U.S. Route 6 643425 223858227 2008-07-06T04:58:42Z NE2 1757249 The extension was in 1936. {{infobox U.S. Route| article_route=6| map=US 6 map.png| length_mi=3205| length_ref=<ref name="droz">[http://www.us-highways.com/us1830.htm US Highways From US 1 to US 830] Robert V. Droz</ref>| length_km=5158| yrcom=1926<ref name="droz"/>| direction_a=West| direction_b=East| from=[[Image:US 395 (CA).svg|25px]] [[US 395 (CA)|US 395]] in [[Bishop, CA]]| junction=[[Image:I-15.svg|20px]] [[I-15 (UT)|I-15]] near [[Provo, UT]]<br>[[Image:I-25.svg|20px]] [[I-25 (CO)|I-25]] in [[Denver, CO]]<br>[[Image:I-35.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35|I-35]] near [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines, IA]]<br>[[Image:I-55.svg|20px]] [[I-55 (IL)|I-55]] in [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet, IL]]<br>[[Image:I-65.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 65|I-65]] in [[Gary, Indiana|Gary, IN]]<br>[[Image:I-75.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 75|I-75]] in [[Bowling Green, Ohio|Bowling Green, OH]]<br>[[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90|I-90]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland, OH]]<br>[[Image:I-81.svg|20px]] [[I-81 (PA)|I-81]] in [[Scranton, PA]]<br>[[Image:I-95.svg|20px]] [[I-95 (RI)|I-95]] in [[Providence, RI]]| to=[[Image:MA Route 6A.svg|20px]] [[Route 6A (Massachusetts)|Route 6A]] in [[Provincetown, MA]] }} '''U.S. Route 6''', also called the '''Grand Army of the Republic Highway''', is a main route of the [[U.S. Highway system]], running east-northeast from [[Bishop, California]] to [[Provincetown, Massachusetts]]. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to [[Long Beach, California]], and was a transcontinental route. It is now the second-longest highway in the U.S. ==Route description== From 1936 until 1964, when most of its route through California was eliminated, US 6 was the longest highway in the country, but the truncation dropped its length below that of [[U.S. Route 20]]. When it was designated in 1926, it only ran east of [[Erie, Pennsylvania]], and roughly fit into the overall grid (though the diagonal routing of [[U.S. Route 20]] through Erie places it north of US 6). However, subsequent extensions, largely replacing the former '''U.S. Route 32''' and '''U.S. Route 38''' (which were in sequence), have taken it south of [[U.S. Route 30]] near [[Chicago, Illinois]], [[U.S. Route 40]] near [[Denver, Colorado]] (past the end of US 38), [[U.S. Route 50]] at [[Ely, Nevada]], and even [[U.S. Route 70]] near [[Los Angeles, California]], due to its north-south alignment in that state.<ref name=FHWA/> Since it was pieced together from other routes, US 6 does not serve a major transcontinental corridor, as other highways like [[U.S. Route 40]] do. [[George R. Stewart]], author of ''[[U.S. 40: Cross Section of the United States of America]]'', initially considered US 6, but realized that "Route 6 runs uncertainly from nowhere to nowhere, scarcely to be followed from one end to the other, except by some devoted eccentric". In the famous "[[beat generation|beat]]" [[novel]] ''[[On the Road]]'' by [[Jack Kerouac]], protagonist [[Sal Paradise]] actually considers [[hitchhiking]] on US 6 to Nevada, but is told by a driver that "there's no traffic passes through 6" and that he'd be better off going via [[Pittsburgh, PA|Pittsburgh]] (the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]]).<ref name=FHWA/> {{lengths table}} |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in California|CA]] |41 |66 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Nevada|NV]] |305 |491 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Utah|UT]] |373 |600 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Colorado|CO]] |467 |752 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska|NE]] |373 |600 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Iowa|IA]] |320 |515 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Illinois|IL]] |172 |277 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Indiana|IN]] |149 |240 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Ohio|OH]] |259 |417 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania|PA]] |394 |634 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in New York|NY]] |78 |126 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut|CT]] |116 |187 