Arizona State Route 77

Route map:
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State Route 77 marker

State Route 77

Map
SR 77 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ADOT
Length253.93 mi[1] (408.66 km)
ExistedMay 13, 1930–present
HistoryPart of the route is a former section of US 80 and US 89
Tourist
routes		 Copper Corridor Scenic Road[2]
Historic US 80[3]
Major junctions
South end I-10 in Tucson
Major intersections
North end BIA Route 6 at Navajo Nation boundary
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountiesPima, Pinal, Gila, Navajo
Highway system
  • Arizona State Highway System
← SR 76→ SR 78

State Route 77 (SR 77) is a 253.93-mile (408.66-kilometre) long state highway in Arizona that traverses much of the state's length, stretching from its southern terminus at a junction with I-10 in Tucson to its northern terminus with BIA Route 6 at the Navajo Nation boundary just north of I-40.

Between Tucson and the Navajo Nation, SR 77 passes through Oro Valley, Oracle, Mammoth, Winkelman, Globe, Show Low, Snowflake and Holbrook, as well as passing through the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and a tiny corner of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Between Globe and Show Low, SR 77 runs entirely concurrent with US 60. When it was originally commissioned in 1930, SR 77 only traversed the route between McNary and Holbrook. Between 1938 and 1992, the route was slowly re-routed and extended in increments, to its current termini in Tucson and at the Navajo Nation boundary.

Route description[edit]

State Route 77 (SR 77) begins at a diamond interchange with Interstate 10 (I-10) Exit 255 in Tucson. The highway proceeds east along West Miracle Mile for 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres), passing through the Miracle Mile Historic District. West Miracle Mile ends at an intersection with Oracle Road, where SR 77 turns north past the Tucson Mall. After crossing over the Rillito River, SR 77 leaves Tucson and continues north as an eight lane divided highway through the suburban town of Oro Valley and Catalina State Park to Oracle Junction, where SR 77 meets SR 79 at an intersection. SR 79 continues north towards Florence, while SR 77 proceeds northeast.[4] The divided highway segment of SR 77 ends just past Oracle Junction. SR 77 continues through Oracle, passing the Biosphere 2 complex to a grade–separated interchange with Veterans Memorial Boulevard (former SR 76), which acts as the main connection between SR 77 and San Manuel, as well as a private road, off limits to the public, servicing the San Manuel Copper Mine complex.[5]

SR 77 curves to the north past San Manuel into Mammoth, now paralleling the San Pedro River to the east. North of town, the highway crosses over the San Pedro River and continues paralleling the river on the eastern side. SR 77 continues north, passing by the Central Arizona College Aravaipa Campus and Arizona College of Technology, proceeding through Dudleyville into Winkelman, where SR 77 crosses over the Gila River, next to the old Winkelman Bridge.[5] In town, the intersection with 2nd Street marks the southern terminus of SR 177, which continues west on 2nd Street, then northwest towards Superior. SR 77 continues north through town, then parallels the western bank of the Gila River to the northeast. After following the river for 7 miles (11 kilometres), SR 77 curves northwest, passing through Dripping Springs, then curves northeast through El Capitan, past Pinal Peak to a junction with U.S. Route 70 (US 70) just outside of Globe.[4]

SR 77 traveling through Salt River Canyon

US 70 and SR 77 run west concurrently to the outskirts of Globe, where the former highway ends at US 60. SR 77 turns northeast and runs concurrently with US 60 out of Globe, entering the Salt River Canyon, briefly entering the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation before continuing into the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Inside the reservation boundaries US 60 and SR 77 act as the southern terminus of SR 73. Both highways arrive in Show Low, with the highway being named "Deuce of Clubs" through town. Entering town, US 60 and SR 77 meet SR 260 at a traffic controlled intersection with Clark Road. From this intersection, all three highways run concurrently on Deuce of Clubs into the center of town. SR 260 separates from US 60 and SR 77 at the east side of Show Low, continuing towards Eagar on White Mountain Road. US 60 and SR 77 continue ahead on Deuce of Clubs, to an intersection with Penrod Road, where SR 77 separates from US 60, heading north past the Show Low Regional Airport.[4]

