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On shifting sands - the Old Plank Road
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From 1915 to 1926, the Old Plank Road brought much desired automobile traffic from Arizona to San Diego and paved the way for the building of US 80 and ultimately Interstate 8. What this road did was enable a vehicle to cross a mountain of sand known as the Imperial Sand Dunes and in so doing created an intercontinental link to San Diego. Only a span of the road is left but preserved for viewing in an area just off Interstate 8.The dunes presented a challenge to early explorers going back to Juan Bautista de Anza. Many sought to avoid the area altogether by heading south through Mexico or north straight to Los Angeles. But San Diego was the loser, especially in the days prior to an intercontinental railway link. Without a link to the east, San Diego was missing out on commerce and the dunes were directing traffic north.
The original road was laid in 1915 and improved upon a year later. Its wood construction allowed it to ride on top of the sand. The improved road consisted of 8 foot by 12 foot sections held together by metal bands. They were pre-fabricated at Ogilby and put in place by horse teams. The crews that built and maintained the road lived at Grays Well, a small community created as a result of the project and named after Newt Gray of Holtville who supervised and supported the undertaking.
Gray sunk a well and built a small town to serve the some 3,000 daily vehicles that traversed the road. He built cabins, a restaurant, and a gas station, none of which exists today.
The dunes that Plank Road conquered span 40 miles long and five miles in width. They can reach 300 feet in height and shift with the winds. The section of Interstate 8 that runs through this area has huge dunes on either side.
With the completion of US 80 through the area in 1926, Plank Road fell into disuse overnight and quickly started to disappear altogether. The only remaining section is preserved for viewing just 10 minutes from Interstate 8.
From San Diego, go east 130 miles on Interstate 8. Take the Gray’s Road exit and proceeding west for 3.3 miles. There is some shade, a picnic table and restrooms.
One other sample of the road is well preserved and indoor at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park, located at 201 N. 4th Avenue Yuma, AZ 85364. Phone (928) 329-0471.
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