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From Route 5 south of Bakersfield to Route 50 in Sacramento.
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As defined in 1963, this was segment (a) and ran from "Route 5 south of
Bakersfield to Route 80 in Sacramento."
In 1981, Chapter 292 changed "Route 80" to "Route 50", reflecting the
renumbering of routes in Sacramento (i.e., I-80 moved to a new alignment that
had been I-880; the old I-80 alignment became Route 51 and US 50 (FAI 305), but
was signed Business Route 80).
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 This route was signed as US 99 from the signage of US highways in
1928. Currently, there is a movement to have this cosigned as historic Highway
99. Such signage is authorized by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 19,
Chapter 73, approved in 1993. This resolution requests the Department of
Transportation, upon application by an interested local agency or private
group, to identify any section of former U.S. Highway 99 that is still a
publicly maintained highway but is not designated as having formerly been U.S.
Highway 99 and to designate that section as "historic U.S. Highway 99."
The business routes off of Route 99 are portions of the original
routing of US 99. This was LRN 4, defined in 1909 into Sacramento; it was
cosigned with US 50 from Manteca (present day junction with Route 120) into
Sacramento.
Through Bakersfield, the route originally ran along present-day Union
Avenue and Golden State Avenue. Portions of this are now present-day Route 204.
In 1962, Route 99 was shifted westward to its current routing (at which point,
it appears the old routing became part of LRN 141).
Before the establishment of the Golden State Blvd. bypass of downtown
Fresno, Route 99 took a routing of (from the south) Railroad Avenue, Church
Street, E Street, Cherry Avenue, and Broadway into town, and then north to
Railroad Avenue (now Motel Drive/Business Route 99) via H Street. Broadway is now cut off
by Grizzly Stadium.
In Traver, California, there appears to be an "Old State Route 99"
between Avenue 360 and Avenue 368. This was bypassed, apparantly, because a
diamond interchange for Merritt Drive (and freeway upgrade) could not be done
right next to the Southern Pacific line. Thanks to Chris Sampang for this
information.
Chris Sampang has also attempted to reconstruct the history of Route 99
in the Sacramento area:
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1926. US 99 established, following what appears to be
Stockton Boulevard into town, Broadway to 16th Street, 16th north to L Street,
and L/M Streets west out of town co-signed with US 40. In Davis, US 99 and US
40 entered via current Olive Drive, Richards Boulevard (going under the
railroad tracks on the Richards Subway), First Street, B Street, and Russell
Boulevard, splitting at the current Route 113/Russell Boulevard junction. From
there, US 99 continued north up on Route 113 to Main Street in Woodland, then
west on Main Street to County Road 98, and County Road 98 north to current
County Road 99W near the town of Yolo. However, a different routing may have
existed in Sacramento in 1926, where US 99 met up with US 50 near the current
Folsom Boulevard/Business Route 80 (hidden Route 51) interchange and continued west into
town on M Street.
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1933 (perhaps July 1932). US 99E and US 99W are established;
this map
shows the routings. US 99W north and US 40 westbound followed the older M
Street routing out of town. US 99E began at the junction of L Street (US 40
west of 16th; US 50 east of 16th) and followed US 40 eastbound north on 16th
Street to cross the American River (eventually continuing up (former) Route
256, current Route 65, Route 70, Route 20, and Route 99 to Red Bluff). Note:
the Auburn Boulevard name was being applied to the northernmost portion of 12th
Street (Auburn Boulevard now begins slightly north of North Sacramento), and
Stockton Boulevard north of 5th Avenue (now Broadway), as well as Alhambra
Boulevard and US 50 west into downtown via L Street may have been part of the
routing of US 99 at the time.
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1934. State signed routes established; a portion of US 99W in
Woodland (from East Street west to Road 98) is now co-signed with Route 16.
Meanwhile, as work on the M Street Bridge's replacement begins, US 99W and US
40 are temporarily routed on the I Street Bridge with Route 16. It is unknown
if Route 16 was co-signed with US 99 on L Street with US 50. Also in 1934, the
first portion of the existing 16th Street Bridge was constructed across the
American River; this is now the southbound bridge for the North Sacramento
Freeway (originally US 40/99E, now Route 160). Additionally, Alternate US 99 is
resigned over US 99W from Manteca to Stockton and US 99E from Sacramento to Red
Bluff.
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1935. Tower Bridge (replacement for the older M Street
Bridge) is built; US 99W and US 40 are diverted off of the I Street Bridge.
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1942. As seen here, by 1942, US 99 was most definitely not
routed on Stockton Boulevard north of 5th Avenue (now Broadway), but rather
followed 5th, Sacramento Boulevard (this portion is also now part of Broadway)
and Broadway west to 16th Street. Also, Route 24 had been extended from
Woodland to Sacramento (into Oakland) by this time; a portion of US 99 and US
50 (from 16th Street east to Freeport Boulevard) was co-signed with Route 24.
The US 99E/W split now began at the junction of 16th Street and N Street, as L
Street was removed from the state system in favor of M Street (which was now US
50/Route 16). US 99W and US 40 were likely co-signed with Route 16 down N, 9th,
and M Streets west to the junction of 5th and M, where Route 16 was joined by
Route 24 and continued up 5th and I to the I Street Bridge.
Also in 1942, an older section of Del Paso Boulevard was bypassed
due to flooding issues from the nearby American River and Natomas East Main
Drainage Canal/Steelhead Creek (the road level is low because of two railroad
bridges overhead at the junction of Del Paso and Railroad); this section runs
from Northgate Boulevard north to about Globe Avenue (site of a Sac RT light
rail station). The Natomas Viaduct was built; this includes part of the current
Del Paso Boulevard Y interchange and some of the current freeway lanes of the
North Sacramento Freeway.
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Mid-1940s. US 40 bypass of Davis built; as a consequence,
only US 99W now enters Davis on the Olive-Richards-First-B-Russell routing
under the railroad tracks.
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1953. US 40A is established on the routing of Route 24 from
Reno Junction to Woodland; however, unlike Route 24, US 40A is routed to bypass
Sacramento by a co-signage on US 99W between Main Street in Woodland and
Russell Boulevard in Davis (on what is now Route 113). Between Marysville and
Yuba City, US 40A is co-signed with Route 20 and US 99E.
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1955: US 40A/US 99W bypass of downtown Davis built, bisecting
lands owned by the University of California; the downtown Davis routing of US
99W is decomissioned, as well as the Pedrick Road/Road 98/Russell Boulevard
portion of US 40A on what is now locally termed "Cactus Corner". Both US 40A
and US 99W in the area are former segments of US 40. US 40A now begins within
US 99W's route, at the junction of the US 40 and US 99W Davis bypasses. Also,
US 99E was moved out of downtown Sacramento in favor of a routing through
Midtown on 29th and 30th Streets, co-signed with US 50 from Broadway north to
Folsom Boulevard, as a result of construction of the Elvas Freeway (now the
Capitol City Freeway, hidden Route 51/signed Business Route 80) bridge over the American
River. Thus, the North Sacramento Freeway from Arden Way southwest, as well as
12th/F and 16th Streets, were all no longer part of US 99E (and became solely
US 40).
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1963. Major changes to several routes in downtown Sacramento,
as a response to freeway construction and the adjustment of several streets to
become one-way thoroughfares. First, US 50 no longer enters downtown Sacramento
(also negating the need for Bypass US 50 on 14th Avenue and Power Inn Road.