SR 77 between Snowflake and Holbrook

SR 77 continues due north through the communities of Shumway and Taylor, becoming Main Street in Snowflake. SR 77 intersects with the eastern terminus of SR 277 at 3rd Street North on the northern edge of town. Following Main Street north out of Snowflake, SR 77 crosses a bridge over Cottonwood Wash. The highway continues north, intersecting the northern terminus of SR 377 at a "wye" intersection on the outskirts of Holbrook, in front of the Navajo County Superior Court.[5] North of the Superior Court, SR 77 meets US 180 at a junction, where US 180 joins SR 77. Both highways continue north concurrently on Apache Avenue, crossing over the Little Colorado River into downtown Holbrook, where Apache Avenue becomes Navajo Boulevard. At the intersection with Hopi Drive, which carries part of the I-40 Business Loop (I-40 Bus.), US 180 leaves SR 77, heading west with I-40 Bus. towards Winslow and Flagstaff. SR 77 continues north on Navajo Boulevard, concurrent with I-40 Bus. to I-40 exit 286. SR 77 leaves Navajo Boulevard and I-40 Bus., becoming concurrent with I-40 heading east. On the edge of town, Navajo Boulevard and I-40 Bus. loop back to I-40/SR 77 at exit 289. At exit 292, SR 77 leaves I-40 continuing north towards the Navajo Nation. SR 77 ends at the Navajo Nation boundary, north of Holbrook. Past the Navajo Nation boundary, SR 77 becomes BIA Route 6 northbound to SR 264 near Keams Canyon.[4]

History[edit]

Between Miracle Mile and SR 79, SR 77 is part of Historic U.S. Route 80.

State Route 77 (SR 77) was first designated on May 13, 1930.[6] The highway originally ran from a junction with SR 73 in McNary to U.S. Route 66 (US 66) in Holbrook via Show Low.[7] On June 20, 1938, the section of SR 77 between Show Low and McNary was decommissioned, following the completion of US 60 from Globe to Springerville through Show Low. SR 77 was then extended southwest along the brand new US 60 to Globe, followed by a further southeast extension along US 70 from Globe to Cutter at the San Carlos Indian Reservation. From Cutter, SR 77 was extended further south along a newly acquired state highway to a southern terminus with US 80/US 89 in Oracle Junction. At the time, both U.S. Highways made up the route between Tucson and Oracle Junction.[6][8]

US 80 was removed from the Tucson to Oracle Junction corridor in 1977, when the U.S. Highway was truncated to I-10 in Benson.[9] On August 21, 1992, US 89 was truncated to US 180 in Flagstaff. At the same time, the northern Tucson section of the Interstate 10 Business Loop (I-10 Business) was decommissioned. I-10 Business started at an intersection with I-10 and Miracle Mile, heading east on Miracle Mile to US 89, then followed US 89 south on Oracle to its terminus at a junction with US 89, I-10, and I-19 Business in South Tucson, Arizona. SR 77 was immediately extended south along former US 89 down Oracle Road to Miracle Mile in Tucson, then extended west along Miracle Mile (which was part of the recently decommissioned I-10 Business) to an interchange with I-10.[10] While Miracle Mile and the northern segment of Oracle Road were renumbered as an extension of SR 77, the remainder of I-10 Business and US 89 between the intersection of Oracle Road and Miracle Mile and the interchange with I-10 and I-19 Business were not given to another route and was retired as a state highway, being handed over to the city of Tucson on October 15, 1993.[11]

Origin of the name of Tucson's Miracle Mile[edit]

Although it was thought for several years that Tucson's Miracle Mile derived its name from a June 1937 Arizona Highways magazine, historian David Leighton challenged this theory, in a February 23, 2015, article in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper. He explained that in 1936, real estate developer Stanley Williamson conceived the idea of creating a commercial center outside of the over-congested downtown retail district, in Tucson. His model for this business center was the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles, California. The one in Los Angeles was the idea of real estate agent A.W. Ross, who saw that the retail district in that city was overcrowded and that cars were becoming more common. He came up with the idea of buying farming land along Wilshire Boulevard, several miles out from downtown, with the belief that as more people bought automobiles, they would be willing to drive farther to avoid the lack of parking and congestion in the downtown area. While initially no one thought his idea would work, in time store after store came to his business center. The Miracle Mile eventually became one of Los Angeles' premier shopping districts. Ross originally called his business area the Wilshire Boulevard Center; it was changed to the Miracle Mile in 1928.

Junction list[edit]

CountyLocationmi[1][a]kmExitDestinations[12][3][2][13]Notes
PimaTucson68.05109.52 I-10 – Phoenix, El PasoSouthern terminus; I-10 exit 255
69.05111.13Oracle Road south (Historic US 80 east) – Tucson City CenterSouthern end of Historic US 80 concurrency; former US 80 east / US 89 / SR 93 south
Oro Valley79.12127.33 Tangerine Road (SR 989 west)Serves Oro Valley Hospital
PinalOracle Junction91.14146.68

