Historic US Highway ends near Maryhill WA
Photo credits: Chris
Elbert
| Highway | Approx. time period |
|---|---|
| US 830 | 1949-1968 |
| US 197 | 1952-1968 |
US 830 was first routed to the Maryhill area in about 1933, but originally it ended at a different point (you can view photos on my main US 830 page). It was about 1949 when the junction of US 97 and US 830 (today's WA hwy. 14) was upgraded to its current configuration. So the east end of US 830 was there until its decommissioning in 1968. Also, when US 197 was first commissioned in 1952, it was co-signed with US 830 to this same junction (actually, because of a spur connector, there are three relevant junctions). This first photo is looking east on WA hwy. 14:
Elbert, summer 2004
To the left is signed as northbound US 97, but it's actually "Spur US 97" leading to mainline 97. Straight ahead and down the hill is WA 14, but it's also signed as southbound 97. So my guess is that signage for eastbound US 830 (and later US 197) would've ended here. Modern signage in the distance is shown close-up below:
Elbert, summer 2004
Below we're on northbound US 97/westbound WA 14. From this direction, straight ahead would've been signed as the east beginning of US 830 (and later the beginning of US 197):
Elbert, summer 2004
Below is a view from southbound US 97, which continues by turning left ahead (where the van is). Straight ahead is signed as westbound WA 14, but it's actually "Spur US 97" leading to mainline WA 14:
Elbert, summer 2004
So, heading this direction, straight ahead would've been signed as the east beginning of US 830 (and later the beginning of US 197). The turning van will soon reach the junction with mainline WA 14, shown below:
Elbert, summer 2004
Southbound US 97 continues to the left with eastbound WA 14. Of course westbound WA 14 is to the right, but it's not signed that way because drivers here would've already had an opportunity to go that direction (via Spur 97). Likewise, although US 830 (and later US 197) was to the right, it probably wouldn't have been signed here.
US 830 was decommissioned in 1968, replaced with WA 14. When WA DoT removed the 830 signs, they also removed the US 197 signs between here and Dallesport. AASHTO wasn't informed about this until nearly 40 years later, so even though the signed end of US 197 has long been near Dallesport, AASHTO's records indicated that this junction near Maryhill was its official north end until 2006 (more on my main US 197 page).