" The Broadway Of America"

    "The Broadway Of America" is the name that was used in reference to U.S. Highway 80. This was in response to "The Main Street Of America," which was the nickname given to highway 80's famous cousin to the north, U.S. Highway 66, better known as "Route 66."
  The Broadway of America, in its heyday, was a true coast to coast highway. It began in Tybee Island, Georgia, on the Atlantic Ocean, and ended in San Diego, California, on the Pacific Ocean, a distance of about 2,500 miles. It was an all-weather route, unlike its famous northern counterpart. Very rarely did any town along highway 80 receive snow.
  Unlike Route 66, which has been entirely decommissioned  by the federal government , U.S. Highway 80 still exists, at least the eastern half of its route still exists as a federal highway. It still begins in Tybee Island, Georgia, but now it ends in Dallas, Texas. The western terminus has been pulled back, piece by piece. In 1974, it was truncated to Gila Bend, Arizona. In  1977, it ended it Benson, Arizona, 45 miles east of Tucson. In 1991, it was truncated back to Monahans, Texas, then, a few years later, the end of the highway was placed in Dallas. The former segments of highway 80 in the West still exist in various forms, such as Interstate Highway Business Loops through towns ( Interstate 8 Business Loop through Yuma, Arizona, for example), state highways, county roads, or city streets. Some parts of it have been abandoned entirely and silently repose under the merciless desert sun.
  In the days before 1926, that is before the current highway numbering system was started, what became U.S. Highway 80 was known as the Bankhead Highway. Before 1926, highways had names instead of numbers. What became U.S. Highway 66 was initially the National Old Trails Highway. What became U.S. Highway 40 was originally the National Road, etc. etc.
  I have explored many old highways, both active and abandoned, and I have found the history of highway 80 to be one of the more fascinating ones. I have seen the entire routing of Old Highway 80 in Yuma County.
  Now that my readers know a little about the history of U.S. Highway 80, I will continue with my writings about Yuma County, Arizona.