Claypool Tunnel

Just east of Superior in the Queen Creek Canyon there is a forgotten work of engineering. In the early 1920's the Claypool Tunnel was bored through solid rock to allow US 60 to join the towns of Superior and Claypool (Claypool is about 20 miles east). The road was not a place for the unwary driver, with numerous switchbacks and steep dropoffs.

In 1952, US 60 through the Canyon was realigned, and a new bridge (Pinto Creek) and tunnel (Queen Creek) was built. With the new alignment, the Claypool Tunnel, the original Queen Creek Bridge, and and a few miles of the old US 60 were decertified. Though the old US 60 hasn't seen traffic in a long time, it's still there. If you're driving east on US 60 through Queen Creek Canyon, you'll catch occasional glimpses of the road and the old bridge.

If you'd like to see more of the old US 60 through Queen Creek Canyon, see Portrait of a Highway in Polar Inertia.

Disclaimer: I wrote that article in Polar Inertia. Even if you don't like my writing or photos, don't let that stop you from visiting the rest of the site.