Northbound California 99/Golden State Highway enters Tulare County in advance of the next interchange, which is Exit 61, Avenue 24. Now leaving the petroleum-based industry and low-water agriculture of Kern County, the Central Valley rapidly becomes even more agricultural, thanks to imported water and a limited winter rainfall that slowly increases in annual totals as California 99 ascends the Valley. Even this far north, rainfall is anything but plentiful, even though winter conditions may bring weeks of continuous "tule" fog that can hide the sun for extended periods and make driving along California 99 treacherous. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Leaving Delano behind, this mileage sign provides the distance to Earlimart (seven miles), Fresno (75 miles), and Sacramento (245 miles) via California 99 north. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 61, Avenue 24 (one mile). Photo taken 07/31/11.
Avenue 24 travels west to California 43/Central Valley Highway and east to Tulare County Route J-35/Richgrove Drive. This road provides local farm and ranch access. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99/Golden State Highway meets Exit 61, Avenue 24. Like its neighboring counties, Tulare County is an agrarian region, and it is dependent on imported water as well as annual winter rains to quench the thirst of its various crops. Occasional signs along the 99 freeway state that "Food Grows Where Water Flows." This is a statement related to the constant struggle within the Golden State to allocate water between its urban, suburban, and rural interests, especially as the Southern California mega-metropolis expands and the desert becomes increasingly populated. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Oleander brings colorful pinks and reds to the median strip. A eucalyptus tree, imported from Australia, towers above the freeway. Photo taken 06/19/10.
A California 99 reassurance route marker is posted after the onramp from Avenue 24. Photo taken 07/31/11.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 64, Avenue 48 (Armstrong Avenue) and State Street and Earlimart. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Earlimart is an unincorporated community of Tulare County, with a population of 8,537 as of the 2010 Census. Use Exit 64 to State Street north through Earlimart. State Street might have been old U.S. 99; it is possible Old 99 took Front Street instead. Near as we can tell, Earlimart does not have a Business California 99 designation. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 reaches Exit 64, Avenue 48 (Armstrong Avenue) and State Street to Earlimart. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 65, Junction Tulare County Route J-22/Avenue 56 (Sierra Avenue). J-22/Avenue 56 (Sierra Avenue) leads east to Ducor (at at its junction with California 65 and Tulare County Route J-35) and west to Alpaugh (a small community located west of its junction with California 43). Tulare County Route J-22 appears on most maps and might have been signed at one time. However, unlike the northern part of the Central Valley, there are very few remaining signed county routes in Tulare County. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
California 99 sees a brief below grade freeway segment as it passes through Earlimart and under the Avenue 48 (Armstrong Avenue) bridge. Photo taken 07/31/11.
Tulare County Route J-22 begins in Alpaugh (intersection of Road 38/Tule Road) and extends east along Avenue 54 (Center Avenue), Borchardt Drive, and Avenue 56 (Sierra Avenue) to Ducor, connecting California 43, California 99, and California 65 before ending at Old Stage Road (Mountain 109) in Fountain Springs in the foothills. Near as we can tell, J-22 is completely unsigned. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
California 99 next passes under the Avenue 52 (Washington Avenue) bridge. Photo taken 07/31/11.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 65, Junction Tulare County Route J-22/Avenue 56 (Sierra Avenue). When exit numbers were installed here, it resulted in a dyslexia-challenged exit sign (because 56 is a transposition of 65) since the newer sign shows "Avenue 56" rather than "Ducor/Alpaugh." The practice of signing the intersecting roadway's name rather than destinations was adopted in the MUTCD and has been implemented as guide signs have been replaced. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
This California 99 north reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Avenue 56 (J-22). Photo taken 06/19/10.
This mileage sign along California 99 north provides the distance to Pixley (four miles), Fresno (67 miles), and Sacramento (237 miles). Photo taken 06/19/10.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 67, Avenue 72 and Avenue 76. This exit is midway between Earlimart and Pixley and connects to Road 130, a frontage road on the east side of the freeway that first links to Avenue 72, then travels a bit further north to Avenue 76. Both roads provide local and ranch access. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 67, Avenue 72/Avenue 76. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
These views provide more glimpses of colorful oleander along California 99 in the late spring/early summer timeframe. Photos taken 06/19/10.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 70A, Avenue 96, which serves Pixley and leads to Terra Bella (located east of here, off California 65). Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 70A, Avenue 96. Welcome to Pixley! Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 70B, Court Street, three-quarters of a mile. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 70B, next right. California 99 passes through this below-grade segment as it passes through Pixley, much the same Interstate 5 passes through Arbuckle. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 70B, Court Street. Photo taken 08/15/03.