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Rhode Island|RI]] |25 |40 |- |[[U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts|MA]] |118 |190 |- |Total |3205 |5158 |} [[Image:P-town.jpg|thumb|right|Heading east from Bishop, California.]] {|class="infobox" width="230px" !style="background: #ccf; float:right;"|<big>Major cities</big> |- | *[[Los Angeles, California]] (until 1964) *[[Lancaster, California]] (until 1964) *[[Bishop, California]] *[[Ely, Nevada]] *[[Delta, Utah]] *[[Spanish Fork, Utah]] *[[Price, Utah]] *[[Fruita, Colorado]] *[[Grand Junction, Colorado]] *[[Glenwood Springs, Colorado]] *[[Vail, Colorado]] *[[Lakewood, Colorado]] *[[Denver, Colorado]] *[[Hastings, Nebraska]] *[[Lincoln, Nebraska]] *[[Omaha, Nebraska]] *[[Council Bluffs, Iowa]] *[[Des Moines, Iowa]] *[[Iowa City, Iowa]] *[[Quad Cities]] (Illinois and Iowa) *[[Joliet, Illinois]] *[[Hammond, Indiana]] *[[Gary, Indiana]] *[[Sandusky, Ohio]] *[[Cleveland, Ohio]] (as [[Euclid Avenue]] and as Chardon Road) *[[Scranton, Pennsylvania]] *[[Carmel, New York]] *[[Mahopac, New York]] *[[Hartford, Connecticut]] *[[Providence, Rhode Island]] *[[Fall River, Massachusetts]] *[[New Bedford, Massachusetts]] *[[Barnstable, Massachusetts]] |} ===California=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in California}} The modern US 6 in [[California]] is a short, two lane, north-south surface highway from Bishop to the Nevada state Line. Prior to a [[1964 state highway renumbering (California)|1964 highway renumbering project]] U.S. 6 extended to [[Long Beach, California]] along what is now [[U.S. Route 395]], [[California State Route 14|State Route 14]], [[Interstate 5]], [[Interstate 110 (California)|Interstate 110]]/[[California State Route 110|State Route 110]], and [[California State Route 1|State Route 1]]. Despite the renumbering having removed all freeway portions it is still part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]]. U.S. 6's former routing included a short segment of the famous [[Arroyo Seco Parkway]] and that segment of the parkway is still occasionally referred to as US 6. Currently, US 6 begins at [[U.S. Route 395]] just north of Bishop and heads north between farms and ranches in the [[Chalfant Valley, California]] at the base of the 9,000 foot (2,700 m) western [[escarpment]] of the [[White Mountains (California)|White Mountains]]. After about 30 miles (50 km.) Benton is reached which has a cafe and gas station. [[California State Route 120]] begins here, heading west past [[Mono Lake]] through [[Lee Vining, California]], over [[Tioga Pass]] and through [[Yosemite National Park]] to the [[San Joaquin Valley]]. US 6 continues north to the [[Nevada]] state line. ===Nevada=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Nevada}} From the California border, Route 6 heads northeast through semi-desert Queen Valley with [[Boundary Peak (Nevada)]], Nevada's highest summit and [[Montgomery Peak]] in California on the right. These twin peaks are the northernmost high summits of the [[White Mountains (California)]], both over 13,000' (4,000 m.). The highway then climbs into the [[Single-leaf Pinyon|Pinyon]]-[[Juniperus osteosperma|Juniper]]zone and crosses Montgomery Pass (7,167'/2,185 m.). From the pass, U.S. Route 6 descends into barren [[Atriplex confertifolia|shadscale]] desert, passing [[Columbus, Nevada|Columbus Salt Marsh]] on the left, then merging with [[U.S. Route 95]] from Coaldale Junction to [[Tonopah, Nevada|Tonopah]]. [[Nevada Test and Training Range]] begins about 15 miles (25 km.) southeast of Tonopah. Just east of Tonopah, U.S. Route 6 continues east across a series of [[Basin and Range Province|desert mountain ranges and valleys]], including the [[Monitor Range]]. At [[Warm Springs, Nevada]] [[Nevada State Route 375]], also known as the "Extraterrestrial Highway" departs to the southeast and Route 6 assumes a northeasterly alignment across the Reveille, [[Pancake Range|Pancake]], [[Grant Range|Grant]] and [[White Pine Range]]s. Rainfall increases eastward, so valleys become less barren and peaks over 11,500' (3,500 m.) add scenic interest. [[Ely, Nevada]] is the largest town on Route 6 in Nevada. U.S. Route 50 joins Route 6 at Ely. East of Ely, Routes 6/50 cross the [[Schell Creek Range]], known for verdant forests and meadows, and for a large [[Mule deer|deer]] and [[elk]] population. The highway descends