State Route 73, also known as SR 73, is a U-shaped state highway, though it is signed north–south, primarily serving the
Fort Apache Indian Reservation in eastern
Arizona. SR 73 begins at a junction with the
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is a major east–west United States highway, traveling from southwestern Arizona to the Atlantic Ocean coast in Virginia.
The highway's eastern terminus is in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where it is known as Pacific Avenue, in the ...
/
State Route 77 concurrency near
Carrizo, travels southeast to
Fort Apache and
Whiteriver, then bends north-northeast until intersecting
State Route 260 near the Hon-Dah Resort Casino.
Apart from its termini, the current SR 73 intersects no other US or state routes.
Route description
The clockwise (southern) terminus of SR 73 is located at a junction with US 60 southwest of Show Low. From this intersection, the highway heads southeast within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. It passes through
Cedar Creek and curves towards the east before passing through
Canyon Day. Continuing towards the east, it reaches
Fort Apache, where it turns towards the northeast. It continues to the northeast on to
Whiteriver, where it begins to head towards more of a northerly direction. It continues north through the Fort Apache Indian Reservation until it reaches its counterclockwise (northern) terminus at a junction with SR 260 east of
McNary.
History
SR 73 was designated on September 9, 1927 as one of the original state routes, running from
US 180 in
San Carlos (then known as Rice) to a junction with a county road at
McNary. In 1929, it was extended northeast along existing county roads to
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 or U.S. Highway 70 (US 70) is an east–west United States highway that runs for from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. It is a major east–west highway of the Southeastern United States, Southeastern, Southern Unite ...
(US 70, now US 60) at
Springerville
Springerville is a town in Apache County, Arizona, United States, within the White Mountains. Its postal ZIP Code is 85938. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 1,961.
Springerville sits at an elevation of above sea level. A ...
. At the same time, SR 73 was extended southwest from Rice to
Cutter
Cutter may refer to:
Tools
* Bolt cutter
* Box cutter, aka Stanley knife, a form of utility knife
* Cigar cutter
* Cookie cutter
* Glass cutter
* Meat cutter
* Milling cutter
* Paper cutter
* Side cutter
* Cutter, a type of hydraulic rescue to ...
, taking over the old route of US 180 between Rice and Cutter. This was due to US 180 being re-routed to the southwest, over the
Coolidge Dam. By 1939, SR 73 had been removed between Cutter and McNary, after being bypassed and replaced by the newly completed US 60 between Springerville and Globe, via
Show Low.
In 1972, portions were transferred to
SR 260.
Junction list
References
External links
{{Attached KML, display=title,inline
SR 73 at Arizona Roads
073
Transportation in Gila County, Arizona
Transportation in Navajo County, Arizona