Editing Interstate 8 (section)

====Construction====
[[File:IMPERIAL VALLEY. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (I-8) SLICES THROUGH GREEN CROPLANDS - NARA - 549098.jpg|thumb|left|I-8 in the Imperial Valley, 1972]]
{{See also|U.S. Route 80 in California|Old Plank Road}}
The highway through Imperial Valley was originally a [[plank road]] made of pieces of wood that were tied together.<ref name="newroadlink">{{cite news |title = New Road Links San Diego, Yuma |work = Los Angeles Times |date = June 8, 1975 |last = Vance |first = Fred |page = G3 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref> The Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge across the Colorado River was open in 1915.<ref name="yuma">{{cite news |title = Early Transportation Options Included Plank Road Over Sand Dunes |work = Yuma Sun |date = February 1, 2012 |author = Knaub, Mark }}</ref> Following this, US&nbsp;80 was built through the valley as the main east–west route.<ref>{{cite Caltrans map|year=1936}}</ref> Plans for a new freeway across the southernmost reaches of California date from before 1950.<ref name="plans">{{cite news |title = Completion of Freeway Link Nears |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 22, 1966 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The bridge over the Colorado River was replaced in 1956, at a cost of $1.2&nbsp;million, and was in use until 1978, when the I-8 bridge was built.<ref name="bridgelink">{{cite news |title = Bridge Completes Last Link In Interstate 8 Job |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 19, 1978 |page = A3 }}</ref> In 1957, the City of El Centro expressed a desire for the new freeway to replace US&nbsp;80 to be routed along the southern limits of the city. Caltrans engineer Jacob Dekema stated at the time that the four-lane freeway would not be constructed on the US&nbsp;80 routing due to possible expansion of the [[Naval Air Facility El Centro]].<ref>{{Cite news |title = Highway&nbsp;80 Relocation Outlined |date = March 28, 1957 |work = Los Angeles Times |page = B8 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref>

In October 1964, the portion of I-8 between Imperial Avenue in El Centro to SR&nbsp;111 appeared in the state budget.<ref>{{cite news |title = $42&nbsp;Million OKd for County Roads |work = The San Diego Union |date = October 30, 1964 |page = A2 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> By December, a route for the part of I-8 just west of the Colorado River was being examined by the California Highway Commission.<ref>{{cite news |title = Highway Group Studies New Route |work = The Yuma Sun |date = December 20, 1964 |page = 5 }}</ref> Construction was underway on the stretch from Seeley to SR&nbsp;111 by June 1966, and the entire portion through the county was planned for completion by 1968.<ref>{{cite news |title = High of 110 Predicted for Today |work = The San Diego Union |date = June 19, 1966 |page = A30 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> This {{convert|12.2|mi|km|adj=on}} portion, extending west to Drew Road, was planned for completion by early 1967, at a cost of $200&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|200000000|1967|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars);{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} however, by then, the date for completion of the freeway had slipped to 1972.<ref name="plans"/> The state ordered the building of the portion from west of Coyote Wells to just east of Drew Road in September 1967.<ref>{{cite news |title = Rains Cause Flooding, Power Loss |work = The San Diego Union |date = September 2, 1967 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The next year, Dekema indicated that the goal was to have I-8 completed by 1973, citing a deadline in order to have the federal government pay for up to ninety percent of the costs; the other freeways in the region were to be delayed because of this.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Freeway 8 to Yuma Seen by '73 |last = Hudson |first = Ken |date = April 5, 1968 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>

In early 1970, the portion of the freeway from west of Ogilby Road to east of Algodones Road was under construction, and projections were to have this portion completed by later that year. This $5.2&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|5200000|1970|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} project also included resurfacing the freeway that had already been built through the Colorado Desert Sandhills;<ref name="fruition"/> this part of the freeway had been built between 1961 and 1965.<ref>{{cite Caltrans map|year=1961}}</ref><ref>{{cite Caltrans map|year=1965}}</ref> By this time, it was estimated that the drive from San Diego to El Centro now took 2&nbsp;hours, as opposed to the 3.5&nbsp;hours required two decades earlier, and the two days required in the pioneer era.<ref name="fruition"/> This part of the freeway was opened in July 1970.<ref>{{cite news |title = Interstate 8 Link Ready |work = The San Diego Union |date = July 13, 1970 |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title = Interstate 8 Link Due by Next May |last = MacMillan |first = Doug |date = July 24, 1970 |work = The San Diego Union |edition = Imperial Valley |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> As the freeway was constructed through the valley, it caused a break in many north–south roads. These breaks were located where access to the part of the road on the other side of the freeway was cut off. Plans were put in place to build [[frontage road]]s to improve access through the region.<ref>{{Cite news |title = 1,200&nbsp;Miles of County's Roads Paved |last = Ruane |first = Richard |date = February 21, 1971 |work = The San Diego Union |edition = Imperial Valley |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>

