The Old Plank Road is a plank road in Imperial County, California, that was built in 1915 as an east–west route over the Algodones Dunes. It effectively connected the extreme lower section of Southern California to Arizona and provided the last link in a commercial route between San Diego and Yuma. [3] [4]

In February of 1915, 13,000 wooden planks were hauled out to the sand dunes and workers began fastening them into a driveable boardwalk across the sands. Construction lasted two months and in the...

The Old Plank Road, also known as the Imperial Plank Road, was an innovative transportation project constructed in the early 20th century in Imperial County, in the US state of California. Built in 1915, the road ran through the Algodones Dunes, a large sand dune field.

Journey back to 1916 and uncover the incredible story of the Old Plank Road, Using AI-enhanced technology, we’ve brought historical photographs to life, offering a vivid glimpse into the challenges of building and maintaining this remarkable desert road.

Nov 27, 2020 · In November 1850, Wilson proposed building a plank road from San Francisco to Mission Dolores at his own expense. (There was no other option: The city had no money.) In return, the city would...

Completed in 1851, Colonel Wilson’s wooden plank road from San Francisco to the then-distant Mission Dolores was an early attempt to connect the burgeoning city with outlying settlements. Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

This article concerns the life of the plank road, its location and inception in the minds of far-sighted men, its life span (1912 to 1927), the problems of maintenance and travel during the early and late years of existence, and the problems encountered in …

Jul 24, 2023 · Before the Phoenix to San Diego highway was constructed, the Old Plank Road – a seven-mile stretch of roadway built over the Algodones Dunes in Yuma, Arizona. In 1914, the first plank road was constructed.

Fragments of the old Plank Road can still be seen at the west end of Gray’s Well Road, 47 miles east of El Centro, along Interstate 8. A monument and interpretive exhibit at the site commemorate the historical landmark. Photographs are from Ben Blow, California Highways (San Francisco: 1920).

The plank road -- the original Route 80 -- lasted for a dozen years until it was replaced by an asphalt road and then today's four-lane highway. It still crosses the dunes in spots, and a surviving section (with its own historical marker) can be seen from a …