In Tulare County, all county roads are numbered into a grid system. "Roads" run north-south, while "Avenues" run east-west. Since California 99 passes through the area at a northeasterly trajectory, it intersects both Roads and Avenues. This next exit is Exit 71, Road 124. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 73, Avenue 120, one mile. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 73, Avenue 120. Avenue 120 leads west to meet California 43 between Angiola and Corcoran. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 76, Junction Eastbound California 190. Note the "Accidentes" billboard in the distance. There are several of these Spanish-language signs located along this stretch of California 99, and it betrays the influence of the booming Latino population in the Central Valley. Some Valley communities have a de facto first language of Spanish due to the numerous immigrants from Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries that have settled in this agricultural region. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 76, Junction California 190. Once anticipated to extend east across the Sierra Nevada, California 190 is now two separate routes, with an eternally hopeful proposed extension across the mountains visible only on paper. Currently, California 190 extends east from here, passing through Poplar and Porterville en route to Camp Nelson in the foothills. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 77, Avenue 152, one mile. This exit serves the community of Tipton, the majority of which is located to the east of the freeway. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 81, Avenue 184, 0.75 of a mile. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 81, Avenue 184. Note the new exit number sign installed here. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next seven exits along northbound California 99 serve the city of Tulare. These exits include Exits 83 (Avenue 200), 84 (K Street/business route), 85 (Paige Avenue), 86 (Bardsley Avenue), 87 (California 137), 88 (Prosperity Avenue), and 89 (Cartmill Avenue). Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 83, Avenue 200, one mile. This is the first exit for the city of Tulare. Tulare, while not the seat of Tulare County, is a fast-growing community along the California 99 corridor. According to the city's official webpage, over 40,000 people reside here as of 2000. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 83, Avenue 200. As seen in the background, the next exit is for K Street, the business route. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The ramp here is for Exit 83/Avenue 200, but the overhead signs are for Exit 84, a left exit to the Tulare business route. This exit was closed at the time this photo was taken, so either Exits 83 or 85 may be used instead. Note the overhead pull through sign for California 99, which is old enough to have the U.S. 99 shield covered in a green overlay panel showing a California 99 shield. Photo taken 08/15/03.
At the time this photo was taken, Exit 84/Business California 99/K Street was closed. This left exit may be getting upgraded, perhaps to meet Interstate standards (which frown upon left-hand exits). Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 85, Paige Avenue, one-half mile. Paige Avenue is an east-west street that serves the southern part of the city of Tulare, with connections to the International Agri-Center and Museum and Edison Ag-Tac. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Now reaching Paige Avenue at Exit 85, northbound California 99 enters the heart of the city of Tulare. Use Exit 85 and Paige Avenue westbound as an alternative to the K Street/Business California 99 exit. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 86, Bardsley Avenue. Bardsley Avenue leads west into Tulare, meeting Business California 99 near the Tulare County Fairgrounds. The city of Tulare is nearly equidistant from Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles (approximately 200 miles away from each). Photo taken 08/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound California 99 for Tulare exits, including Exit 87/Junction California 137 and Exit 88/Hillman Street and Prosperity Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 87, Junction California 137 (0.25 mile). California 137 passes through the central part of the city of Tulare just west of the freeway. To the west, California 137 connects to the southern terminus of California 63 before terminating at California 65 at Cairns Corner. Photo taken 08/15/03.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 87, Junction California 137 in Tulare. California 137 leads west to the city of Corcoran, home of a notorious state prison. It also leads east to meet California 65 near Lindsay. Note the oleander plant present along the shoulders; this flowery bush is quite common along California 99 in the Central Valley. Poisonous to eat, oleander flowers at many times during the year and thrives along freeway rights-of-way. Photo taken 08/15/03.
