Arizona State Route 69

State Route 69 (SR 69) is a highway that serves as the main road to Prescott, Arizona, from Interstate 17. The highway mainly consists of four-lanes (two per side), although some sections in Prescott and Prescott Valley are wider. Prior to the construction of Interstate 17 in the 1960s and early 1970s, State Route 69 continued south to Phoenix, Arizona, as the Prescott-Phoenix Hwy or Black Canyon Highway on a different alignment, through the ghost towns of Bumble Bee and Cordes.

Route description
The southern terminus of SR 69 is located at exit 262 of I-17, at a spot known as Cordes Junction. It heads northwest from this interchange passing through Mayer before curving towards the north at Poland Junction. It continues north to a junction with SR 169 in Dewey-Humboldt. The highway gradually curves towards the west after this junction as it heads through Prescott Valley. It continues its gradual curve towards the southwest until it curves towards the west near Yavapai Hills. The highway continues towards the west until it reaches its terminus at SR 89 in Prescott.

History
SR 69 was first established as a state highway on May 19, 1936. The new route served as a shorter connection than the pre-existing US 89 from Phoenix to Prescott for northbound travelers. The original route taken by SR 69 reached Mayer from Black Canyon City, by way of Bumble Bee and Cordes. By 1951, a new paved alignment of SR 69 had been constructed between New River and Cordes, bypassing the original road through Bumble Bee. By 1958, SR 69 was re-routed on another new alignment through Cordes Junction, bypassing the remainder old route between New River and Mayer, through Cordes. Despite being bypassed by a newer alignment, the original route was still owned and maintained by the state until December 28, 1962. SR 69 was truncated from Phoenix to Cordes Junction in 1970, after Interstate 17 was completed.