View source for Interstate 40 in California

{{short description|Interstate highway in California}}
{{For|the historic Highway 40 in Northern California|U.S. Route 40 in California}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{highway detail hatnote|Interstate 40}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=I
|route=40
|alternate_name=Needles Freeway
|section=340
|maint=[[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]]
|map={{maplink-road|from=Interstate 40 in California.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-40 highlighted in red
|length_mi=154.64
|length_round=3
|length_ref=<ref name=calnexus/>
|established={{start date|1964}}
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=CA|I|15}} in [[Barstow, California|Barstow]]
|junction={{Jct|state=CA|US|95}} in [[Needles, California|Needles]]
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=AZ|I|40}} at the [[Arizona]] state line near [[Topock, Arizona|Topock, AZ]]
|counties=[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=39
|next_type=SR
|next_route=41
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;40''' ('''I-40''') is a major east–west [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate Highway]] in the United States, stretching from [[Barstow, California]], to [[Wilmington, North Carolina]]. The segment of I-40 in California is sometimes called the '''Needles Freeway'''. It passes through the eastern fringe of the [[Inland Empire]] metropolitan area, going east from its western terminus at [[Interstate 15 in California|I-15]] in Barstow across the [[Mojave Desert]] in [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]] past the [[Clipper Mountains]] to [[Needles, CA|Needles]], before it crosses over the [[Colorado River]] into [[Arizona]] east of Needles. All {{convert|155|mi|km}} of I-40 in California are in San Bernardino County.

==Route description==
[[File:Start of Interstate 40.jpg|thumb|left|A 1997 photo of the mileage sign at the start of I-40 in Barstow, showing the distance to the freeway's eastern terminus in Wilmington, North Carolina. This sign had been stolen several times.<ref name="starnews"/>]]

The entirety of I-40 in California is designated as '''Route 40''' in the state highway system. The California Streets and Highways Code defines it as follows in section 340: "Route 40 is from [[Interstate 15 in California|Route 15]] at [[Barstow, California|Barstow]] to the [[Arizona]] state line near [[Topock, Arizona]] via [[Needles, California|Needles]]."<ref>[https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=340. California Code, SHC 340.]</ref>

I-40 goes through the [[Mojave Desert]] on the entirety of its run through California. The highway starts its eastward journey at a junction with [[Interstate 15 in California|I-15]] in [[Barstow, California|Barstow]]. The freeway passes through [[Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow]] before leaving the city limits. I-40 provides access to the town of [[Daggett, California|Daggett]] but passes south of the town. After passing south of the [[Barstow-Daggett Airport]], I-40 goes through [[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]] and [[Ludlow, California|Ludlow]] before traveling along the south end of [[Mojave National Preserve]]. Several miles east of the preserve, I-40 intersects [[US 95 (CA)|U.S. Route&nbsp;95]] (US&nbsp;95), and the two highways run concurrently into the city of [[Needles, California|Needles]]. In Needles, US&nbsp;95 continues south while I-40 continues east through [[Mojave National Preserve]] and across the [[Colorado River]] into [[Arizona]].<ref name="tgsbd">{{Cite map |publisher = Thomas Brothers |title = San Bernardino County Street Atlas |year = 2008 }}</ref> The maximum speed limit for the entire California segment of I-40 is {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.

I-40 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]] and is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref><ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=californiasouth|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref> I-40 is eligible for the [[State Scenic Highway System (California)|State Scenic Highway System]],<ref name="scenic">{{CA scenic}}</ref> but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the [[California Department of Transportation]].<ref name="caltransscenic">{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> I-40 from I-15 to the Arizona state line is known as the Needles Freeway, as named by Senate Concurrent Resolution&nbsp;1 in 1968.<ref>{{CA Named Freeways | pages=33}}</ref>

==History==
In 1957, the California Department of Highways proposed that the route be numbered as I-30 because of the already existing [[U.S. Route 40 in California|US&nbsp;40]] in the state. However, this was rejected, and, eventually, US&nbsp;40 was decommissioned in favor of [[Interstate 80 in California|I-80]].