Instead of entering downtown via US 99W's routing on Broadway and 15th/16th, US
50 is now routed up 29th and 30th, before meeting up with Folsom Boulevard
(Route 16) and continuing eastbound. Also, US 50 and US 99 no longer use
Stockton Boulevard and the portion of Broadway east of 29th Street, instead
being placed on the South Sacramento Freeway from Broadway south (US 50
remained signed on the South Sacramento Freeway until the early 1970s). US 99W
retains its co-signage with Route 24 at Broadway and 16th, but runs by its
lonesome on 15th and 16th and on most of Broadway. M Street had been renamed
Capitol Avenue in the 1950s (although according to one local, Capitol Avenue
had been a colloquial name for the whole street as early as the 1940s, and West
Capitol Avenue had been present in West Sacramento on US 99W/US 40 before the
name change in Sacramento.) US 99W and US 40 (as well as Route 16) no longer
reached Capitol Avenue via 9th Street, but via 7th and 6th. Instead of just
using 5th Street to reach I Street, Route 16 now used the couplet of 3rd and
5th, both converted to one-way. West Capitol Avenue was no longer part of US
99W/US 40, as the West Sacramento Freeway (an early signed portion of I-80) and
decomissioned Route 275 now supplanted it. US 40 now ran by its lonesome across
the American River (rather than with US 99E), 12th Street being added to this
route as a one-way coupling.
With the construction of the North Sacramento Freeway, former US
40/99E (Del Paso Boulevard, El Camino Avenue, and Auburn Boulevard) were
reverted to local jurisdiction. For US 99E itself, it followed the constructed
portion of the 29/30 Freeway and the Roseville Freeway across the American
River through North Sacramento, and then followed the Roseville Freeway
northeast with US 40 (and I-80). Route 24 no longer continued to Woodland and
Marysville (via Route 16, US 40A, and Route 20), but rather continued north to
Marysville more directly via Jiboom Street, Garden Highway, El Centro Road, and
US 99E. Also, the Yolo Causeway underwent a complete tear-down and
reconstruction to accomodate traffic for I-80.
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Between 1963 and 1964. N Street, which had been a part of the
US 40, Route 16, US 99W, and US 50 routings, becomes a one-way street,
necessitating all signed highways headed east-west to now use the couplet of P
and Q Streets.
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1964. The Great Renumbering. As a result, US 99E and 99W
(plus US 40) are officially decomissioned, but not immediately de-signed
(unlike US 40A). Route 24 is removed northeast of Antioch, with Route 160
replacing it into downtown Sacramento; US 99W between Broadway and P Street is
replaced by Route 160 as well (plus former US 99E/then-current US 40 on the
North Sacramento Freeway and on 12th/16th Streets). US 99W and US 40 west
between Sacramento and Davis are removed officially in favor of Interstate 80;
US 99W north of Davis (as well as US 40A) is replaced with Route 113 and I-5,
with the co-signed portion in Woodland becoming solely Route 16. US 50 is
officially dedesignated south of the under-construction Oak Park Interchange,
though also not immediately de-signed. Route 70 is established as a replacement
for Route 24 between Sacramento and Marysville and US 40A between Marysville
and Reno Junction; with the elimination of US 99E and 99W, (State) Route 99 now
follows the old Route 24 routing with Route 70 north out of town, then split
off 10 miles north on a new routing to Tudor, meeting up with Route 113 (former
US 40A); Route 99 now continues north to Yuba City via old US 40A, and then to
Chico via old US 99E.
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1967. The Pioneer Bridge is completed for I-80 (now Business Route 80/US
50/I-305), and while US 99W is still signed on the portion of the West
Sacramento Freeway from the Tower Bridge west, this is now officially hidden
Route 275. US 99W and 99E are still signed (with US 99W signage continuing west
to Davis and north to Woodland, then intermittently along the I-5 corridor to
Red Bluff). Former US 99W/US 40 in West Sacramento (West Capitol Avenue) had
been designated BR US 40 in the early sixties, as well as former US 99E/US 40
in North Sacramento via Del Paso Boulevard, El Camino Avenue, and Auburn
Boulevard. Former US 99/50 on Broadway (to the now-defunct State Fair site)
south via Stockton Boulevard to Florin is now Business US 50. As a result of US
99W's vestigal signage, Route 16 is co-signed with US 99W between P Street and
Capitol Avenue; Route 160 may have been co-signed with US 99W between 16th
Street and P Street, and probably with US 40 between there and current Business
I-80. The 29/30 Freeway (now Business I-80/hidden Route 51) was co-signed for
US 99E and I-80 (with a small portion co-signed with US 50 from Folsom
Boulevard south to Broadway). Route 99 was routed on former Route 24 via
Broadway and 3rd/5th to I Street (Route 16) as the WX and West Side (I-5)
freeway reroutings of Route 99 through downtown were not completed. The Oak
Park interchange was scheduled to be finished by 1968; Interstate 5
construction on the riverfront had not begun. As for (State) Route 99, it began
co-signed with Route 70 at the Jiboom Street/I Street (Route 16) junction,
which may explain the old Route 99/70/16 Marysville green sign still (2003)
present, sans Route 16 shield, on Capitol Avenue (former US 99W/US 40) near 3rd
Street.
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Late 1960s. While (State) Route 99 is established south of
Sacramento, US 50 continues its co-signage to Stockton.
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1969. Stockton Boulevard from P Street south is now
designated as Business US 50 (this was the possible 1933 routing of US 99 and
50).
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Early 1970s. Route 70 signage into downtown removed; a few
straggler signs still remain at the junction of I and 4th Streets (2003).
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1980. I-5 construction either in progress or completed in
Sacramento; as a result, Route 99 and Route 70 are now moved off of the
Jiboom/Garden/El Centro routing south of the area near Sacramento International
Airport, and co-signed on I-5 into downtown. Also, Route 99 is now no longer
signed for "Los Angeles", but rather "Fresno", with I-5 now being labeled as
the primary route for Los Angeles (it had been signed for South Sacramento for
a few years). With the completion of the Oak Park Interchange (current junction
of US 50, Business I-80, hidden I-305, hidden Route 51, and Route 99), Route 16
is de-designated from Old Town to Perkins (creating an implied multiplex with
I-5 and I-80), and with the completion of the El Dorado Freeway, US 50 is
removed from Folsom Boulevard and Capitol Avenue; around this time, US 50 is
completely removed south/west of Sacramento, orphaning Business US 50. (Both
Business US 40 routes are probably gone as well.) Route 99 no longer uses
surface streets, but now follows I-80 west to I-5 north to the Route 70/99
split near the airport.
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1982. Due to the dedesignation of the downtown bypass as
I-880 (and the commissioning of Business Route 80 due to the substandard former US 99E/40
29/30 and North Sacramento freeways), Route 99 is now co-signed with US 50 and
Business Route 80 on the WX Freeway portion of former I-80 (and secretly co-routed with
Interstate 305); no changes on the actual route occur however.
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1984. Route 16 is dedesignated between Woodland and
Sacramento, taking the I Street Bridge (the temporary routing of US 40 and 99W
in 1934) out of the state system. As a result, the implied co-routing of Route
16 with I-5 now extends to the entire portion of the signed Route 99/I-5
co-signage. Also, US 50/99 shields are finally removed from Stockton Boulevard.
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Late 1980s. Route 65 freeway bypass of Roseville constructed.
While the corridor through Roseville via Washington Boulevard was given to
Route 256, it remained signed Route 65 into the early 1990s; this routing was
US 99E from the 1930s to the mid 1960s.
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1994. Route 256, a former routing of Route 65 and US 99E in
Roseville, was deleted. While the eventual freeway version of it (a west
routing past town) was new alignment, the corridor followed Washington
Boulevard, which was former Route 65 and 99E.
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1996. Business Route 80 offically named "Capitol City Freeway", in an
attempt to reduce usage of colloquial names (WX Freeway, 29/30 Freeway). Except
for the Pioneer Bridge, all of the Capitol City route has been a part of Route
99 at one time or another: West Sacramento Freeway (I-80 bypass (former I-880)
east to then-Route 275): US 99W from 1954 to 1968, WX Freeway (Interstate 5 to
Oak Park Interchange): 1968- present 29/30 Freeway, North Sacramento Freeway,
and Roseville Freeway (Oak Park Interchange north to Roseville): US 99E from
1962 to 1967 Also, that year, Route 275, the portion of the West Sacramento
Freeway between Jefferson Boulevard and the Tower Bridge (originally
constructed in 1954 as US 40/99W) was decomissioned.
