and US 84/ in Santa Rosa

North of Santa Fe, looking east at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In the first photo, Santa Fe Baldy is the peak to the left (also seen in the third photo), and Lake Peak is to the right.


US 84 is supposed to be signed east-west in New Mexico, as far as I know. US 285, also along for the ride, runs north-south. This and the sign atop the page are what happens when you combine them. You also get overpasses named after what look like Klingon epithets.


Camel Rock, which actually looks like something from the right angle (looking west), at US 84/285 Exit 175.


Not content with unpronounceable overpasses, New Mexico went for psychedelic art on the retaining walls as well. They especially must like the Bluebird of Indifference, but my favorite is Alcoholic Deerrabbit. These are all on WB/NB walls.


More bluebirds and crows on the EB/SB side, and then a peacock leading several peahens. However, these were apparently left as a puzzle for you to complete. Can you find the oversized pieces to lay into the right slots? Hint: This is not actually what was intended.


I now return you to EB/SB incomprehensibility. New Mexico uses the term "Relief Route" instead of "Bypass" like the other 49 states. NM 599 provides relief to travelers continuing SB on I-25. The name Santa Fe should be centered, because this makes it look like three letters are missing from the end. Santa Felch? No, thanks, I don't believe in him.

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Halfway across the state to Santa Rosa, where Business I-40 ends, US 84 hops onto I-40, and old US 66 momentarily disappears as it has been overtaken by the Interstate. All of that, and the state can't even be bothered to put up its own sign on its own road.


Not unique but still odd, the triplex of 84/Business 40/old 66 picks up US 54 at a green sign instead of an assembly. The clearance sign is also ugly, but at least it uses the right font. (But at least the US 54 sign uses the right spacing and text sizes.)


Once upon a time, US 66 WB turned sharply right after crossing the Pecos River on the west side of Santa Rosa and followed the riverbank for a few blocks before curving back to a NW-SE alignment. In the modern day, you have to turn from US 54/84/Business I-40 onto Serrano Ave., which turns into Riverside Dr., to follow the old road. The railroad overpass is just after the turn, while the curve sign is where Riverside Dr. leaves old 66 to meet US 84/Business 40 at a T instead of the former gentle curve that 66 WB followed.


US 54 got on I-40 at its first opportunity, Exit 275. US 84 stays on old US 66 until Exit 277, and leaves to the southeast. That makes this onramp absolutely nothing now, but it seems to have been where the US 66 freeway once began on the east side of Santa Rosa. Unless you have a better explanation for why the ramp would have an extra lane with yellow paint on the other side of the curb.


Looking back west down the ramp.

Santa Rosa sights (Non-Roads)
Continue east on old US 66 to Quay County
Continue west on old US 66 to Business I-40, Moriarty
Back to US 66 main page
Onto I-40 (US 66's successor) and US 54/I-40
Onto US 54 alone

Back to New Mexico Roads
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