Today, the Needles Freeway replaced the former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]] across the Mojave Desert. As a result, a number of communities along the former route, like [[Amboy, California|Amboy]], have become [[ghost-town]]s.<ref name="LAT01">{{cite news |first = Mike |last = Anton |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-17-me-amboy17-story.html |title = Destiny in the desert |work = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date = January 17, 2007 |access-date = November 29, 2011 }}</ref>

In the early 1960s, [[Project Carryall]], a component of [[Project Plowshare]], would have detonated 22&nbsp;nuclear explosions to excavate a massive roadcut through the [[Bristol Mountains]] to accommodate a better alignment of I-40 and a new rail line. This proposal was abandoned by the California State Department of Highways in 1968.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=51451 |title = Project Carryall Marker |publisher = Hmdb.org |date = January 9, 2012 |access-date = January 25, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url = http://pubsindex.trb.org/view.aspx?id=110048 |title = Preliminary Design Studies In A Nuclear Excavation: Project Carryall |journal = TRB Publications Index |date = July 26, 1994 |issue = 50 |access-date = January 25, 2013 |last1 = Fry |first1 = J. G. |last2 = Stane |first2 = R. A. |last3 = Crutchfield Jr |first3 = W. H. }}</ref> The section between Ludlow and Needles was constructed using conventional explosives and excavation and designed with culverts for migrating [[Bighorn sheep]] and water tanks. It opened to traffic on April 13, 1973.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 14, 1973 |title=Barstow-Needles highway realigned for 67 miles |page=9 |work=[[Redlands Daily Facts]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts-barstow-needles-hig/130958000/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=August 30, 2023}}</ref>

