End of US highway 160

Note: since I don't have access to a comprehensive collection of historical road atlases, much of the info below is based on the research of Robert Droz; click here to view his site. Photo credits: Andy Field; Scott Maness; me

When US 160 was originally commissioned in 1930, its west terminus was either at US 85 in Trinidad CO, or at US 350 at Beshoar Junction (about 7 miles northeast of Trinidad). I have several photos of both places, plus maps and more information, on this page. A few years later, US 160 was extended west along what had been US 450 through Colorado. The designation ended at the Utah line near Ucolo, apparently because Utah kept the US 450 designation in their state for another few years. You can view photos from there on this page.

The original east terminus US 160 was in Springfield MO. The photo below is looking south on Grant Avenue; US 160 used to begin straight ahead:

Maness

The upcoming intersection is College Street, which served as US 60 and US 66 at the time.

In 1934, US 160 was extended north from Trinidad with US 85 to Walsenburg CO, and then west along the former route of US 450. Apparently for a few years the designation ended at the Utah state line west of Dove Creek CO (if you could obtain current or historic photos from the spot [south of Ucolo UT] please let me know!) But then in 1939 it swallowed the remainder of old 450 all the way up to Crescent Jct. UT; you can view photos from there on this page.

In Poplar Bluff MO, before the modern bypasses were built, US 67 traffic used Westwood Boulevard (today's Business 67), and US 60 used Pine Street and Westwood (today's Business 60). There were probably even earlier routings before Westwood was built, but by the time the east end of US 160 was extended into Poplar Bluff (about 1954), Westwood was already there. The photo below was looking north on Westwood, showing signage at the historic east end of US 160:

me, July 2007 ("End" and "160" panels removed by Oct. 2007)

Besides Business US 67, straight ahead is also westbound historic US 60, now Business US 60. To the right on Pine is eastbound historic/Business US 60.

The shot below was taken from the west end of Pine, on westbound Business US 60. That designation continues to the right, along with northbound Business US 67. To the left is southbound Business US 67. Also to the left was the east beginning of US 160:

me, July 2007 (US 160 panels removed as of Oct. 2007)

Below we're looking south on Westwood:

me, July 2007 (as of Oct. 2007, US 160 panels removed; other panels rearranged)

The two business routes split here, and the east beginning of US 160 was straight ahead. In May 2007, Missouri obtained AASHTO's approval to truncate the US 160 designation, such that it now ends about 10 miles ahead (where it splits from US 67 southwest of Poplar Bluff):

me, July 2007 (unchanged as of Oct. 2007)

That's looking south on US 67; US 160 now begins to the right. The shot below is looking east on US 160:

me, July 2007

At the time of that photo, signage still reflected US 160's historic segment into Poplar Bluff, but it was changed within the next few months:

me, Oct. 2007

Note that they didn't simply replace the arrow with an "End" panel - they also replaced the US 160 shield. Below we're looking north on US 67:

me, July 2007 (US 160 arrows converted to left-only as of Oct. 2007)

From this junction, US 160 used to go both ways, but now it begins to the left. If you turn that direction, the first westbound confirming assembly looks like this:

me, July 2007 (unchanged as of Oct. 2007)

In 1970 the US 160 designation was truncated at Cortez CO, and instead extended west to its modern terminus near Tuba City. Except where otherwise noted, I took the photos below in July 2004:

me, July 2004

That's looking west on 160 at its west end, which is about 10 miles west of Tuba City on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The green signs in the distance are shown close-up below:

me, July 2004

Below is the west beginning of US 160 as viewed from northbound US 89:

me, July 2004

If you take that turn, you'll soon see the first eastbound reassurance marker:

me, July 2004

The photo below shows the west beginning of US 160 as seen from southbound US 89:

Field, Oct. 2003