From 1926-1969 the northern terminus of US Route 99 was located in the city of Blaine, Washington at the Canadian border. When US Route 99 was first designated it followed the existing Pacific Highway alignment through the city and terminated at so-called Pacific Highway Border Crossing. The mainline of US Route 99 would shift to the Peace Arch Border Crossing in 1940 following the completion of King George Highway by British Columbia.
Following the relocation of mainline US Route 99 to the Peace Arch Border Crossing it followed Peace Portal Drive completely through Blaine. The original Pacific Highway alignment continued to follow D Street and 12th Street as US Route 99 Alternate. Mainline US Route 99 would be shifted onto a multiplex of Interstate 5 in 1965 following the completion of the freeway from Dakota Creek to the Peace Arch.
US Route 99 and US Route 99A can both be seen terminating in Blaine at the Canadian border on the 1956 Shell Highway map of Washington.
This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and its three-digit child routes check out the link the below.
Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Blaine
Blaine was settled during the latter half of the 19th century as a seaport along Drayton Harbor. The community is named after Maine Senator James G. Blaine who made an unsuccessful Presidential run in the 1884 election. Blaine would incorporate as a city on May 20, 1890.
In 1913 the Pacific Highway was established as an organized Auto Trail Association borne out of the Good Roads movement. Said Auto Trail was founded by Sam Hill who acted as the President of the Pacific Highway Association. The purpose of the Auto Trail was to create a singular Sign Route between San Diego, California north to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Within Washington the Pacific Highway was codified as a State Highway by way of 1913 Legislative Chapter 65. As legislatively defined the Pacific Highway was designated to begin at the Canadian border in Blaine.
The Pacific Highway southbound entered Washington from the Canadian border via 12th Street in Blaine. This crossing had been constructed in 1913 specifically as part of the Pacific Highway corridor. The so-called "Pacific Highway Border Crossing" was constructed approximately 1,000 feet east of a previous border station located on the Great Northern Railway. This border station had been constructed in 1891 but moved with the railroad west to run along Drayton Harbor in 1909. The border site on Drayton Harbor would later become known as the Peace Arch Border Crossing (see Part 2).
The original alignment of the Great Northern Railway can be seen passing through Blaine via a grade close to what is now 8th Street on the 1907 United States Geological Survey map of Blaine.
The Pacific Highway was designated as Primary State Highway 1 by way of 1923 Legislative Chapter 185. A ceremony was held the same year at border station in Blaine to commemorate the completion of paving the British Columbia segment of the Pacific Highway.
The Pacific Highway (4) and Evergreen National Highway (5) can be seen using Primary State Highway 1 to reach the Canadian border at Blaine 1925 Rand McNally map of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The highway alignment through Blaine is shown to use what is now Peace Portal Drive, D Street and 12th Street.
The US Route System was formally approved by the American Association of State Highway Engineers (AASHO) on November 11, 1926. which formally brought US Route 99 into existence. US Route 99 overlaid the existing Pacific Highway (in Washington) and Primary State Highway 1. The description of US Route 99 can be seen on the November 11, 1926, AASHO descriptions of the US Routes in Washington State.
US Route 99 initially inherited the alignment of the Pacific Highway in Blaine and can be seen terminating at the border via 12th Street on the 1927 Rand McNally Map of Washington State.
The exact timing for the designation of US Route 99 Alternate isn't fully clear as no record of it exists in the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) database. Washington State often did not often follow AASHO guidelines regarding making requests of the Executive Committee for bannered routes.
During September 1940 the corridor of US Route 99 in Washington would be designated as the Jefferson Davis Highway. This plaque can be found just east of the Peace Arch along the International Border (courtesy Dale Sanderson of usends.com). The plaque was removed in 2003 as a temporary measure due to the controversial nature of it being placed by a Confederacy group.
British Columbia Highways 99 and 99 Alternate were both commissioned in 1942 north of the border crossing at Blaine. Mainline British Columbia Highway 99 began at the terminus of US Route 99 at the Peace Arch and followed King George Highway towards Vancouver. British Columbia Highway 99 Alternate began at the terminus of US Route 99 Alternate at end of 12th Street and followed the Pacific Highway alignment towards Fraser Highway. These highways can all be seen in the Blaine area on the 1944 State Farm Highway map of Washington.
Mainline US Route 99 can be seen following Peace Portal Drive through downtown Blaine to the Peace Arch Border Crossing on the 1952 United States Geological Survey map of Birch Point.
US Route 99 Alternate can be seen passing through Blaine via D Street and 12th Street on the 1952 United States Geological Survey map of Blaine.
US Route 99 and US Route 99A can both be seen terminating in Blaine at the Canadian border on the 1956 Shell Highway map of Washington.