to the [[Snake Valley, Nevada|Snake Valley]], then crosses the [[Snake Range]] at Sacramento Pass north of Nevada's second-highest [[Wheeler Peak]] where a branch road accesses [[Great Basin National Park]]. Beyond the pass, Route 6 passes just north of [[Baker, Nevada]] a [[Mormon]] farming community and reaches the [[Utah]] state line. ===Utah=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Utah}} US 6 enters and leaves Utah concurrent with [[U.S. Route 50]]. However, the two routes are different through the state. US 50 is the newer and shorter route. US 6 is the former route of US 50. US 6 forms an arch-shaped route with [[Spanish Fork, Utah|Spanish Fork]] at the [[apex (geometry)|apex]]. ===Colorado=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Colorado}} U.S. 6 is concurrent with [[Interstate 70]] for a significant portion of its length from the Utah state line to [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]]. Within the city limits, U.S. 6 follows Denver's 6th Avenue (known as "6th Avenue Freeway"). The highway then travels north briefly, and follows [[Interstate 76 (west)|Interstate 76]] for most of its length east of Denver. It is unsigned while it is overlapped. The highest altitude along US 6 is 11,990 ft (3,655 m) at [[Loveland Pass]], where it crosses the [[Continental Divide]]. [[Image:Colorado 6 map.png|left|250px|thumbnail|U.S. Route 6 in Colorado]] === Nebraska === {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska}} U.S. 6 starts going southeast. The first town it goes into is [[Imperial, NE]]. U.S. 6 conjoins with [[U.S. Route 34]], near [[Culbertson, NE]]. U.S. 6 then goes through [[McCook, NE]]. U.S. 6 then moves to the northeast, into [[Hastings, NE]]. At Hastings, [[U.S. Route 34]] breaks with U.S. 6, and moves north. U.S. 6 moves parallel with [[Interstate 80]], until [[Lincoln, NE]]. At Lincoln, U.S. 6 becomes Cornhusker Highway, and moves north of [[Interstate 80]]. U.S. 6 moves parallel to Interstate 80 to [[Gretna, NE]]. U.S. 6 moves to the due north, and becomes West Dodge Road and Dodge Street in [[Omaha, NE]]. It passes through downtown Omaha on parallel one-way streets and overlaps with [[Interstate 480 (Iowa-Nebraska)|I-480]] in Omaha on its last Nebraska segment. It crosses the [[Missouri River]] into Iowa on a girder bridge completed in 1966 that replaced the [[Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge]] which was the first road bridge to connect the two cities. === Iowa === {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Iowa}} U.S. 6 enters [[Iowa]] at [[Council Bluffs, Iowa|Council Bluffs]] across the [[Missouri River]] from [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]]. It heads due east until [[Lewis, Iowa|Lewis]], where it turns sharply north-northeast to [[Atlantic, Iowa|Atlantic]]. There, it overlaps with [[U.S. Route 71]] north until [[Interstate 80]]. It overlaps with I-80 between U.S. 71 and [[U.S. Route 169|U.S. 169]] at [[De Soto, Iowa|De Soto]]. It goes north with U.S. 169 to [[Adel, Iowa|Adel]], then turns east to go through [[Des Moines, IA|Des Moines]]. At [[Altoona, Iowa|Altoona]], U.S. 6 rejoins I-80. It continues east with I-80 until [[Newton, IA|Newton]], where it splits north from I-80 to run parallel. U.S. 6 passes through [[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]] and [[Marengo, Iowa|Marengo]] before arriving in [[Iowa City, Iowa|Iowa City]] where it again crosses 80. At [[West Liberty, Iowa|West Liberty]], it proceeds due east until [[Wilton, Iowa|Wilton]] where it turns north to concurrency again with 80. Arriving in [[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]], it becomes Kimberly Road until [[Interstate 74]] with which it runs across the [[Mississippi River]] on the [[I-74 Bridge]] into [[Moline, Illinois]]. === Illinois === {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Illinois}} In [[Illinois]], U.S. 6 parallels Interstates [[Interstate 74|74]] and [[Interstate 80|80]] mostly along its original routing, overlapping with Interstate 74 for its first 5 miles (9 km) and Interstate 80 for the final 2 miles (5 km) of its routing in Illinois. U.S. 6 directly serves the downtowns of many cities for its length, including [[Moline, Illinois|Moline]], [[Geneseo, Illinois|Geneseo]], [[Ottawa, Illinois|Ottawa]], [[Channahon, IL|Channahon]], and [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]] &mdash; unlike [[U.S. Route 20]], which in the state of Illinois mainly consists of freeway sections and bypasses around the cities U.S. 20 serves. Much like nearby U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 30|30]] and [[U.S. Route 52|52]], U.S. 6 avoids the [[Chicago]] city limits. === Indiana === {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Indiana}} U.S. 6 crosses the state line and shares the same [[Borman Expressway]] with [[Interstate 80]]/[[94]] through [[Hammond, Indiana|Hammond]] and [[Gary, Indiana|Gary]] until [[State Road 51 (Indiana)|State Road 51]] Exit 15; it goes south for about {{convert|2|mi|km}} and turns east until it meets [[U.S. Route 421]] in [[Westville]], then goes south for a mile then east until it meets [[U.S. Route 35]] and [[U.S. Route 31]], and it shares the same road with [[U.S. Route 33]] for about {{convert|5|mi|km}} until [[U.S. Route 33]] breaks south toward [[Fort Wayne, IN]] at [[Ligonier, IN]], and then it is mostly two lanes through Indiana until it meets the Ohio state line just east of [[Butler, Indiana]]. Before the [[Borman Expressway]] was completed, U.S. 6 was on Ridge Road, portions of which are now signed Business U.S. 6. === Ohio === {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Ohio}} US 6 enters [[Ohio]] from [[Indiana]] in [[Williams County, Ohio|Williams County]]. It travels just south of [[Bryan, Ohio|Bryan]] before it passes through [[Napoleon, Ohio|Napoleon]], [[Bowling Green, Ohio|Bowling Green]], and [[Fremont, Ohio|Fremont]], before turning northeast towards Sandusky Bay and [[Lake Erie]]. After passing through [[Sandusky, Ohio|Sandusky]], the route follows the southern shore of Lake Erie, passing through [[Huron, Ohio|Huron]], [[Vermilion, Ohio|Vermilion]]. After crossing the [[Charles Berry Bridge]] in [[Lorain, Ohio|Lorain]], it passes through the western suburbs of [[Greater Cleveland]] as Lake Road in [[Sheffield Lake, Ohio|Sheffield Lake]], [[Avon Lake, Ohio|Avon Lake]], [[Bay Village, Ohio|Bay Village]], and [[Rocky River, Ohio|Rocky River]], and Clifton Boulevard in [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]] and the West Blvd./Edgewater neighborhood of [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland proper]]. U.S. 6 follows the [[Cleveland Memorial Shoreway]] into [[Downtown Cleveland]], entering Downtown by crossing the [[Detroit-Superior Bridge]]. U.S. 6 follows Superior Avenue through [[Public Square]] and the East Side of Cleveland before turning east onto [[Euclid Avenue]] in [[East Cleveland, Ohio|East Cleveland]] and Chardon Road in [[Euclid, Ohio|the city of Euclid]]. U.S. 6 continues eastward through Geauga county and finally into Ashtabula county before leaving Ohio [[Ashtabula County, Ohio|Ashtabula County]], slightly north of the Pymatuning Reservoir. ====Alternate U.S. 6==== '''Alternate US 6''' parallels U.S. 6, its western terminus being at the U.S. 6/[[State Route 2 (Ohio)|SR 2]] concurrency just west of the [[Rocky River (Ohio)|Rocky River]]; its eastern terminus is just west of the [[Cuyahoga River]] and about a mile west of [[Public Square]] (in [[Downtown Cleveland]]). [[U.S. Route 20 (Ohio)|US 20]] runs concurrent with ALT 6 for {{convert|0.2|mi|km}} while they cross the Rocky River. Nearly all of of its {{convert|7|mi|km|sing=on}} span follows Detroit Avenue's alignment through [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]], and [[Cleveland]]. The far western portion in [[Rocky River, Ohio|Rocky River]] follows Detroit Road and Old Lake Road. Alternate 6 exists to provide a route for truck traffic, as commercial vehicles are prohibited on Clifton Blvd. ===Pennsylvania=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania}} US 6 runs for {{convert|394|mi|km}} in [[Pennsylvania]] between its entrance point {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of [[Meadville, Pennsylvania|Meadville]] and its exit at [[Matamoras, Pennsylvania|Matamoras]]. From the Ohio border to [[U.S. Route 322]] in [[Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania|Conneaut Lake]], the route runs in a southeast direction. US 6 then joins US 322 and heads east to Meadville, picking up [[U.S. Route 19 (Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 19]] west of the city. South of downtown, US 322 splits from the concurrency while US 6 and US 19 remain