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2000. Route 99 is now no longer acknowledged on trailblazers
from the 99/5 split near the Sacramento International Airport southeast to the
Oak Park Interchange (as seen by personal experience and noted on Andy Field's
site); but many interchange signs showing the co-routing are present (known
examples are at the I Street and Richards Boulevard junctions off of I-5, I-5's
junction with the WX Freeway, and the Oak Park Interchange - most strikingly
the accurate "Route 99 TO I-5 I-80" gantry on the WX Freeway right before the
Oak Park Interchange), and some of the Route 99 shields in those areas have
recently been replaced with newer specimens. Also, Route 70's co-signage with
Route 99 south to I-5 is taken down for good; this southern portion of the
route was never official but was probably originally designated by CalTrans to
directly replace the 1960-1964 portion of Route 24.
Nathan Edgars looked at traffic counts, and came up with the
following:
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1964: Route 16: I Street Bridge, down 3rd-5th and over
Broadway to Route 160, then a break until the split from US 50
Route 80: Tower Bridge, over Capitol/N to 29th-30th, then a break to
Broadway at 29th-30th and up 29th-30th
Route 99: from the south to Broadway, then west on Broadway, then a
break to the east end of the I Street Bridge and up Jibboom Street
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By 1966: Another piece of Route 99 added along P and Q
Streets between Route 160 and Route 16. The changes to Route 80 are unclear.
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By 1968: Route 80 moved to the new route, with the west part
becoming Route 275
Route 16 cut back to I-5 at the east end of the I Street Bridge
Route 99 removed from P and Q Streets and instead routed back west
on Broadway, replacing Route 16, but only to Route 275, where it broke until
Jibboom Street
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By 1970: Route 99 removed from Jibboom Street etc.
Route 99 S of Sacramento (South Sacramento Freeway) has several
cut-outs for bus stops. These were installed for Sacramento Transit's bus
service in the 1960s; the bus-usage signs were removed in the early 1990s (and
the current Sacramento transit system, Sacramento Reigonal Transit, only has
one daily line on the South Sacramento Freeway).
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The following portions of this are constructed to freeway standards: (1)
from I-5 to to 5 miles north of Chowchilla; (2) from 2 miles south of Merced to
2 miles north of Atwater; and (3) from 1 mile north of Livingston to
Sacramento. The portion from Chowchilla Boulevard north to Gerard Avenue in
south Merced, through Athlone, appears to still be just divided highway. The
portion between Grove Avenue west of Atwater and Hunter Road east of Livingston
has not been upgraded.
The Arch Road interchange in San Joaquin County (groundbreaking:
6/17/02) will be the first SPUI in the central valley and the third in
California. It was completed in 2005.
In July 2005, the CTC received a notice of EIR preparation for Route 99
in Madera County to realign and widen to six lane freeway near Merced (NOP).
This project
consists of two sections: the Plainsburg section and the Arboleda section. In
the Plainsburg section there are four alternatives in addition to the No Build
Alternative; in the Arboleda section there are two alternatives in addition to
the No-Build Alternative. The four build alternatives currently under
consideration for the Plainsburg Section (Alternatives 1A, 1B, 2, and 3) would
provide the following features using different alignments:
- Construct a six-lane freeway on an eight-lane right-of-way.
- Construct a diamond interchange at Sandy Mush/Plainsburg Avenue.
- Construct an eastern frontage road resulting in alterations to
Plainsburg Avenue.
- Convert the existing southbound lanes into the proposed western
frontage roads.
- Realign a section of Sandy Mush Road to tie in to the proposed
interchange.
- Realign a section of Plainsburg Road to tie in to the proposed
interchange.
The two build alternatives currently under consideration for the
Arboleda Section (Alternatives 4 and 5) would provide the following:
- Alternative 4 – Construct an interchange at Arboleda Drive.
- Alternative 5 – Construct an interchange at Le Grande
Drive.
In July 2005, the CTC considered funding to convert 4-lane expressway to
6-lane freeway and construct interchange at Mission Avenue in Merced from Owens
Creek Bridge to south of Childs Avenue.
In March 2006, the CTC considered relinquishment of right of way in the
city of Merced between Sycamore Avenue and Early Dawn Road, consisting of
reconstructed and relocated county roads, frontage roads and cul-de-sacs.
![[TCRP 104-105]](maps/099-tcrp-104-105.jpg) An Environmental
Impact Report is in preparation for widening this route from 4 to 6 lanes, and
to replace all existing bridges, in San Joaquin County [April 2002 CTC Agenda
Item 2.2a.(1)]. This is likely TCRP Project #104, which will build 7 miles of
new six-lane freeway from Buchanan Hollow Road to Healey Road in Merced
Country. There is also TCRP Project #105, which will build 2 miles of new
six-lane freeway from the Madera County line to Buchanan Hollow Road in Merced
County. However, these projects had their TCRP funds deallocated in September
2005 due to inactivity. In April 2007, the CTC considered amendments to
projects #104 and #105. These amendments would build seven miles of new
six-lane freeway south of Merced, Buchanan Hollow Road to Healey Road in Merced
County (#104) and build 4.5 miles of new six-lane freeway, Madera County line
to Buchanan Hollow Road in Merced County (#105). Specifically, TCRP Project
#104 will upgrade a four-lane expressway to a six-lane freeway with an
interchange at Arboleda Road. The project will close at-grade median crossings
and improve capacity on Route 99 and is programmed with $5,000,000 of TCRP
funds for Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) and Right of Way (R/W)
support and capital. Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED)
and Construction are programmed in the State Transportation Improvement Program
for $144,900,000. TCRP Project #105 will upgrade Route 99 from a four-lane
expressway to a six-lane freeway. This project is also funded with $5,000,000
from the TCRP for PS&E and R/W support. The project schedule and funding
changed due to environmental issues that delayed the project. This delay
escalated construction costs and delayed project delivery. These projects are
now estimated for completion in FY 2012/2013.
In 2007, it appeared there was construction ongoing on Route 99 from
Route 152 to Fairmead/Brenda, near Chowchillla.
The CTC in July 2002 considered for future funding converting Route 99
from a four lane expressway to a six lane freeway near Atwater. [2.2c.(4)]. As
of early 2007, construction was underway on this segment, between Atwater and
Livingston.
In September 2005, the CTC considered relinquishment of right of way in
the County of San Joaquin, at Olive Avenue and Austin Road, consisting of
reconstructed and relocated county roads, frontage roads and cul-de-sacs.
TCRP Project #88 will improve the Shaw Interchange in northern
Fresno.
TCRP Project #90 will
widen
the freeway to six lanes from Kingsberg to Selma in Fresno County.
Additional funding was up in July 2005. In December 2005, state transportation
officials broke ground the $62-million 6-mile project. Completion is expected
by 2008.
 TCRP Project #103 will improve
the interchange at Seventh Standard Road, north of Bakersfield. The goal of
TCRP Project #103 is to alleviate congestion and eliminate safety hazards
associated with existing geometrics and an at-grade railroad crossing by
providing operational improvements and constructing interchange modifications.
The scope of work includes improvements to the existing interchange on Route
99, an additional bridge over Route 99, ramp modifications, widening to four
lanes, realignment of the 7th Street Road, signalization of ramp intersections,
as well as an adjacent grade separation over the Union Pacific Railroad. The
project schedule was updated due to the temporary suspension of the project
until additional funding was identified for right of way acquisition. With the
Public Utilities Commission and the Union Pacific Railroad providing alternate
funding for both Right of Way and Construction phases, right of way acquisition
is now nearing completion and construction is underway. In August 2007, the CTC
amended the project schedule to indicate completion in FY08/09.
![[TCRP 106]](maps/099-tcrp-106.jpg) TCRP
Project #106 will develop a new four-lane, limited access expressway from
Mission Avenue to Yosemite Avenue on the east side of the city of Merced, to
support the new University of California, Merced. In June 2006, the CTC
considered TCRP Application Amendment to redistribute $4,486,000 from
Construction to R/W for this project, as well as updating the project schedule
and funding plan. The project is currently scheduled for completion in FY
2014.