 SR 79 north / Historic US 80 west (Pinal Pioneer Parkway) – Florence, Phoenix		Northern end of Historic US 80 concurrency; southern terminus of SR 79; former US 80 west / US 89 north
​109.14175.64 Veterans Memorial Boulevard – San ManuelInterchange; serves San Manuel Airport; former SR 76
Gila River134.62216.65Bridge
GilaWinkelman134.80216.94
 SR 177 north (2nd Street) – Superior		Southern terminus of SR 177
Globe170.92
254.10		275.07
408.93
 US 70 east – Safford		Southern end of US 70 concurrency; mile markers change to reflect US 70
252.14
252.06		405.78
405.65

 US 70 ends / US 60 west (Ash Street west) – Globe, Phoenix		Southern end of US 60 concurrency; northern end of US 70 concurrency; mileposts change to reflect US 60
Navajo​318.15512.01
 SR 73 east		Western terminus of SR 73
Show Low339.73546.74
 SR 260 west (Clark Road) – Heber		Southern end of SR 260 concurrency
341.69549.90
 SR 260 east (White Mountain Road) – Pinetop-Lakeside		Northern end of SR 260 concurrency
342.01
342.20		550.41
550.72
 US 60 east (Deuce of Clubs east) – Springerville		Northern end of US 60 concurrency; mileposts change to reflect SR 77
Snowflake361.05581.05
 SR 277 west (3rd Street North) – Heber		Eastern terminus of SR 277
Holbrook386.20621.53
 SR 377 south (Heber Road) – Heber		Northern terminus of SR 377
387.49623.60
 US 180 east – St. Johns		Southern end of US 180 concurrency
388.54
286.69		625.29
461.38

 BL 40 / US 180 / Historic US 66 west (Hopi Drive) to I-40 – Flagstaff		Northern end of US 180 overlap; southern end of I-40 BL/Historic US 66 concurrency; former US 66 west; mileposts change to reflect I-40 BL
287.36
286.91		462.46
461.74

 BL 40 / Historic US 66 east (Navajo Boulevard) / I-40 west – Flagstaff		Northern end of I-40 BL/Historic US 66 concurrency; southern end of I-40 concurrency; I-40 exit 286; former US 66 east; mileposts change to reflect I-40
289.46465.84289
 BL 40 / Historic US 66 west (Navajo Boulevard)		Exit number follows I-40; former US 66 west
​292.83
395.07		471.26
635.80
 I-40 east – Albuquerque		Northern end of I-40 concurrency; I-40 exit 292; mileposts change to reflect SR 77
​408.93658.11
 BIA Route 6 north		Continuation beyond northern terminus at Navajo Nation boundary
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The mileage reflects the official ADOT mileposts along SR 77. The mileposts reflecting SR 77 only are based on former US 89. Milepost 0.00 was on US 89 (now SR 19 Bus.) at the United States–Mexico border in Nogales.

References[edit]

KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Arizona State Route 77
KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ a b "2008 State Highway System Log" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. December 31, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ a b "Historic Arizona U.S. Route 80 Designation". Webpage. Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation. August 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Arizona Department of Transportation, Multimodal Planning Division (2021). State Highway System (ArcGIS) (Map). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Google (June 16, 2023). "Overview map of SR 77" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  6. ^ a b History of the Arizona State Highway Department (Report). Arizona State Highway Department and United States Public Roads Administration. June 1939. Retrieved July 27, 2019 – via Arizona Memory Project.
  7. ^ Arizona Highway Department (1931). State Highway Department Road Map of Arizona (Map). 1:1,267,200. Taylor Printing Company. Retrieved July 27, 2019 – via AARoads.
  8. ^ Arizona Highway Department (1939). State Highway Department Road Map of Arizona (Map). 1:1,267,200. Taylor Printing Company. Retrieved July 27, 2019 – via AARoads.
  9. ^ Weingroff, Richard F. (October 17, 2013). "U.S. Route 80: The Dixie Overland Highway". Highway History. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  10. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1992-08-A-056". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 9, 2019. Renumber B-10 from MP. 255.26 in Tucson to U.S. 89 at M.P. 256.71. / Renumber U.S. 89 from S.R. B-10 (Miracle Mile) to Oracle Jct.
  11. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1993-10-A-062". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 9, 2019. Abandon portion of R/W to city of Tucson, priors 9-9-27, 8-21-36, 63-69, 87-109, & 92-56.
  12. ^ Arizona State Transportation Board Meeting Agenda (PDF) (Report). Show Low, Arizona: Arizona State Transportation Board. July 20, 2018. pp. 310 to 339.
  13. ^ Shell Oil Company; H.M. Gousha Company (1956). Shell Highway Map of Arizona (Map). 1:1,330,560. Chicago: Shell Oil Company. Retrieved March 31, 2015 – via David Rumsey Map Collection.

External links[edit]

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