southern route from el centro to blyth or el centro to yuma

[forrest]

I am going to ride from San Diego Phoenix this October and I am trying to find out which way is the safest once I get to  El Centro.  Either El Centro to Yuma then to Quartzite or El Centro to Blythe then through Quartzite.  Are you able to ride on I8 to Yuma from El Centro or is there a frontage road.  If you have ridden these routes let me know and if you have an recommendation for either and what you experience was.  Thanks

[aggie]

Much of the way along I8 from El Centro to Yuma there are frontage roads.  In a couple of spots you will have to ride on the shoulder of the interstate.  http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/departments/planning/pdfs/bikes_fwy_shoulder_d11_01122010.pdf    Not sure of the condition of the roads though.  Unless you have a particular reason to go to Yuma why don't you follow ACA's Southern Tier map to Quartzite.  It is on roads that don't have a lot of traffic.  I never enjoyed my time riding on the shoulder of an interstate.  Lots of noise and I'm always dodging debris on the shoulder.

[forrest]

Thanks, hopefully someone will let me know what the route is from El Centro to Quartzite is.  Thanks

[aggie]

In El Centro get on hwy 86 north to Brawley.  In Brawley take hwy 78 north and follow it all the way to Blythe.  Take the road that is just north of and parallels I10 and more or less dead ends at the river.  You'll cross the river on the pedestrian crossing next to I10.  Get on I10 east at exit 1 and follow it all the way to Quartzsite.