In March 2006, the CTC approve for future consideration of funding a
project in Merced County that will improve a 10.5 mile section of Route 99 from
a four lane highway to a six lane expressway. The project is programmed in the
2006 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The overall project is
not fully funded. Project development and right of way, however, are fully
funded in the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program and Traffic
Congestion Relief Program for $35,787,000. The total estimated project cost is
$270 million. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2009-10. The
project is proposed in the State Route 99 Bond Program. The project runs from
the Chowchilla River to McHenry Road, and includes interchanges at Arboleda Dr.
and Plainsberg Rd.
TCRP Project #135 will reconstruct and expand the Route 99/Sheldon Road
interchange.
TCRP Project #140 will add an overpass in the city of Goshen.
There are plans for roadway improvements near Kingsberg. The CTC, in
January 2007, considered a resolution to approve for future consideration of
funding a project on Route 99 in Tulare and Fresno Counties that will construct
roadway improvements near Kingsburg. This project is not fully funded. The
project is fully funded for Project Approval and Environmental Document
(PA&ED) in the Interregional Improvement Program for $2,202,000. Full
funding for the project is being proposed from the State Route 99
Infrastructure Bond Program. The total estimated project cost is $172,600,000.
Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2010-11.
A project to construct a Tagus-Goshen 6-lane (Ave 264 to Goshen) was
submitted to the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account ($96,800K requested),
but was not recommended for funding.
In November 2005, the CTC considered relinquishment of 6-Tul-99-PM 40.6:
right of way in the County of Tulare, at Avenue 308, consisting of a
cul-de-sac.
In his
2006
Strategic Growth Plan, Governor Schwartzenegger proposed a complete
corridor enhancement master plan. This included conversion of a number of
expressway sections to freeway, and widening a number of freeway sections. This
will bring the corridor to a full freeway standard, add capacity/lanes overall,
improve and add interchanges, and make other improvements.
2007 CMIA. A project on Route 99 in Stockton (widening and
operational improvements) in San Joaquin ($50M) was submitted to the Corridor
Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) for funding. It was not recommended for
funding. Neither was the Central Galt Interchange.
The SAFETEA-LU act, enacted in August 2005 as the reauthorization of
TEA-21, provided the following expenditures on or near this route:
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High Priority Project #287: Rehabilitation, repair, and/or
reconstruction of deficient two-lane roads that connect to I-5, Route 180,
Route 41 and Route 99 throughout Fresno County. See also HPP #3798. $2,800,000.
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High Priority Project #716: Preparation of a Project Study
Report for new Route 99 interchange between Route 165 and Bradbury Road,
serving the Turlock/Hilmar region. Related to this is Transportation
Improvement #18. $400,000.
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High Priority Project #1257: Construction of the Central Galt
and Route 99 Interchange and Access Improvements. $2,400,000.
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High Priority Project #1780: Construction of Campus Parkway
from Route 99 to Yosemite Ave., Merced County. This related to TCRP
#106.$400,000.
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High Priority Project #1830: Improve the Route 99/Route 145
interchange in the City of Madera, CA. $2,400,000.
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High Priority Project #1990: Route 99 improvements at Sheldon
Road. $3,200,000.
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High Priority Project #2067: Complete the engineering design
and acquire the right-of-way needed for the Arch-Sperry project in San Joaquin
County. The Project will widen Arch-Sperry Road to six lanes west of Airport
Way to Route 99 and construct an interim four lane elevated roadway including
five bridges crossing three railroads, two roadways and French Camp Slough east
to I-5. The project will include reconstruction of the French Camp/I-5
interchange.$4,000,000.
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High Priority Project #3132: Improvements/Widenening of Route
99 from Goshen to Kingsburg in Tulare County, California. See also HPP #3800.
$6,560,000.
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High Priority Project #3798: Rehabilitation, repair, and/or
reconstruction of deficient two-lane roads that connect to I-5, Route 180,
Route 41 and Route 99 throughout Fresno County. This seems to be supplemental
funding for HPP #287. $1,500,000.
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High Priority Project #3800: Improvements/Widenening of Route
99 from Goshen to Kingsburg in Tulare County, California. This seems to be
supplemental funding to HPP #3132. $8,000,000.
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High Priority Project #3806: Construct eastern loop of Campus
Parkway in Merced. $2,000,000.
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Transportation Improvement #18: Hilmar/Turlock Route 99
interchange engineering and construction in Merced County. This is related to
HPP #716.$1,000,000.
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High Priority Corridor. Section 1304 adds Route 99 to the
list of high priority corridors (#54): The California Farm-to-Market Corridor,
California State Route 99 from south of Bakersfield to Sacramento, California.
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Future Interstate Routing The following language authorizes
Corridor #54 to become part of the Interstate System in the "future": (5)
INCLUSION OF CERTAIN ROUTE SEGMENTS ON INTERSTATE SYSTEM- (A) IN GENERAL- The
portions of the routes referred to in clauses (I), (ii), and (iii) of
subsection (c)(5)(B), in subsection (c)(9), in subsections (c)(18) and (c)(20),
subsection (c)(45), subsection (c)(54), and subsection (c)(57) that are not a
part of the Interstate System are designated as future parts of the Interstate
System.
Route 99 as an Interstate Highway
Shafter Assemblyman Dean Florez has proposed creating a Route 99
supercorridor, in four phases, between Grapevine and Fresno. Fresno Mayor Alan
Autry is lobbying federal officials to upgrade Route 99 and make it part of the
nearly 47,000-mile interstate system. Backer says that say Fresno is the
largest U.S. city (440,000 residents) not tied to the interstate system, and
the absence of a federal highway is one reason national and international firms
refuse to locate there. Preservationists oppose the change on historical
grounds, as the old stagecoach trail that is now Route 99 was the longest
toll-free road in the world—it the road traveled by the immigrants from
Oklahoma, described by Steinbeck, Saroyan, McWilliams and Chavez. Everyone
agrees on upgrading of the condition of the highway. This has been captured in
a Master Plan for
the Route 99 Corridor, which among other things, proposes applying for the
designation Interstate 9. There were lots of discussions about including this
funding in the 2005 Transportation Bill. Converting Route 99 to an interstate
would mean rebuilding it to the higher standards or winning a federal waiver.
Caltrans estimates the cost of a conversion at $20 billion to $25 billion. In
contrast, the agency says it would cost $6 billion to widen Highway 99 to six
or more lanes if interstate standards aren't applied. The difference is due to
bridge retrofitting and improvement. Route 99 might alternatively be designated
a High Priority Corridor. This would allow Route 99 to compete with more than
40 other highways for $3.3 billion over six years.
The Fresno
Bee provides more specifics. The legislation in question states "Section
1105(e)(5)(A) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991 (105 Stat.
2032; 115 Stat. 872) is amended by striking 'and subsection (c)(45)' and
inserting the following: 'subsection (c)(45), and subsection (c)(54).' " What
this does is make Route 99 eligible for Interstate designation, but doesn't
directly designate it as an interstate. This lets the federal Transportation
Department and the California Department of Transportation negotiate a
long-range plan for the upgrading of the highway to meet interstate standards.
Interstates, for instance, must maintain medians of at least 36 feet in rural
areas. Paved shoulders on the right must be at least 10 feet wide. Bridges must
offer at least 16 feet of clearance. A crucial part of future negotiations
would identify which interstate standards might be waived. Bridge heights
originally designed to permit passage of missile-bearing military trucks, for
instance, could be waived, while highway shoulder requirements might be
retained. The legislation doesn't spell out such details; that will be up to
state and federal negotiators. The language did make it into the final bill,
which was signed in August 2005. Some folks are suggesting that this might be
designated as I-7. The legislation also included widening Route 99 between
Goshen and Kingsburg and building a parkway connecting the highway to the new
University of California at Merced campus.
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- Los Angeles, San Fernando: Before the highway renumbering in 1964,
San Fernando Road was Business US 99 through the San Fernando Valley near Los
Angeles.
- Bakersfield: "Golden State Highway", Route 204.
- Atwater
- McFarland
- Delano: High Street from Exit 54 to Exit 58 (at County Line
Road)
- Earlimart
- Pixley
- Tulare: J and K Street
- Fresno: Golden State Avenue. This runs south all the way to
Kingsburg, and about halfway thru that city. Also, both stretches of US 99 thru
Selma, are still used as city streets. W. Front St. was the original US 99, and
in the 30's moved over to Whitson Ave.
