Historic Photos of Interstate 80 Construction Over the Sierra Nevada
In California, Interstate 80 is a primary route over the Sierra Nevada. For nearly 100 miles, this roadway transects the range. Construction on Interstate 80 in California began in 1956, following the signing of the Interstate Highway Act which was passed during the Eisenhower Administration. Construction through the Sierra occurred mostly in the early 1960s. The highway was not completed until 1964.
This photo gallery includes official images of I-80 construction from the Sierra College area to Truckee. The photos are from the files of the California Department of Public Works, Division of Highways (the precursor of today’s CalTrans).
Gallery
| Click on any image for a larger version. | ||
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| 1957 - Between Nevada State Line and Truckee - Floriston area | 1958 - Between Auburn and Colfax - looking west | 1958 - Colfax area |
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| 1958 - Near Kingvale | 1959 - Auburn | 1959 - Auburn |
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| 1959 - Blue Canyon, West of Nyack | 1959 - Near Baxter | 1961 - Near Alta |
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| 1961- Donner Summit | 1962 - Hwy 40 Donner Pass | 1963 - Donner Summit |
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| 1963 - Truckee | 1963 - Donner Summit | 1963 - Truckee |
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| 1963 - Donner Summit | 1963 - Truckee | 1963 - Donner Summit |
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| 1963 - Donner Summit | 1963 - Donner Summit | 1963 - Donner Lake |
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| 1963 - Donner Lake | 1963 - Donner Lake | 1963 - Donner Lake |
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| 1963 - Donner Lake | 1963 - Donner Lake | 1963 - Donner Lake |
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| 1963 - Donner Lake | 1963 - Whitmore Maintenance Station | 1963 - Whitmore Maintenance Station |
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| 1963 - Big Bend | 1963 - East of Dutch Flat | 1963 - Hwy 40, Rainbow Lodge |
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| 1963 - Kingvale Maintenance Station | 1963 - Old Roadbed Near Cisco Grove | 1963 - West of Donner Summit |
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| 1963 - Whitmore Maintenance Station | ||