California 99 North - Tulare County #2

California 99 north
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 88, Hillman Street and Prosperity Avenue, one-half mile. Prosperity Avenue parallels California 137 (Tulare Avenue), which is located to the south. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 reaches Exit 88, Hillman Street and Prosperity Avenue. Photo taken 11/25/04.
This mileage sign along California 99 north provides the distance to Visalia (eight miles), Fresno (44 miles), and Sacramento (214 miles). Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 89, Cartmill Avenue in Tulare. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Cartmill Avenue travels west to meet California 99 Business (J Street) in northern Tulare and east to California 63. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 (Golden State Highway) reaches Exit 89, Cartmill Avenue in Tulare. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 90, Oaks Street (0.50 mile). Soon after this interchange, traffic from California 99 Business (J Street) will merge back onto California 99 north from the left. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 90, Oaks Street. This interchange, in conjunction with Exit 91, more or less serves as the northern terminus of the business route through the city of Tulare. Photo taken 11/25/04.

The next exit along California 99 (Golden State Highway) north is Exit 92, Avenue 260 and Avenue 264 (0.75 mile). Looking ahead on the left, traffic from California 99 Business will merge onto the freeway. Photo taken 07/30/11.
Traffic from California 99 Business (J Street), which is also signed as Historic U.S. 99, rejoins the northbound California 99 freeway. Photo taken 07/30/11.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 92, Avenue 260 and Avenue 264. This exit connects to the site of Tagus, located off old U.S. 99 (frontage road on west side of freeway adjacent to railroad tracks). Photo taken 11/25/04.
The remains of roadside business in Tagus are apparent from the northbound lanes. Photo taken 06/19/10.
This mileage sign along California 99 (Golden State Highway) north provides the distance to Goshen (six miles), Fresno (40 miles), and Sacramento (210 miles). Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 94, Avenue 280, which is also known as Caldwell Avenue (one mile). Caldwell Avenue roughly parallels California 198. To the west, it changes into Houston Avenue upon entering Kings County, connecting to the city of Lemoore and the California 41 corridor. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 94, Avenue 280 (Caldwell Avenue). To the east, Caldwell Avenue (Avenue 280) connects to the California 63 corridor near Farmersville and Exeter. Photo taken 07/31/11.
When California began its modern exit numbering program in 2002, some of the first exit numbering signs were posted in Kern and Tulare Counties along California 99 and Interstate 5. By 2009, nearly every sign along California 99 in the southern San Joaquin Valley had been converted to reflective standards with exit numbers on appropriate advance guide signs as well as gore points such as this one at Exit 94 in Tagus. Photo taken 07/31/11.
This California 99 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Avenue 280 (Caldwell Avenue). Photos taken 06/19/10 and 08/15/03.
The next exit along California 99 (Golden State Highway) north is Exit 96, California 198 east (one mile), followed by Exit 97, which connects to California 198 west. California 198 leads east into Visalia, culminating its journey upon reaching Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. The state route ends in the national parks, and it does not cross the Sierra Nevada. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 08/15/03.
Use California 198 east to Visalia, Farmersville, Lemon Cove, and Three Rivers. To Dinuba and Reedley, use California 198 east to Tulare County J-19 (Plaza Drive) north (Exit 102). Photo taken 06/19/10.
California 99 north approaches Exit 96, California 198 east to Visalia and Sequoia National Park (next right). California 198 is a freeway from California 99 east to near Exeter (near where it meets California 65). The second off-ramp (Exit 97) connects California 99 north to California 198 west to Hanford, Lemoore, and Coalinga. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
The city of Visalia was incorporated on February 27, 1874, and had a population of 124,442 as of the 2010 Census. Visalia ("Gateway to the Sequoias") is the seat of Tulare County and is situated a bit east of the California 99 corridor, unlike most other cities in the San Joaquin Valley. Like most cities in the southern San Joaquin Valley, Visalia is semi-arid, seeing an average of only 10.88 inches of rain each year. Take California 198 east to downtown Visalia. Photo taken 07/31/11.