concurrent through Meadville. The two routes continue northward to [[Mill Village, Pennsylvania|Mill Village]], where US 6 and US 19 split at a junction with [[U.S. Route 6N]]. For the remainder of its routing in Pennsylvania, US 6 runs roughly parallel to the [[New York-Pennsylvania border]]. Along the way, US 6 is concurrent with [[U.S. Route 62 (Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 62]] for a short distance near [[Warren, Pennsylvania|Warren]]. [[U.S. Route 11]] joins US 6 from the north in [[Factoryville, Pennsylvania|Factoryville]]. They run concurrently to North [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]] where US 11 continues south and US 6 east. At [[Milford, Pennsylvania|Milford]], US 6 meets [[U.S. Route 209]]. The two routes embark to the northeast, crossing the [[Delaware River]] from [[Matamoras, Pennsylvania|Matamoras]] to [[Port Jervis, New York|Port Jervis]]. ===New York=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in New York}} The {{convert|79|mi|km|sing=on}} portion of US 6 in [[New York]] is located primarily in [[Orange County, New York|Orange County]], with lengthy stretches in [[Putnam County, New York|Putnam County]] and [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]] and a small segment in [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland County]]. The route enters the state along with US 209 in [[Port Jervis, New York|Port Jervis]]. The two routes split just north of town, with US 209 taking a more northerly routing to access [[Kingston (city), New York|Kingston]]. US 6, in contrast, runs primarily east-west through New York. A section of US 6 runs concurrent with [[New York State Route 17]] (the Quickway) between [[Goshen (village), New York|Goshen]] and [[Harriman, New York|Harriman]]. At Harriman, NY 17 becomes an at-grade road and heads south while US 6 remains a limited-access highway as it heads east into [[Harriman State Park]]. Near the east side of the park, US 6 intersects the [[Palisades Interstate Parkway]] and runs concurrent to the road to the [[Bear Mountain Bridge]], where US 6 is joined by [[U.S. Route 202]] as it crosses the [[Hudson River]]. On the other side of the river, US 6 and US 202 run along the Hudson to [[Peekskill, New York|Peekskill]], where the two routes split, allowing US 6 to continue to the northeast into [[Putnam County, New York|Putnam County]]. In [[Brewster, New York|Brewster]], US 6 meets US 202 once again. The routes become intertwined once more, running concurrent with one another into [[Connecticut]]. ===Connecticut===<!-- This section is linked from [[Mansfield, Connecticut]] --> {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut}} U.S. 6 extends for {{convert|116.3|mi|km}} in Connecticut. It begins in the city of [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]] after crossing the New York state line, concurrent with [[U.S. Route 202|US 202]] and ends at the Rhode Island state line in the town of [[Killingly, Connecticut|Killingly]]. In western Connecticut, U.S. 6 either closely parallels or is overlapped with [[Interstate 84 (east)|Interstate 84]], serving as the local route in the suburbs of Danbury, Waterbury, and Hartford. It crosses the [[Connecticut River]] (overlapped with [[I-84 (CT)|I-84]] and [[U.S. Route 44]]) on the [[Bulkeley Bridge]]. In eastern Connecticut, U.S. 6 is one of the principal routes connecting [[Hartford]] and [[Providence]], passing through the small urban areas of [[Willimantic]] and [[Danielson, Connecticut|Danielson]]. The unsigned portion of the [[Connecticut Turnpike]] then meets with U.S. 6 shortly before crossing the [[Rhode Island]] state line. ===Rhode Island=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Rhode Island}} US 6 covers approximately {{convert|26.5|mi|km}} in Rhode Island from Foster (western border with Killingly, CT) to East Providence (eastern border with Seekonk, MA). In and around Providence, US 6 overlaps with RI 10 as well as US 1A and US 44 and interstate highways 95 and 195. ===Massachusetts=== {{main|U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts}} U.S. 6 runs approximately {{convert|117.5|mi|km}} in [[Massachusetts]]. It parallels [[Interstate 195 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 195]] between [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence, RI]] and [[Wareham, Massachusetts]] and