Arizona State Route 69
State Route 69 (SR 69) is a highway that serves as the main road to Prescott, Arizona, from Interstate 17. The highway mainly consists of four-lanes (two per side), although some sections in Prescott and Prescott Valley are wider. Prior to the construction of Interstate 17 in the 1960s and early 1970s, State Route 69 continued south to Phoenix, Arizona, as the Prescott-Phoenix Hwy or Black Canyon Highway on a different alignment, through the ghost towns of Bumble Bee and Cordes.
State Route 69 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon Highway | ||||
SR 69 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by ADOT | ||||
| Length | 33.87 mi[1] (54.51 km) | |||
| Existed | May 19, 1936–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  I-17 in Cordes Lakes | |||
 SR 169 in Dewey-Humboldt | ||||
| North end |  SR 89 in Prescott | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Arizona | |||
| Counties | Yavapai | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Route description
The southern terminus of SR 69 is located at exit 262 of I-17, at a spot known as Cordes Junction. It heads northwest from this interchange passing through Mayer before curving towards the north at Poland Junction. It continues north to a junction with SR 169 in Dewey-Humboldt. The highway gradually curves towards the west after this junction as it heads through Prescott Valley. It continues its gradual curve towards the southwest until it curves towards the west near Yavapai Hills. The highway continues towards the west until it reaches its terminus at SR 89 in Prescott.[1][2]
History
SR 69 was first established as a state highway on May 19, 1936.[3] The new route served as a shorter connection than the pre-existing US 89 from Phoenix to Prescott for northbound travelers. The original route taken by SR 69 reached Mayer from Black Canyon City, by way of Bumble Bee and Cordes.[4] By 1951, a new paved alignment of SR 69 had been constructed between New River and Cordes, bypassing the original road through Bumble Bee.[5] By 1958, SR 69 was re-routed on another new alignment through Cordes Junction, bypassing the remainder old route between New River and Mayer, through Cordes.[6] Despite being bypassed by a newer alignment, the original route was still owned and maintained by the state until December 28, 1962.[7] SR 69 was truncated from Phoenix to Cordes Junction in 1970, after Interstate 17 was completed.[8]
Junction list
The entire route is in Yavapai County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordes Lakes | 0.00 | 0.00 |  I-17 south – Phoenix | Southern terminus; former SR 69 south and former SR 79 north | |
| 0.90 | 1.45 | 263 |   Arcosanti Road to I-17 north – Flagstaff | Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance | |
| Dewey-Humboldt | 19.05 | 30.66 |  SR 169 north to I-17 – Camp Verde | ||
| Prescott Valley | 21.17 | 34.07 | Fain Road (SR 89A Spur north) – Fairgrounds | SR 89A Spur (unsigned) continues 7.2 miles (11.6 km) north to meet SR 89A | |
| Prescott | 34.01 | 54.73 | SR 89 north – Chino Valley, Ash Fork | Interchange; northbound exit only; former US 89 | |
| Gurley Street – Business District | Interchange; northbound left exit only | ||||
| 34.12 | 54.91 |  SR 89 south (Sheldon Street) | Northern terminus; former US 89 | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- "2008 State Highway System Log" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. December 31, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
- Google (April 17, 2008). "overview map of SR 69" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
- Arizona State Highway Department (May 19, 1936). "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1936-P-587". Retrieved June 8, 2023 – via Arizona Highway Data.
Establish original alignment of SR 69 from Phx to the Jct. of Hwy. 89, 2.5 miles North of Prescott. Later abandoned in 62-149 (ptn.). Also see pages 585 & 586 of the Official Minutes.
- Arizona State Highway Department (1939). State Highway Department Road Map of Arizona (Map). 1:1,267,200. Cartography by W.M. DeMerse. Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 8, 2023 – via AARoads.
- Shell Oil Company; H.M. Gousha Company (1951). Shell Highway Map of Arizona and New Mexico (Map). 1:1,774,080. Chicago: Shell Oil Company. Retrieved April 1, 2015 – via David Rumsey Map Collection.
- Rand McNally & Co. (1958). State Highway Department Road Map of Arizona (Map). 1:1,520,640. Arizona State Highway Department. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via AARoads.
- Arizona State Highway Department (December 28, 1962). "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1962-159". Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Arizona Highway Data.
ABANDON PART OF S.R.69 FROM JCT. 43RD AVE. & GRAND AVE. TO 3 MILES SE OF MAYER
- "Weekends Into Vacations". The Arizona Republic. Vol. 80, no. 340. Phoenix. April 21, 1970. p. 24. Retrieved June 8, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.