Nevada State Route 163
Encyclopedia
State Route 163 often referred to as the Laughlin Highway, is a state highway
in southern Clark County
, Nevada
. The route connects the town of Laughlin
to the rest of the state via U.S. Route 95
(US 95).
SR 163 and Arizona State Route 95 provide the next closest public Colorado River
crossing to Hoover Dam
. Due to the restriction of commercial vehicles over the dam since the September 11th attacks, SR 163 comprised part of the required detour for truck traffic traveling between the Las Vegas
and Phoenix
metropolitan areas until October 2010, when the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge just downstream from the dam was opened to traffic.
Prior to the renumbering of Nevada state routes in the late 1970s, SR 163 previously comprised the northern part of State Route 76 and all of State Route 77.
State Route 163 begins as a four-lane divided highway
at its junction with US 95 just north of the California
state line. From there, the highway negotiates some fairly steep mountain grades as it heads loses elevation heading east toward Laughlin. Just outside of Laughlin, the divided highway comes together and intersects Casino Drive before crossing the Colorado River and entering Bullhead City
, Arizona
on Arizona State Route 95.
) site and a western terminus at former State Route 76 (now an unnumbered road), which connected to US 95 north of the current US 95/SR 163 junction. By 1947, the west end of SR 76 was realigned and paved; along with a paved SR 77, this new pavement would eventually form the majority of SR 163. As of 1973, the southern part of SR 76 was removed from the state highway system and SR 77 was extended to US 95 along the paved alignment of the former SR 76.
In 1978, Nevada's highway department began a project to simplify and renumber the state highway system. SR 77 was reassigned to State Route 163 during this process.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in southern Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The route connects the town of Laughlin
Laughlin, Nevada
Laughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is south of Las Vegas, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census, the...
to the rest of the state via U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 95 is a major U.S. highway traversing the state from north to south directly through Las Vegas and providing connections to both Carson City and Reno...
(US 95).
SR 163 and Arizona State Route 95 provide the next closest public Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
crossing to Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
. Due to the restriction of commercial vehicles over the dam since the September 11th attacks, SR 163 comprised part of the required detour for truck traffic traveling between the Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
metropolitan areas until October 2010, when the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge just downstream from the dam was opened to traffic.
Prior to the renumbering of Nevada state routes in the late 1970s, SR 163 previously comprised the northern part of State Route 76 and all of State Route 77.
Route description
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
at its junction with US 95 just north of the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
state line. From there, the highway negotiates some fairly steep mountain grades as it heads loses elevation heading east toward Laughlin. Just outside of Laughlin, the divided highway comes together and intersects Casino Drive before crossing the Colorado River and entering Bullhead City
Bullhead City, Arizona
Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, roughly south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
on Arizona State Route 95.
History
State Route 77 first appear on Nevada state maps in 1942 as an unimproved road. At that time, SR 77 had an eastern terminus near the Bulls Head Dam (later Davis DamDavis Dam
Davis Dam is a dam on the Colorado River about downstream from Hoover Dam. It stretches across the border between Arizona and Nevada. Originally called Bullhead Dam, Davis Dam was renamed after Arthur Powell Davis, who was the director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1914 to 1932...
) site and a western terminus at former State Route 76 (now an unnumbered road), which connected to US 95 north of the current US 95/SR 163 junction. By 1947, the west end of SR 76 was realigned and paved; along with a paved SR 77, this new pavement would eventually form the majority of SR 163. As of 1973, the southern part of SR 76 was removed from the state highway system and SR 77 was extended to US 95 along the paved alignment of the former SR 76.
In 1978, Nevada's highway department began a project to simplify and renumber the state highway system. SR 77 was reassigned to State Route 163 during this process.