serves as the local business route. U.S. 6 continues onto [[Cape Cod]] across the [[Sagamore Bridge]] as a [[freeway]] from [[Bourne, Massachusetts|Bourne]] to [[Orleans, Massachusetts|Orleans]]. North of Orleans, it becomes a surface road again to its terminus in [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]]. ==History== ===New England=== [[Image:New England 3.svg|left|75px]] The first interstate numbering along the path of US 6 was '''Route 3''' (NE-3) of the [[New England road marking system]], designated in 1922. This route connected [[Provincetown, MA|Provincetown]] with the [[Connecticut-New York border]] via [[Providence, RI|Providence]], [[Hartford, CT|Hartford]], and [[Danbury, CT|Danbury]].<ref name="1926 National Survey">[[National Survey Company]], The official National Survey maps and guide for Southern New England: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, 1926, accessed via the [http://www.broermapsonline.org/members/ Broer Map Library]</ref><ref name="1926 Rand McNally">[[Rand McNally]] Auto Road Atlas, 1926, accessed via the [http://www.broermapsonline.org/members/ Broer Map Library]</ref> In late 1925, the [[Joint Board on Interstate Highways]] approved the preliminary plan for U.S. Highways. US 6 was restricted to [[New England]] and southeastern [[New York]], with its vague description matching the existing Route 3 to [[Danbury, Connecticut]], and heading west from there to [[U.S. Route 7]] at [[Brewster, New York]].<ref name="1925 list">Report of Joint Board on Interstate Highways, [[October 30]], [[1925]], Approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, [[November 18]], [[1925]]</ref> By the time the final plan was approved in late 1926, a second section had been added, from the [[New York-Pennsylvania border]] at [[Port Jervis, New York]] west to [[U.S. Route 120]] in [[Kane, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="1926 map">[[:Image:1926us.jpg|United States System of Highways]], [[November 11]], [[1926]]</ref> This did not last long, for the April 1927 route log shows the eastern segment running only to the border of New York, short of Brewster, while the western segment was extended in both directions - east to [[Kingston, New York]], and west to [[Erie, Pennsylvania]] (the latter replacing part of US 120). The western segment was also swapped with [[U.S. Route 106]] between [[Carbondale, PA|Carbondale]] and [[Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania]], taking US 6 through [[Scranton, PA|Scranton]].<ref name="1927 log">United States Numbered Highways, ''[[American Highways]]'' ([[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials|AASHO]]), April 1927</ref> The gap through New York was eliminated in 1928 with a new alignment across the state, crossing the [[Hudson River]] on the [[Bear Mountain Bridge]]; the old route between Kingston and Port Jervis became the first [[U.S. Route 6N (New York)|U.S. Route 6N]].<ref name=FHWA>Richard F. Weingroff, [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us6.htm U.S. 6: The Grand Army of the Republic Highway]</ref> While US 6 replaced the general corridor of Route 3 in New England, some portions used different alignments. One of these was on [[Cape Cod]], where Route 3 had used a southerly alignment that is now [[Route 28 (Massachusetts)|Route 28]]. Instead, US 6 followed the more direct route between [[Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts|Buzzards Bay]] and [[Orleans, Massachusetts|Orleans]] that had been the southern extremity of [[Route 6 (New England)|Route 6]], and now known as [[Route 6A (Massachusetts)|Route 6A]]. Further west, in Connecticut, US 6 ran via [[South Coventry, CT|South Coventry]], while Route 3 had served [[Andover, CT|Andover]]; the old route became [[U.S. Route 6A (Andover, Connecticut)|U.S. Route 6A]].{{Fact|date=July 2007}} US 6 is now on the old Route 3, while the South Coventry route now carries [[Route 31 (Connecticut)|Route 31]]. A different alignment was also chosen for US 6 between [[Plainville, CT|Plainville]] and [[Woodbury, CT|Woodbury]]; Route 3 ran via [[Milldale, CT|Milldale]] and [[Waterbury, CT|Waterbury]], and became parts of [[Route 14 (Connecticut)|Route 14]] and [[Route 10 (Connecticut)|Route 10]] in the [[1932 renumbering (Connecticut)|1932 renumbering]].