US‑95 Segment Named Gary Knight Memorial Highway in Yuma County
The Arizona Department of Transportation has installed new signs designating mileposts 31–48 of US‑95 in Yuma as the Gary Knight Memorial Highway, honoring the late civic leader and former chair of the Arizona State Transportation Board. The dedication, recognized at a Nov. 6 gathering with ADOT Director Jennifer Toth and local leaders, underscores Knight’s longtime advocacy for regional transportation and highlights the corridor’s role connecting eastern Yuma with Yuma Proving Ground.
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The Arizona Department of Transportation this week installed signage marking mileposts 31 through 48 of U.S. Highway 95 in Yuma as the Gary Knight Memorial Highway. The memorial designation formally recognizes the late Gary Knight, a civic leader who served as chair of the Arizona State Transportation Board and who was known for his sustained advocacy for transportation projects in the region.
The dedication was acknowledged at a Nov. 6 gathering attended by ADOT Director Jennifer Toth and local leaders. ADOT crews placed the signs along the stretch of US‑95 that officials identify as an important corridor linking eastern Yuma with Yuma Proving Ground, a connection that local planners and residents have long viewed as significant for regional mobility.
For Yuma County residents, the designation is a visible acknowledgement of a local figure who influenced state transportation policy and who championed projects affecting daily commutes, freight movement, and regional access. The memorial signage will serve as a reminder along a key route used by people traveling between eastern neighborhoods and strategic installations in the area. Municipal officials say the naming also preserves Knight’s legacy within the physical landscape of local roadways, making his contributions legible to future generations of residents and travelers.
The installation by ADOT is a ceremonial and commemorative step rather than a change in route management. The signs formalize the name for public recognition and reflect cooperation between state transportation authorities and local leadership in honoring civic service. The corridor’s linkage to Yuma Proving Ground was cited by officials as one reason for highlighting Knight’s advocacy, emphasizing the road’s role in connecting communities and federal facilities that contribute to the county’s economy and daily life.
Community stakeholders contend that such dedications can strengthen civic identity by connecting local history to contemporary infrastructure. For drivers, emergency responders and businesses that rely on US‑95, the Gary Knight Memorial Highway designation will appear on the roadside and in local references, reinforcing the route’s place in Yuma County’s transportation network.
As the new signs now stand along mileposts 31–48, the dedication serves both as a tribute to a longtime transportation advocate and as a tangible marker of the corridor’s importance to eastern Yuma’s connectivity. The county and ADOT will continue to manage and maintain the highway consistent with state transportation standards.