- Highway City
- Madera: N and S Gateway Blvd
- Merced: 16th Street
- Turlock: Golden State Blvd.
- Modesto: 9th Street
- Manteca: Moffet Blvd and Main Street. According to Jeremy Hannon,
because of the widening of Route 99 from 4 to 6 lanes from the San Joaquin
County Line (southern) to the Route 120 Interchange, the Mofett off-ramp (a
left-hand off-ramp) was removed. Going Northbound, one would need to take the
Austin Road Off-ramp, cross over Route 99 to make a right onto Mofett. At then
end of Mofett, one then proceeds up Main Street to the right, following the old
route. Southbound traffic can take the "Manteca" exit. Note, that this is not
signed as "Business Route 99" as most segments are. There is no mention of Business Route 99 or Business Route 120
through Manteca.
- Lodi: Cherokee Lane
- Stockton: Charter Way to Wilson Way
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This segment is designated as part of "Historic US Highway 99" by
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 19, Chapter 73, in 1993. Areas marked include
San Fernando Road, Avenue 20, Main Street, and Valley Blvd in the City of Los
Angeles, and San Fernando Blvd (I know one sign is just S of the Media Center
Mall) in Burbank.
Historically, the route was named the "Golden State Highway"
between Sacramento and Bakersfield. This is because the route ran the length of
the "Golden State".
This segment is designated as part of "Historic US Highway 99" by
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 19, Chapter 73, in 1993.
The portion of this route from the I-5/Route 99 junction to Bakersfield
is part of the historic "Ridge Route".
The portion of this route between the southern terminus of Route 99,
three and one-half miles south of Mettler and the northern Kern County line in
Delano at County Line Road (County Route J44) is named the "Kern County Korean War
Veterans Memorial Highway". This is in honor of the 42 Kern County military
personnel killed in action in Korea, the three who died while missing, the two
who died while captured, and the six who died from wounds, and the
approximately 8,120 Korean War veterans who presently live in Kern County.
Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 46, Resolution Chapter 54, filed May
31, 2001.
The portion of Route 99 constructed to freeway standards near the City
of Livingston is colloquially called the "Livingston" Freeway.
Officially, it is the "Kenneth L. Maddy" Freeway. Kenneth L. Maddy
served as California Senate Republican leader (1987-1995) and was the
legislative proponent of the Livingston Bypass on Route 99. Named by Senate
Concurrent Resolution 25, Chapter 85, in 1997.
The portion of Route 99 between McFarland to Tulare is named the
"Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Memorial Highway". It was
named by Senate Concurrent Resolution 54, Chapter 19, in 1992.
The portion of Route 99 between the City of Fresno and the City of
Tulare is officially designated the "Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial
Highway". Named by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 13, Chapter 81, in
1993.
The portion of Route 99 between the Cities of Fresno and Madera is
(also) officially named "The 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Highway".
At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, many Nisei served in the
Federalized 298th and 299th Infantry of the Hawaii National Guard, inducted
through three military drafts prior to Pearl Harbor. 1,432 Nisei soldiers
transferred out of the 298th and 299th into the “Hawaiian Provisional
Infantry Battalion” and sailed from Honolulu on the SS Maui on June 5,
1942. Upon arrival in Oakland, they were then activated into the “100th
Infantry Battalion (Separate);” “separate” meaning not attached
to any other military unit, literally a military orphan outfit. On September 2,
1943, the 100th landed in Oran, North Africa. On September 5th the 100th was
assigned to the 133rd Regiment, 34th Division. On September 22, 1943, the 100th
made an amphibious landing at the Salerno beachhead as part of the 34th
“Red Bull” Division. Tough battles, especially at Cassino, marked the
harsh, bitter route of the 100th from Salerno to Rome. For the Cassino battles
alone, the 100th suffered 48 casualties, 144 wounded, and 75 hospitalized for
trench foot. The 100th landed at Salerno with over 1,300 personnel, but after
Cassino only 521 remained. The “Guinea Pig Battalion” had now become
known as the “Purple Heart Battalion.” On March 10, April 2, and May
24, 1944, three waves of replacements from the 442nd arrived, replenishing the
ranks of the 100th with 555 replacement troops. On June 26, 1944, the 100th,
still retaining its name “100th Infantry Battalion” began fighting
with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and fought together until the surrender
of Germany on May 8, 1945.
[Information excerpted from the
Go For Broke Educational Foundation's
page on the 100th Infantry Battalion]
The portion of Route 99 between Mountain View Crossing in southern
Fresno County to the San Joaquin River on the northern boundary is named the
"William "Bill" Lehn Memorial Highway". Named in honor of Fresno Police
Officer William "Bill" Lehn, killed while in the line of duty on June 21, 1994,
when his Fresno Police Department motorcycle collided with a car while he was
attempting to make a traffic stop. Officer Lehn was born in Hanford and raised
in Lemoore, graduating in 1974 from Lemoore High School. He began his career in
law enforcement in 1979 when he joined the City of San Joaquin Police
Department. In 1980, he was hired by the Kings County Sheriff's Department
where he was a deputy until he was hired by the Fresno Police Department in
1986. He was a well liked officer who was remembered as a pleasure to know and
to work with. He died at the age of 38. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution
30, Chaptered 7/2/2003, Chapter 82.
The portion of Route 99 from the San Joaquin River to the Madera/Merced
County line in Madera County is named the "Steven Lindblom Memorial
Freeway". Named in honor of Madera County Sheriff's Deputy Steven Lindblom,
who was killed by gunfire in 1975 when a deranged gunman ambushed him from a
barricaded residence upon his response to a hostage situation. Named by
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 35, Chaptered 7/2/2003, Chapter 83.
The portion of Route 99 between Childs Avenue and 16th Street in the
City of Merced is named the "Officer Stephan Gene Gray Memorial
Highway". This segment was named in memory of Officer Stephan Gene Gray of
the Merced Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on April 15,
2004, while working in an undercover detail with the Special Operations Unit
specializing in street level narcotics and gang violence suppression. Officer
Gray was born on August 21, 1969, in Tulare; he attended local schools until
his family relocated to Hanford, where he graduated from Hanford High School in
1987. Officer Gray attended Fresno City College for two years, and entered the
Fresno Police Academy; upon completion, he was hired as an officer by the
Merced Police Department. Highly decorated, Officer Gray was a gallant and
dedicated officer who exemplified the true character of the brave men and women
who devote their time and energy to the perilous duties of law enforcement.
Named by Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 7, Resolution Chapter 56, on
05/25/2006.
The portion of Route 99 between the Cities of Salida and Manteca is
officially named "The 442nd Regimental Combat Team Memorial Highway".
The "100th Infantry" and "442nd Regimental" names are in honor of the Nisei
Soldiers of World War II who served in units of the United States Armed Forces
comprising the 100/442/MIS triad. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No.
62, Chapter 115 in 1994. The other part of the triad is on Route 23.
The portion of Route 99 between Mitchell Road and the Stanislaus/Merced
County line in the County of Stanislaus is named the "Joash E. Paul Memorial
Highway". Named in honor of Joash E. Paul, a lifelong resident of the City
of Turlock where he was a rancher, an entrepreneur, and a dedicated servant of
the people of Stanislaus County. Born on September 23, 1919, Joash Paul was
elected to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in 1968 and served as a
board member until 1980. He worked in real estate for 25 years, and until the
mid-1970s helped operate a family-owned lodging and dining establishment along
Route 99 when it passed through the City of Turlock. After retiring from the
board of supervisors, he served as president of the fund-raising foundation for
the then county-owned Scenic General Hospital in the City of Modesto. He was an
active member of various community organizations in the City of Turlock,
including the Assyrian American Civic Club, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
and the Portuguese Union of the State of California. Joash E. Paul died in
2000. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 19, Chaptered 7/2/2003, Chapter
81.