The {{convert|16|mi|km|adj=on}} portion of I-8 bypassing [[Holtville, California|Holtville]] began construction in December&nbsp;1969, and was nearing completion in May 1971, to result in a continuous freeway that connected two existing segments from [[Crestwood, California|Crestwood]] in San Diego County to just west of Winterhaven. It was estimated that the bypass would save travelers 20&nbsp;minutes of travel time through the Imperial Valley. The cost of this project was $11.2&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|11200000|1969|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} However, Holtville residents raised concerns about SR&nbsp;115 providing the only access to the eastern part of the city,<ref>{{cite news |title = Final Work Being Done On Freeway |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 18, 1971 |author = Staff |page = B1 |edition = Imperial Valley |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> notably the narrow and curved portion leading from the freeway into town. Work on the Holtville portion began at 3:30&nbsp;a.m. daily during the summer in order to avoid the desert heat. In addition to this, construction of the [[Highline Canal]] overpass involved a {{convert|120|ft|m|adj=on}} steel span that was prefabricated and made of girders that were hoisted into position by barges. The Matich Construction Company attempted to set the world record for laying the most concrete in a day, aided by the level terrain, but failed to do so after the [[concrete mixer]] malfunctioned.<ref>{{cite news |title = Interstate 8 Link To Open Near Holtville Next Month |work = The San Diego Union |date = April 29, 1971 |last = MacMillan |first = Doug |page = B1 |edition = Imperial Valley |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> That same year, bids for an Arizona plant inspection station near Winterhaven, next to the California agricultural inspection station, were submitted.<ref>{{cite news |title = El Centro Firm's Bid Low For Inspection Station |work = The San Diego Union |date = September 18, 1970 |page = B1 |edition = Imperial Valley |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>

The last {{convert|6.5|mi|km|adj=on}} part of the California portion, from near Algodones Road to west of the Arizona state line, was to enter the bidding phase in early 1972.<ref>{{cite news |title = Vegetable Shipments Up |work = The San Diego Union |date = December 15, 1971 |author = Staff |page = B1 |edition = Imperial Valley |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> I-8 was scheduled to be completed in the summer of 1975 between San Diego and Yuma, although there would be a break in the freeway around Yuma;<ref name="newroadlink"/> this occurred by October 1975.<ref name="bridgelink"/> At the time the California portion was completed, it was the preferred route to Phoenix from some areas of Los Angeles, since [[Interstate 10 in Arizona|I-10]] had not been completed.<ref name="newroadlink"/>

The missing portion of the highway was the new bridge over the Colorado River, which was built at a cost of $7.4&nbsp;million<ref name="bridgelink"/> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|7400000|1975|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} In June 1975, there were concerns regarding the state delaying new construction projects due to financial concerns, and the effects this would have on the bridge.<ref>{{cite news |title = State Orders Halt In New Road Projects |work = The San Diego Union |date = June 19, 1975 |author = Staff |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The bid for the project was awarded to Novo-Rados Construction in October 1975, as one of the final projects before the construction freeze.<ref>{{Cite news |title = $14.9&nbsp;Million Road Project Awarded to Daley Corp. |date = October 4, 1975 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B5 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The new bridge, which replaced the old US&nbsp;80 bridge, was dedicated on August&nbsp;18, 1978; this completed I-8 from San Diego to Casa Grande. The Arizona Department of Transportation and the City of Yuma assisted in the planning process. By the time the California portion of the freeway was complete, the average cost was $1&nbsp;million per mile<ref name="bridgelink"/> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|1000000|1978|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} The bridge opened on September&nbsp;20, 1978. The State of California was responsible for the bridge erection, even though the State of Arizona owned half of the bridge.<ref name="finish">{{cite news |title = Yuma I-8 Bridge Opens |work = The San Diego Union |date = September 21, 1978 |page = B4 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>