On June 29, 1956, the Federal Highway Aid Act of 1956 was signed into law on the Federal Level. The Federal Highway Aid Act of 1956 was the genesis point of the Interstate Highway System which would in the coming decade sew the demise via of US Route 99 in Washington via replacement by Interstate 5.
In 1958 the original British Columbia Highway 99 Alternate along Pacific Highway was renumbered as British Columbia Highway 15. It is not clear if US Route 99 Alternate in Blaine reverted to only being designated Primary State Highway 1 Truck Route as no map of the era is detailed enough to tell.
Interstate 5 in the Blaine area was constructed in two segments. The first segment extending from Dakota Creek southward 11 miles towards Ferndale opened on October 29, 1963. The second segment from Dakota Creek north to the Peace Arch Border Crossing opened on November 23, 1965. The terminus of Interstate 5 is described in a Vancouver Sun article days prior to opening to traffic. The freeway grade is cited to stop approximately 400 feet from the border.
Upon Interstate 5 being completed in the Blaine area the surface routing of US Route 99 along Peace Portal Drive was relinquished. US Route 99 effectively was multiplexed with Interstate 5 to the Peace Arch Border Crossing but likely wasn't signed. Interstate 5 can be seen reaching the Canadian border at Blaine on the 1966 Washington Department of Highways map.
On June 24, 1969, the AASHO Executive Commitee approved a request by the Washington State Highway Commission to eliminate US Route 99 in Washington. The Washington State Highway Commission approved a motion to eliminate US Route 99 on April 22, 1969. The justification to eliminate US Route 99 in Washington State was to avoid confusion and cost associated with signing the highway concurrent on much of Interstate 5.
Primary State Highway 1 Truck Route in Blaine was reassigned as Washington State Route 543 as part of the 1964 State Highway Renumbering. The city of Blaine in 1970 would approve a realignment of this highway via an expressway grade which connected Interstate 5 directly to the Pacific Highway Border Crossing. The modern alignment of Washington State Route 543 would open to traffic on January 20, 1972. The then new alignment appears in a Bellingham Herald article (dated January 20, 1972).
The modern alignment of Washington State Route 543 connecting Interstate 5 to the Pacific Highway Border Crossing appears on the 1973 Washington Department of Highways map.
During February 1991 part of former US Route 99 in Blaine along Peace Portal Drive between Interstate 5 Exit 276 and Blaine Road was recommissioned in the State Highway System as part of Washington State Route 548.
Washington State Route 548 appears for the first time on the 1992 Washington State Department of Transportation map. The highway connects Blaine to the outskirts of Ferndale via a 13.85-mile course following Peach Portal Drive, Blain Road and Grandview Road.
Part 2; a drive along northbound Interstate 5 to the Peace Arch
As northbound Interstate 5 approaches Blaine traffic is advised the Canadian border can be reached two-ways. Traffic is advised the Pacific Highway Border Crossing is accessible by taking Washington State Route 543 from Exit 275. Peace Arch Border Crossing traffic is directed to stay on Interstate 5.
From northbound Interstate 5 in Blaine traffic can reach Peace Arch State Park and Washington State Route 548 via Exit 276. Non-border traffic is advised to depart the freeway into downtown Blaine.
Northbound Interstate 5 terminates at the Peace Arch itself and becomes British Columbia Highway 99 at the border boundary. This definition aligns with the Federal Highway Administration description of Interstate 5 which has it reach the Canadian border. This was the northern terminus of US Route 99 between 1940-1969.
The 67-foot-high Peace Arch was dedicated on September 6, 1921. The structure was an initiative spurred in 1914 by Samuel Hill who was then a lawyer of the Great Northern Railway. The structure is intended to commemorate the 1814 Treaty of Ghent as a symbol of the long-standing peace between the United States and Canada. The arch is accessible to foot traffic via Peach Arch Park. The Washington State Park portion was designated in 1931 which was followed by the British Columbia Provincial Park being designated during 1939. The park serves as a neutral ground between the border inspection stations which can roamed freely by visitors.
Part 3; a drive on the former alignment of US Route 99 on Peace Portal Drive in downtown Blaine
Southbound British Columbia Highway 99 terminates at the Peach Arch and becomes Interstate 5. This would have been the southbound beginning of US Route 99 from 1940-1969.
Interstate 5 southbound passes through the customs inspection station and emerges onto Exit 276 towards Washington State Route 548/Peace Portal Drive. The present facility at the Peace Arch Border Crossing was completed in 2009.
The former alignment of US Route 99 along Peach Portal Drive is carried by Washington State Route 548 through downtown Blaine. At Blaine Road the State Highway corridor makes a right-hand turn southward. US Route 99 would have crossed Dakota Creek towards Custer via Portal Way. A ramp to southbound Interstate 5 can be found just beyond Blaine Road.
Comments