The portion of Route 99 from the Stanislaus county line to Route 132 in
Modesto is named the "John G. Veneman Freeway". It was named by Assembly
Concurrent Resolution No. 171, Chapter 131, in 1984. John Veneman was born in
1925 in Corcoran, California. In 1944, he graduated from Arizona State College.
After serving with the United States Naval Reserve (1944-1945), he attended the
University of Texas. In 1959, he was elected to the Board of Supervisors of
Stanislaus County, where he served until 1962. In 1962, he was elected to the
California State Assembly, serving until 1969. He authored legislation to
improve and complete the section of Route 99 from Modesto to Turlock, which
bears his name. In 1969, he was appointed Under Secretary, Department of
Health, Education and Welfare. In 1973, he left government for private
industry. He died in 1982 in Sacramento, California.
[Adapted from information at the
Online
Archives of California]
The portion of Route 99 between Standiford Avenue/Beckwith Road, and
Tuolumne Boulevard in Modesto is named the "Jerry Medina Memorial
Freeway". This section of highway was named to remind all of us of the need
to keep safety a priority and a reminder to cherish every day and enjoy it to
the fullest. It was named after Jerry Medina, an 18 year old killed on March
29, 2001 when a truck crossed the highway median and landed on Jerry's car near
Maze Boulevard. Five other people were injured as a result of this accident.
Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 168, Chapter 140, on September 3,
2002.
The portion of Route 99 from Mission Avenue to Campus Parkway in Merced
is officially named the "CHP Officer Walter Frago and Roger Gore Memorial
Freeway". On April 5, 1970, four California Highway Patrol Officers were
murdered in one of the worst uniformed police officer killing incidents in
American history when Officers George Aleyn, Walter Frago, James Pence Jr., and
Roger Gore were gunned down just off of Interstate 5. Two of those officers,
Walter Frago and Roger Gore were from Merced County, Officer Frago having grown
up in Merced, while Roger Gore resided in Snelling. The officers were on the
lookout for a suspect who had been reportedly seen brandishing a weapon.
Officers Frago and Gore were the first on the scene, pulling over a vehicle
with two men, when a gun fight ensued leaving both of these fine officers dead
at the age of 23 years. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 180, Chapter
147, September 18, 2000.
The portion of Route 99 between Athlone Road and Worden Avenue in Merced
County is officially named the "CHP Officer James J. Schumacher, Jr.,
Memorial Highway". CHP Officer James J. Schumacher was a graduate of Luther
Burbank High School in Sacramento, and attended Golden West College. Her served
in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. After
graduating from the CHP Academy, he was appointed to the California Highway
Patrol on May 19, 1969. An admired and respected 12-year veteran of the
California Highway Patrol, he served in the South Los Angeles, Westminster, and
Merced areas. Officer Schumacher was killed while in the line of duty, early on
the morning of June 13, 1981, on Route 99 approximately four miles south of
Merced. He had just finished writing a speeding ticket and was standing
approximately four feet off the highway while obtaining the ticketed driver's
signature and warning the ticketed driver to be careful pulling out onto the
highway, when he was struck by another car driven at a high rate of speed by a
driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. He died instantly from massive
injuries to his head and body. The tragedy was made worse by the theft of
Officer Schumacher's badge from the scene of the accident by a bystander--it
being the tradition of the California Highway Patrol since its inception, to
memorialize a fallen officer by presenting his or her badge to the officer's
family. Officer Schumacher was only 33 years of age at the time of his death
and was survived by his wife, Roberta, and their sons, James, then aged 9, and
Andrew, then aged 7, his parents, three sisters, and two brothers, one of whom
was a fellow officer in the California Highway Patrol. He died only five miles
north from where California Highway Patrol Officer Al Johnson died, when he was
struck by a drunk driver while writing out a ticket, in August of 1972. Named
by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 111, Chapter 32, April 22, 2002.
The protion between Hammer Lane and Route 4 in Stockton is officially
designated the "Women Veterans' Highway". Named in recognition of the
sacrifices made by women in defense of our nation that began over 220 years ago
with the American Revolution and continues today. Throughout our country's
history, nearly two million women have attained the esteemed title of veteran
because of their service to the United States. In 1999, women comprised 14
percent of all Americans in military uniform and accounted for 20 percent of
all new recruits. Though women were not permitted to participate in the United
States' armed forces in earlier years, historical records verify that over 60
women were either wounded or killed at various battles during the Civil War. In
1901, the United States' Army recognized women's enthusiasm to serve our
country by establishing the first official entity for women named the Army
Nurse Corps, without providing the benefit of military rank, equal pay, or
benefits. Because of their courageous efforts and determined commitment to
their country, women were finally granted attendance to the United States
Military Academies in 1975 when Congress introduced and passed a law allowing
for these highly regarded universities to become coeducational. Named by Senate
Concurrent Resolution 43, Chapter 129, 9/12/2003.
The portion of this route between Route 4 in Stockton and Route 50 in
Sacramento is named the "Purple Hearts Veterans Highway". It was named
by Senate Concurrent Resolution 54, Chapter 19, in 1992.
The portion between Route 50 and the Sacramento County line near Galt is
named the "South Sacramento" Freeway. This was named after the
unincorporated area of South Sacramento, which consists of parts of the
incorporated city of Sacramento as well as the unincorporated enclave of
Parkway, a place with a distinctive street grid where every route is a
"parkway" of some sort.
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The interchange between Route 99, Route 204, and Airport Drive in
Bakersfield is named the "Richard Alan Maxwell Memorial Interchange".
State Traffic Officer Richard Alan Maxwell began his career in law enforcement
with his appointment to the California Highway Patrol on May 15, 1989, and was
killed in the line of duty on July 11, 1994. Named by Senate Concurrent
Resolution 60, Chapter 135, in 1994, and Assembly Concurrent Resolution No.
119, Chapter 147, in 1994.
The Route 41/Route 99 interchange in downtown Fresno is named the
"Rosa Parks Interchange". Rosa Parks (born February 4, 1913, in
Tuskegee, Alabama) is considered the "Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights
Movement". This fame started when she was arrested on December 1, 1955, in
Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
Her arrest was the impetus for a boycott of Montgomery buses, led by Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., and joined by approximately 42,000 African Americans for 381
days. On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court ruled that
Montgomery's segregation law was unconstitutional, and on December 20, 1956,
Montgomery officials were ordered to desegregate buses. Rosa Parks refusal to
surrender her seat in compliance with Montgomery's segregation law inspired the
civil rights movement, which has resulted in the breakdown of numerous legal
barriers and the lessening of profound discrimination against African Americans
in this country. Her courage and conviction laid the foundation for equal
rights for all Americans and for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Rosa Parks was
the first woman to join the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, and was an active
volunteer for the Montgomery Voters League. She cofounded the Rosa and Raymond
Parks Institute for Self Development in 1987 with Elaine Easton Steele to
motivate and direct youth to achieve their highest potential through the
"Pathways to Freedom" program. She is the recipient of many awards including
the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, the
Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the highest honor Congress can bestow upon a
civilian, and the first International Freedom Conductor Award from the National
Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Named by Senate Concurrent Resolution 3,
Chaptered 7/16/2003, Chapter 98.
The intersection of Route 99 and White Lane in Bakersfield is named the
"Mark C. Salvaggio Interchange". It was named in honor of Mark C.
Salvaggio, a native Californian who graduated from California State University,
Bakersfield in 1972. After obtaining his teaching credential, Mark C. Salvaggio
taught seventh and eighth grade students in the Arvin Union School District for
more than 30 years, from 1972 until his retirement in 2004. He also was a
distinguished member of the Bakersfield City Council, representing Ward 7 for
nearly 20 years, from 1985 to 2004. During his tenure on the Bakersfield City
Council, Mark C. Salvaggio served as Vice Mayor from December 2000 to December
2002, and as a council member was instrumental in numerous projects that
benefitted the community, including the Kern River Parkway Plan, construction
of the Northeast Bakersfield Water Treatment Plant, the extension of the
Bakersfield Bike Path, the establishment of the Bakersfield Educational Studies
Area, and the enhancement of the White Lane-Route 99 Interchange in
Bakersfield. He has received numerous awards and commendations for his
community service. Named by Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 53, Resolution
Chapter 39, on 4/26/2006.
