort Worth Avenue and Commerce Street, designated Loop 260 and Business U.S. Highway 80 in 1952.Texas Department of Transportation, - State Highway Loop 260 (US 80 had bypassed that route by 1939, but it was State Highway 1 until 1952.Texas Department of Transportation, - State Highway 1) The later US 80 continued east on Davis Street, turning north at Zang Boulevard (Loop 354 until 1991), shifting to a route via SH 180 to Interstate Highway 35E after 1961.Texas Department of Transportation, - State Highway Loop 354 Through and east of downtown, the route before it was rerouted onto present Interstate Highway 30 used Commerce Street, Parry Avenue, Haskell Avenue, Grand Avenue and Samuell Boulevard.1954 TXDOT map (This was not assigned a number or a business route designation when it was bypassed.) In eastern Dallas, the old route merges with the present freeway at Town East Boulevard, shortly after present US 80 begins at the split from IH 30.

Farm to Market Road 688 is the old alignment through Forney, bypassed in 1959 by the present freeway. Most of this route was a spur of Farm to Market Road 740 until 1960.Texas Department of Transportation, - Farm to Market Road 740

In western Terrell, US 80 leaves the freeway, which continues southeast as Spur 557 to Interstate Highway 20. It runs east through a number of small towns and cities, including Terrell, Mineola, Longview and Marshall, before merging with IH 20 east of Marshall. It splits again in Waskom before crossing into Louisiana.

Historical significance

As a member of the inaugural class of US highways commissioned in 1926, US 80 was the first all-weather coast-to-coast route available to auto travelers. For a time known as the "Broadway of America", its legendary history is second only to Route 66 in American highway folklore, as several significant historical events have occurred on or near Highway 80. Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed approximately four miles south of US80 in Gibsland, Louisiana. Lee Harvey Oswald was captured at the Texas Theatre on Jefferson Street in Oak Cliff, which at the time was a business spur of Highway 80. A section of U.S. 80 through central Alabama was made famous by its use in the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Cities traversed

The highway passes through the following notable cities:

Originally it also passed through Texas west of Dallas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Related U.S. routes

See also

References

U.S. Highway System | U.S. Highways in Texas | U.S. Highways in Louisiana | U.S. Highways in Alabama | U.S. Highways in Georgia | U.S. Highways in South Carolina | Interstate 10

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "U.S. Route 80".

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