A sign at that start of I-40 in Barstow showing the distance to [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], had been stolen multiple times.<ref name="starnews">{{cite news |url = http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091112/ARTICLES/911129963/1004?Title=I-40-Barstow-Calif-sign-gone-for-good |title = I-40 Barstow, Calif., sign gone for good |work = [[Star-News]] |date = November 13, 2009 |access-date = November 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307144525/http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091112/ARTICLES/911129963/1004?Title=I-40-Barstow-Calif-sign-gone-for-good | archive-date=March 7, 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Exit list==
{{CAinttop|exit|county=San Bernardino
|length_ref=<ref name=calnexus/>
|exit_ref=<ref name=calnexus>{{cite web |date = December 26, 2016 |publisher = [[California Department of Transportation]] |work = [[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]] |url = https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/exit/f0017883-40-a11y.pdf |title = Interstate 40 Freeway Interchanges |access-date = July 17, 2021 }}</ref>}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Barstow
|lspan=5
|mile=0.00
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|15|dir1=south|to2=to|SR|58|dir2=west|city1=San Bernardino}}
|notes=Western terminus; access to I-15 north via exit 1; I-15 north exit 184A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=0.79
|mspan=2
|exit=1
|espan=2
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|Montara Road|to2=yes|CR|66}}
|notes=Eastbound signage
}}
{{CAint
|type=concur
|mile=none
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|East Main Street|BL|15|dab2=Barstow|US-Hist|66|name3={{jct|state=CA|CR|66|noshield1=yes}}|I|15|to4=yes|dir4=north|location1=[[Las Vegas]]}}
|notes=Westbound signage; west end of CR 66 overlap; former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=2.35
|exit=2
|road=[[Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow|Marine Corps Logistics Base]] (East Main Street)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=4.71
|exit=5
|road={{jctname|state=CA|CR|66|noshield=yes|dir1=east|name1=Nebo Street}}
|notes=East end of CR 66 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|type=concur
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Daggett
|mile=7.18
|exit=7
|road=A Street&nbsp;– [[Daggett, California|Daggett]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=12.19
|exit=12
|road=Airport Road&nbsp;– [[Barstow-Daggett Airport]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Newberry Springs
|mile=18.45
|exit=18
|road=[[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]] ([[County Route 66 (California)|CR 66]])
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=23.33
|exit=23
|road=Fort Cady Road&nbsp;– [[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=28.50
|place=Desert Oasis Rest Area
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=32.50
|exit=33
|road=Hector Road
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Ludlow
|mile=49.98
|exit=50
|road=[[Ludlow, California|Ludlow]] ([[County Route 66 (California)|CR 66]])
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=78.17
|exit=78
|road=[[Kelbaker Road]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=99.73
|exit=100
|road=Essex Road&nbsp;– [[Essex, San Bernardino County, California|Essex]]
|notes=<!--Not listed on the primary guide signs, only on the brown-secondary signs-->Serves [[Providence Mountains State Recreation Area]], [[Mojave National Preserve]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=106.94
|place=John Wilkie Rest Area&nbsp;– [[Fenner, California|Fenner]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Fenner
|mile=107.17
|exit=107
|road={{jctname|state=CA|CR|66|noshield=yes|name1=Goffs Road|city1=Essex}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=115.19
|exit=115
|road=Mountain Springs Road
|notes=former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]] west
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=119.97
|exit=120
|road=Water Road
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=132.73
|exit=133
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|95|dir1=north|location1=[[Searchlight, Nevada|Searchlight]]|location2=[[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]}}
|notes=West end of US 95 overlap; former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]] west
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Needles
|lspan=4
|type=incomplete
|mile=139.11
|exit=139
|road=River Road Cutoff
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US 66]] east
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=141.01
|exit=141
|road={{jct|state=CA|road|W. Broadway|name1={{jct|state=CA|BL|40|dir1=east|noshield=yes}}<!--on auxiliary sign-->|road|River Road|name2={{jct|state=CA|US-Hist|66|noshield=yes}} }}
|notes=Former [[US 66 (CA)|US 66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=142.37
|exit=142
|road=J Street&nbsp;– [[Needles, California|Downtown Needles]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=143.76
|exit=144
|road={{Jct|state=CA|US|95|dir1=south|US-Hist|66|name2={{jct|state=CA|road|E. Broadway|BL|40|dir2=west|noshield2=yes}}|city1=Blythe}}
|notes=East end of US 95 overlap; former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US 66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=148.19
|exit=148
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|Five Mile Road}}
|notes=Former [[US 66 (CA)|US 66]]
}}
{{jctplace|exit
|state=CA
|location=none
|type=incomplete
|mile=149.10
|place=Agricultural Inspection Station (westbound)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=153.31
|exit=153
|road=Park Moabi Road
}}
{{jctbridge|exit
|location_special=[[Colorado River]]
|lspan=2
|mile=154.64
|mspan=2
|bridge=[[California]]–[[Arizona]] line
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=AZ|I|40|dir1=east|city1=Kingman}}
|notes=Continuation into Arizona
}}
{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==Related routes==
California does not have any auxiliary Interstate Highways associated with I-40.

One [[Interstate 40 Business (Needles, California)|business loop of I-40]] exists in the state, running through [[Needles, California|Needles]]. It is also designated as Historic Route 66 since it follows the former routing of [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]].
{{Clear}}

==See also==
* {{portal-inline|California Roads}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{CASR external links|I|40}}
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-040.html Interstate 40] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329094617/http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-040.html |date=March 29, 2010 }} @ Interstate-Guide.com
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/business-routes/bus40.html Interstate 40 Business] @ Interstate-Guide.com
* [http://www.aaroads.com/california/i-040_ca.html Interstate 40] at California @ AARoads.com
* [http://www.cahighways.org/033-040.html#040 Interstate 40] at California Highways

{{state detail page browse|type=I|route=40|state=California|stateafter=Arizona}}
{{3di|40}}

[[Category:Interstate Highways in California|40]]
[[Category:Southern California freeways]]
[[Category:Roads in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Interstate 40| California]]