Bridge 39-196 over Shanks Road in Merced county is named the "Dallas
C. Bache Interchange". Dallas C. Bache was a dedicated civic leader whose
efforts helped to bring about the construction of the Delhi Freeway in the
1970's. It was built in 1979, and was named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution
104, Chapter 43, in 1978 (before construction was finished).
This route also has the following Safety Roadside Rest Areas:
-
Philip S. Raine (Tipton), in Tulare County 2.5 mi N of
Tipton. It was named in 1982 in honor of Philip S. Raine, Chief of the Division
of Highways in Sacramento until he was forced into an early retirement with
subsequent death by cancer in 1981. CALTRANS and The Great Valley Center, with
the support of the American Institute of Architects, California Council, and
private organizations, are partnering in an open one-stage international
competition to select a design, and thereby a design team, to update this stop
as a self-sustainable and "off the grid" roadside GreenStop. In other words,
the goal is to make this a "green" rest area that can serve as a model for
current and future rest stops within the state system, with the ability to be
customized so as to be regionally relevant for each location. Details on the
competition may be found at http://www.greenstopdesign.com/.
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C. H. Warlow (Kingsburg) in Tulare County at Dodge Avenue
near the Kings River. Chester Warlow was a member of the California Highway
Commission from Fresno. He was also a member of the Shaver Lake fishing club
(there is a picture of him in the gallery at
www.shaverlake.org/gallery.html).
Mt. Warlow near Muir Pass was also named for him.
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Enoch Christoffersen Memorial Rest Area, S of Turlock in
Stanislaus County. Enoch Christoffersen served as Mayor of the City of Turlock
from 1952 to 1958, and again from 1962 to 1978. Named by Assembly Concurrent
Resolution No. 41, Chapter 60, in 1993.
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 The portion of this route from Fresno to Stockton was part
of the "Pacific Highway (Valley Route Portion)".
  This portion of this segment from Route 120 to
US 50 (i.e., former US 50) was part of the coast-to-coast "Lincoln
Highway" and part of the "Victory Highway".
 Portions of this route were part of the "National Park
to Park Highway".
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[SHC 253.5] Entire portion. Added to the Freeway and Expressway system
in 1959.
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HOV lanes currently exist between Mack Road and Martin Luther King Blvd.
in Sacramento. These lines are in operation between 6 AM and 10 AM, and 3 PM
and 7 PM, on weekdays, and require a minumum of two people.
Caltrans plans to add lanes to the segments from 0.8mi S of Elk Grove
Blvd to Mack Road (11.4 mi, planned opening October 1997), and from Martin
Luther King Blvd to Route 51 (construction starts August 1999).
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From Route 5 in Sacramento to Route 36 near Red Bluff, passing near
Catlett and Tudor.
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In 1963, this segment was covered by (b) and (c) of the original
definition: “(b) Route 5 in Sacramento to Route 20, passing near Catlett
and Tudor. (c) Route 20 to Route 5 near Red Bluff.”
The segment from Sacramento to the Route 70/Route 99 split was once
cosigned as Route 70/Route 99, although it is legislatively Route 99. In 1969,
this segment ran along Jibboom St., Garden Highway, El Centro Road.
The Chico bypass was completed by 1967. Before the Chico Bypass was
constructed, the route through Durham and Richvale followed Richvale Highway
west to Richvale, Richvale South Highway north to Nelson, Midway from Nelson to
Chico via Durham, Main Street and Broadway through Chico, and Esplande north
from Chico to current Route 99 near Wilson Landing Road.
In 1984, Chapter 409 combined (b) and (c), creating "(b) Route 5 in
Sacramento to Route 5 near Red Bluff, passing near Catlett and Tudor."
In 1988, Chapter 106 changed the terminus of this segment to "Route 36
near Red Bluff"
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The present routing of Route 99 follows I-5 out of Sacramento along
former Route 24, and then N cosigned with Route 70 to Marysville. This
corresponds to portions of LRN 232 (defined in 1951), LRN 245 (defined in
1959), and LRN 87 (defined in 1933), and LRN 3 (defined in 1909). At one point
this was signed US 40 Alternate between Route 113 north of Knight's Landing and
Route 20 in the Yuba/Marysville area. According to Chris Sampang, the routing
of US 99/US 40 between the Yolo Causeway and Route 113 was as follows:
-
County Road 32A (which still retains some of its original concrete)
from the Frontage Road exit westbound to where it crosses the railroad
tracks
-
Olive Drive (note that the connection between County Road 32A and
Olive Drive was paved over by I-80 and may be approximated by the current bike
trail)
-
Richards Boulevard, which was originally graded into Olive Drive;
the Olive and Richards extensions were built circa 1960.
-
First Street westbound
-
B Street northbound
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Russell Boulevard westbound at Central Park in Davis (home of a
Lincoln Highway marker; Lincoln Highway markers have been appearing on portions
of Old US 40 west of Davis and in Dixon on Route 113)
At Route 113, US 99 (later US 99W) went north. Note that US 99W later
was given this route solo (from Olive Drive west) in the early 1950s, after US
40 was placed on the bypass that is now I-80 and right when US 40A was first
commissioned (but before the north-south connector from Russell to I-80 was
constructed that would later become Route 113). Also note that the Yolo
Causeway originally was a twin-bridge four lane structure up until the 1960s;
the original Causeway (1910s-1920s vintage) was located between the current
railroad and freeway structures and was dismantled to make way for the I-80
bridge. US 99 (and US 99W) were routed this indirect way to Woodland via Davis,
rather than the direct route of former Route 16/Route 24 to Woodland, due to
the issues of flooding and closure.
[Based on information
provided by Chris Sampang]
Parts of the original US 99 12 foot wide original concrete slab (OCS)
still exist in Siskyou County, and can be driven on:
[Based
on a posting by donutbandit on M.T.R]
-
Off Crag View Drive going north, just south of Dunsmuir, the
original US 99 slab enters Dwight's Wrecking and Towing.
-
In Dunsmuir, driving north on Dunsmuir Avenue, go straight into
Florence Loop, and you are on Old US 99 for 2 blocks. The bridge that once
linked Florence Loop with present day Siskiyou Avenue is long gone.
-
In Mt. Shasta, at N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. and Ski Village Drive: The OCS
is visible in front of the Humane Society compound. Go right on Ski Village,
and you can see the OCS winding away between some houses into a field.
-
Off Spring Hill Road north of Mt. Shasta: the road ends under an
arch leading into a private driveway. The original concrete slab is the
driveway.
-
Truck Village Drive between Weed and Mt. Shasta: go north and watch
the road turn into OCS just before it is gated.
-
Black Butte Drive in Weed: go south, and the road quickly turns into
12 foot wide asphalt, with gaping potholes revealing the OCS beneath.
Additionally, a short spur of the OCS exists at the northern end.
-
One can easily short sight the route across the current I-5 freeway
into S. Weed Blvd. on the other side of the freeway, which was part of the
original US 99.
-
Edgewood Road (formerly Trailer Lane) north of Weed: asphalt covered
US 99 intact for several miles. At one point, you can easily see across the
freeway to the southern terminus of Old US 99 Road (emptying out onto the
freeway), which would have been the original route.
The bypass route used the modern Dunsmuir Avenue bridge over the
Sacramento River in Dunsmuir, then followed current Dunsmuir Avenue/Mott Road
to the northern terminus which is a dead end at the old Diamond Lumber
building. It likely followed the existing freeway route from there up to S. Mt.
Shasta Blvd.
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The portion from Route 5 to 5 miles north of I-5 is cosigned with Route
70. Some old routings have been relinquished, for example, KP 20.5/29.1 in
Sutter County, and RM 28.2-R32.7 in the County of Merced. A proposed route
adoption was also relinquished: From PM 36.0/42.2 in Sutter County and from PM
0.0/13.1 in Butte County.