<ref>[[Connecticut State Highway Department]], [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/1920s.html state map], 1932</ref> Here US 6 mostly remains on its original routing, with the main difference being between [[Hartford, CT|Hartford]] and [[Terryville, CT|Terryville]], where US 6 followed the present [[Route 4 (Connecticut)|Route 4]], [[Route 10 (Connecticut)|Route 10]], and [[Route 72 (Connecticut)|Route 72]]. The final difference was from [[Danbury, CT|Danbury]] west to the New York state line; here US 6 ran straight west, while Route 3 had left the Danbury area to the south, curving to the southwest through [[Ridgefield, CT|Ridgefield]] to the border. Part of this became [[U.S. Route 7]], while the rest became [[Route 35 (Connecticut)|Route 35]] in 1932.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}<ref name="1926 National Survey"/><ref name="1926 Rand McNally"/><ref name="1927 log"/><!--the only references needed are for US 6A and Route 35--> In New York, US 6 replaced all of Route 37 - known as the "Bridge Route" - over the Bear Mountain Bridge, [[overlap (road)|overlap]]ped part of [[Route 17 (New York)|Route 17]], and was assigned to an unnumbered road from [[Middletown, NY|Middletown]] west to Port Jervis.<ref name=bluebook>''Automobile Blue Book: Standard Touring Guide of America'', 1926 and 1927 editions, Vol. 1 (New York and New England) (Automobile Blue Books, Inc., Chicago) &ndash; fold-out maps and turn by turn guides show the Port Jervis to Middletown route as unnumbered.</ref> The original route, which soon became US 6N, replaced [[Route 50 (New York 1920s)|Route 50]], and is now part of [[U.S. Route 209 (New York)|U.S. Route 209]].<!--was this in 1933? it was discontinued then (ref name=FHWA), but I remember seeing a map that shows it as a state route--> The part of US 6 in Pennsylvania replaced Route 7, also known as the '''Roosevelt Highway''', an [[auto trail]].<ref name="1926 Rand McNally"/> The Roosevelt Highway Association extended the name east with US 6 to Cape Cod by 1930.<ref>[[Wellsboro Gazette]], Sixty Roosevelt Highway Association Members in Session, [[September 25]], [[1930]]</ref> ===Extensions=== Two other routes that would become part of US 6 were included in the 1925 plan: '''U.S. Route 32''' from [[Chicago, Illinois]] to [[Omaha, Nebraska]], and '''U.S. Route 38''' from [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], to [[Greeley, Colorado]].<ref name="1925 list"/> As part of the fine-tuning during 1926, US 38 was extended east from Lincoln to Omaha, allowing [[U.S. Route 77]], which had been assigned to this road, to extend north to [[Sioux City, IA|Sioux City]]. These routes, which now connected end-to-end at Omaha, replaced a large portion of the [[Detroit-Lincoln-Denver Highway]], which split at [[Princeton, IL|Princeton]] to bypass Chicago to the south via [[Joliet, IL|Joliet]]. They followed existing state highways: 2 and 14 in Colorado, 7 in Nebraska, 2 and 7 in Iowa, and 7 and 18 in Illinois.<ref name="1926 map"/><ref name="1926 Rand McNally"/> Most of US 32 and all of US 38 became a western extension of US 6 on [[June 8]], [[1931]], and the Roosevelt Highway name followed.<ref>[[McKean County Democrat]], Roosevelt Highway Route is Extended to Colorado, [[June 18]], [[1931]]</ref> To connect western Pennsylvania to central Indiana, relatively minor roads<ref name="1926 Rand McNally"/> were used, except west of Joliet, where it used a part of the old Detroit-Lincoln-Denver Highway. The short stub to [[Erie, PA|Erie]] formed at the old west end became [[U.S. Route 6N (Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 6N]], and US 32 remained in Illinois, running independently from Chicago to Princeton and [[overlap (road)|overlap]]ping US 6 to [[Davenport, Iowa]].<ref name=FHWA/> US 32 has since<!--when?--> been absorbed into [[U.S. Route 34]]. The Roosevelt Highway Association continued to push for an extension,<ref>[[McKean County Democrat]], Roosevelt Highway Association Renders Valuable Services, [[December 26]], [[1935]]</ref> and in December 1936 the [[American Association of State Highway Officials]] made US 6 (and thus the Roosevelt Highway) a transcontinental route from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to [[Long Beach, California]].