In his
2006
Strategic Growth Plan, Governor Schwartzenegger proposed a comprehensive
Route 70/Route 99 project. The project (stretching from the I-5/Route 99
junction to Route 149 in Butte County) converts two-lane conventional corridors
to four-and-five-lane expressways, completes key segments to freeway by
constructing interchanges, and provides additional capacity and throughput for
current and projected future populations. It connects the Sacramento, Yuba-City
and Chico urbanized area with an improved facility, saves lives by removing two
lane segments, and supports improved freight movement.
There are plans to widen this route to four lanes near Yuba City. There
are also plans to bypass the city of Tudor.
There are plans to construct a freeway near Fairmead.
 In June 2007, the CTC considered
rescinding a portion of the freeway adoption for Route 99 in the County of
Sutter, Post Mile T36.0/42.2 and the County of Butte, Post Mile 0.0/13.1. This
was up for a vote again in December 2007. Due to funding constraints, Caltarns
is unable to construct a freeway on a new alignment (bypassing the cities of
Live Oak and Gridley) to replace the existing Route 99 facility in Sutter and
Butte Counties. The specific portion to be rescinded is along Route 99 from
Encinal Road at PM T36.0 to PM 42.2 in Sutter County and from the Sutter/Butte
county line PM 0.0 to SR 162, at PM 13.1, in Butte County. Numerous studies
were conducted on the Route 99/Route 70 corridor, with the conclusion to
upgrade Route 70 to freeway standards, parallel to Route 99. Route 70 has been
designated as a focus route in the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan
and maintains priority for Interregional Transportation Improvement Program
funding. Route 99 runs 36.8 miles through Sacramento County as a four-lane
expressway to an eight-lane freeway. Route 99 continues northward through
Sutter County for 42.3 miles as a two-lane conventional highway to a four-lane
freeway. It continues 45.9 miles through Butte County as a two-lane
conventional highway to a four-lane conventional highway. On May 22, 1963, the
Commission adopted the current Route 99 corridor, which bypasses the cities of
Live Oak and Gridley. Numerous parcels, but not all, were purchased to obtain
the necessary right of way for the adopted corridor. A decrease in freeway
funding caused the project to be suspended. In 1988, the Commission asked that
a corridor study determine the alignment for a divided expressway, for ultimate
conversion to a freeway, connecting Sacramento, Yuba City/Marysville, and
Chico. The result was a Routes 70 and 99 Corridor Study, which was adopted by
the Butte County Association of Governments and by the Sacramento Area Council
of Governments in 1990. Twenty-four alternatives were studied. The recommended
proposed alternative was “A four-lane freeway (initially to be constructed
as an expressway) on Route 70 from the Route 70/99 interchange to Route 149 via
a Marysville Bypass; a four-lane freeway on Route 149 from Route 70 to Route
99; and a four-lane freeway on Route 99 from Route 149 to the existing freeway
section south of the City of Chico.” The Study’s proposed alignment
does not include a new alignment for Route 99 bypassing the cities of Live Oak
and Gridley, though such a bypass was studied in 7 of the 24 alternatives.
Butte County’s direction on a bypass goes back to its 1984 General Plan
Circulation Element, which does not discuss or map a bypass of Live Oak or
Gridley along Route 99 as an alternative. Sutter County concurred with the
State Routes 70 and 99 Corridor Study in its 1995 General Plan Circulation
Element and did not discuss the Live Oak or Gridley bypass alternative nor
recognize it as an alternative on any maps in the Circulation Element. Gridley
City Council discussions indicate a strong desire to work with the Department
to reach a mutually beneficial solution.
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The old US 99 used to split into US 99E and US 99W in Sacramento:
- US 99E
-
The current routing is what was much of US 99E. US 99E ran
concurrent with US 40 (now I-80) to Roseville along a portion of LRN 3, defined
in 1909. At Roseville, still as LRN 3, it ran N to Lincoln along present day
Route 65 (for a while, Route 65 and US 99E were cosigned). From Lincoln, US 99E
ran to Marysville still as LRN 3 (this segment is present-day Route 65 to
Olivehurst, and Route 70 from Olivehurst to Marysville). From Marysville, US
99E turned north to Chico, and Red Bluff, all as LRN 3.
Route 20 between Yuba City and Marysville was co-signed with US 99E
and Alternate US 40. (US 40A east was multiplexed with 20 east and US 99E
south)
Part of the US 99E routing in Sacramento is now part of Route 51,
the former Elvas Freeway. See Route 51 for specific historical
information.
- US 99W
-
US 99W originally ran W out of Sacramento along LRN 50, defined in
1933, and then W along US 40 to the vicinity of Davis (along LRN 6, defined in
1909). It ran to near Exit 73 westbound (Olive Drive), then somehow connected
with 5th Street on a now-removed alignment headed from US 40 west to the
current Power Line Road/5th Street junction. (This removed alignment of 5th
Street seems to have existed as late as 1967). US 99W continued west on 5th
Street through downtown Davis, continuing in that direction as the street name
changed to Russell Boulevard at B Street (where Davis's Central Park is
located). US 99W then followed Russell to current Route 113 where it then
merged with Alternate US 40 eastbound going north on Route 113 (cosigned as
Route 113/US 99W). It then ran N cosigned with Alternate US 40 (present-day
Route 113) to Woodland (along LRN 7, defined in 1909). It jogged W briefly
along Route 16 (LRN 50), and then continued N signed as US 99W, along LRN 7, to
Red Bluff. This was later replaced with I-5 (LRN 238, defined in 1959), whose
routing is a closer approximation to Route 16 out of Sacramento to Woodland.
The routings in Davis changed to the Route 113 routing by 1953.
There was also a split at one time between Manteca to Stockton,
between 1930 and 1933. At this time, US 99 ran down to Stockton, and US 99W
split from US 99 in Stockton.
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- Gridley
- Chico: The Esplanade
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The 5-mile segment of Route 99 south of its intersection with Route 70
in the County of Sutter is named the Bernie Richter Memorial Highway. It
was named in memory of Bernie Richter, born September 7, 1931, a member of the
Assembly of the State of California from 1992 to 1998. In January 1998 Bernie
Richter witnessed a vehicle lose control, crash into a bridge abutment just
south of the intersection of Route 99 and Route 70 in the County of Sutter, and
burst into flames. At this point Assemblymember Richter raced to the vehicle
with his own fire extinguisher, and with the assistance of another good
Samaritan, rescued the driver by pulling him out of the vehicle. Bernie Richter
died at the age of 68 on October 25, 1999. Named by Assembly Concurrent
Resolution 189, August 17, 2004, Chapter 142.
The portion of Route 99 consisting of the four-lane expressway between
the Edgar Slough (Bridge No. 12128) and the Pentz Road overcrossing (Postmile
24.2, Butte County) is officially designated the "Ray E. Johnson
Expressway" (this is in the segment between the Route 99/Route 149 junction
and Chico). Ray E. Johnson was a member of the California Legislature for 18
years, having been first elected in 1964 to the Assembly, and to the Senate in
1976. He represented 15 counties as a Member of the Legislature and, in that
capacity, was instrumental in securing the completion of the Route 65 Bypass of
Interstate 80 and in the three-lane widening of Interstate 80. Named by
Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 74, Chapter 113, in 1993.
The portion of this route from Route 65 to Red Bluff was historically
called the "Capitol Highway". In local usage, it is called the "East
Side Highway".
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This segment was part of the "Pacific Highway".
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[SHC 253.5] From Route 5 in Sacramento to Route 36 near Red Bluff. Added
to the Freeway and Expressway system in 1959.
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[SHC 164.15] With routing to be determined via Route 70 or via Route 99
between Route 70 north of Sacramento and Route 149 north of Oroville.
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This was part of the Pacific Highway and the
California-Banff "B" Route. ![[Volcanic Byways]](logos/volcanic.jpg){kind=small}
This route is part of the
This route is part of the 
The portion of former US 99 that was cosigned with US 
In 1963, this segment was segment (a) and
(b), and was defined as the route "(a) The junction of Routes 105 and 110 in
Los Angeles to Route 
From San Diego, the route ran N along Pacific Coast Highway to San
Juan Capestrano. This route is now San Diego County Route 