<ref>[[Times Independent]], [http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/timesindep1,21182 Roosevelt Highway at Last Gets Official Routing over No. 50], [[December 31]], [[1936]], p. 5</ref><ref>[[Wellsboro Agitator]], [[January 6]], [[1937]]: "The action taken at the recent San Francisco meeting of the American Association of State Highway Officials now gives it a single federal highway number from the Atlantic to the Pacific."</ref> It took a new route from [[Wiggins, Colorado]], southwest to [[Denver, CO|Denver]] (the old route to Greeley became an extended [[U.S. Route 34]]{{Fact|date=July 2007}}) and west over the [[Rocky Mountains]] to [[Leadville, CO|Leadville]], overlapping [[U.S. Route 24]] to [[Grand Junction, CO|Grand Junction]] and [[U.S. Route 50]] to [[Spanish Fork, Utah]]. From Spanish Fork to [[Ely, Nevada]], it followed a roadway that had yet to be improved in areas; the rest of the route, from Ely to [[Southern California]], followed the old [[Midland Trail]], running almost north-south in California. The unimproved segment from Ely east to [[Delta, Utah]], about 160 miles (260 km) long, was, according to ''[[Business Week]]'', "nothing but a wagon trail-rutted, filled with dust...one of the worst chunks of federal [sic] road in the country." Paving was completed in September 1952, with a two-day celebration in Delta marking the occasion.<ref name=FHWA/> Major [[William L. Anderson, Jr.]] of the [[U.S. Army]] recommended that US 6 be designated the '''Grand Army of the Republic Highway''', honoring the [[Union (U.S. Civil War)|Union]] soldiers in the [[Civil War (US)|Civil War]]. The [[Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War]] began pushing for the name in April 1934. Massachusetts, the first state to apply the name, passed a law to do so on [[February 2]], [[1937]]; it was not until at least 1948 that all states had agreed. The highway was formally dedicated at the [[Long Beach, CA|Long Beach]] end on [[May 3]], [[1953]],<ref name=FHWA/> though the Roosevelt Highway Association continued to exist at least through the 1960s.<ref>[[McKean County Democrat]], 4-Lane Rt. 6 plan to be Discussed in Smethport, [[February 17]], [[1966]]</ref> ===Modern history=== As part of the [[1964 renumbering (California)|1964 renumbering]] in California, US 6 was truncated to its intersection with [[U.S. Route 395]] at [[Bishop, CA|Bishop]]. The portion that did not overlap other routes, including US 395 and [[State Route 11 (California 1964)|State Route 11]], was redesignated [[State Route 14 (California)|State Route 14]].<ref name=FHWA/><ref>[[California Highway Department]], [http://www.cahighways.org/maps-sc-renumber.html 1963 State Highway Map and 1963 District VII State Highway Numbering Map]</ref> Starting in the spring of [[1983]] U.S. 6 was a discontinuous route for almost one year, due to a massive landslide that destroyed the town of [[Thistle, Utah]]. The highway was rebuilt by blasting a path higher up the canyon wall. The landslide remains the most costly in the history of the United States. ==See also== *[[U.S. Route 106]] *[[U.S. Route 206]] *[[U.S. Route 138]] *[[U.S. Route 6N (Pennsylvania)]] *[[U.S. Route 6N (New York)]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.geocities.com/usend0009/End006/end006.htm US-6 endpoint photos] *[http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us6.htm Federal Highway Administration: US 6] *[http://www.route6tour.com U.S. Route 6 Tour Association] *[http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/us6.html US 6 in Connecticut (Scott Oglesby)] *[http://www.paroute6.com Pennsylvania Route 6 Tourist Association] *[http://www.envisionlinesville.org/route6_museumsite.html Linesville, Pa., National U.S. Route 6 Museum Site] {{US Highways}} {{start srbox}} {{ia browse|previous_type=IA|previous_route=5|route=[[List of Iowa state highways|IA]]|next_type=IA|next_route=7}} {{in browse|previous_type=IN|previous_route=5|route=[[List of Indiana State Roads|IN]]|next_type=IN|next_route=7}} {{oh browse|previous_type=SR|previous_route=5|route=[[List of numbered routes in Ohio|OH]]|next_type=SR|next_route=7}} {{New England browse|previous_route=2A|next_route=4}} {{end box}} {{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Route 06}} [[Category:U.S. Route 6| ]] [[Category:U.S. Highway System|06]] [[Category:U.S. Highways in Indiana|06]] [[Category:U.S. Highways in Iowa|06]] [[Category:U.S. Highways in Nebraska|06]] [[Category:U.S. Highways in Ohio|06]] [[pt:U.S. Route 6]] [[sv:U.S. Route 6]]