Northbound California 99 (Golden State Highway) meets Exit 96, California 198 east to Visalia and Exeter. Stay in the right lane for the connection to Exit 97, California 198 west to Hanford and Lemoore. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
Immediately thereafter, northbound California 99 (Golden State Highway) meets Exit 97, California 198 west to Hanford, Lemoore, and Coalinga. Between Hanford and Lemoore, California 198 is at freeway standards. However, the sections of California 198 that connect to California 99 in the east and Interstate 5 in the west are not freeway standard. It will be interesting to see if the Hanford-Lemoore freeway would be connected the Visalia freeway in the future. California 198 is a fairly long trans-valley route, extending west all the way to U.S. 101 at San Lucas. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
A California 99 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from California 198. Photo taken 06/19/10.
The next exit along California 99 is Exit 98A, Tulare County J-32 (Goshen Avenue). Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Tulare County J-32 is an east-west county route that generally follows Avenue 304 (Goshen Avenue) between California 99 in Goshen and California 63 (Court Street) in Visalia. As there is no access to westbound Avenue 304 from Exit 98A, the technical west end of CR J-32 is at the Betty Drive interchange. But exit here for the best route to CR J-32 east. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 (Golden State Highway) meets Exit 98A, Tulare County J-32 (Goshen Avenue) east to Goshen and Visalia. While California 198 provides a freeway connection from California 99 to Visalia, Tulare County J-32 follows a rural road into the seat of Tulare County. This exit serves the community of Goshen (population 3,006 as of 2010 Census), which lies along the east side of California 99. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 is Exit 98B, Tulare County J-32 (Elder Avenue). Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 (Golden State Highway) reaches Exit 98B, Betty Drive and Elder Street in Goshen. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
The Betty Drive pedestrian bridge was under construction in 2004 and completed soon afterward. The gore point is located near the pedestrian bridge before the freeway drops below grade to pass under Betty Drive itself. Photo taken 06/19/10.
Colorful oleander lines California 99 as the freeway dives below Betty Drive in Goshen. Photo taken 06/19/10.
After passing under Betty Drive, California 99 expands to three northbound lanes. Photo taken 06/19/10.
Leaving Goshen, this mileage sign along California 99 (Golden State Highway) north provides the distance to Kingsburg (14 miles), Fresno (34 miles), and Sacramento (204 miles). Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Between Goshen and Traver, California 99 carries three northbound lanes. Oleander and eucalyptus trees are the primary landscaping feature on the freeway, while farms and ranches dot the landscape beyond the freeway corridor. Photos taken 06/19/10.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 106A, Sixth Street (Old U.S. Highway 99) north to Traver. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 106A, Sixth Street (Old U.S. Highway 99) north to Traver. The unincorporated community of Traver is located on the east side of freeway adjacent to the railroad. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
Motorist services such as food and gas are available at Exit 106A. Photo taken 07/31/11.
The next exit along California 99 (Golden State Highway) north is Exit 106B, Merritt Drive (next right). Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 106B, Merritt Drive. Note the exit number assembly used for this sign, which was posted in 2003. The next exit is three miles ahead (Exit 109, Tulare County J-38/Avenue 384). Photo taken 11/25/04.
This mileage sign along California 99 (Golden State Highway) north provides the distance to Kingsburg (six miles), Fresno (26 miles), and Sacramento (198 miles). The button copy sign was replaced by a nearly identical ("carbon copy") reflective sign. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
Use Exit 109 to the Chester H. Warlow Roadside Safety Rest Area. This rest area features restrooms, water, vending machines, pet exercise area, and parking. To access the rest area, use Exit 109 and turn right and then left into the facility. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 109, Tulare County J-38 (Dodge Avenue) and Rest Area (one mile). Photo taken 06/19/10.
California 99 continues to follow the railroad as it passes through northern Tulare County. This picture shows a relatively new sign placed for Tulare County J-38 (Dodge Avenue). CR J-38 is an east-west county route that begins at Exit 109 and proceeds east to end at California 63 and California 201 in Calgro. Photo taken 06/19/10.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 109, Tulare County J-38 (Avenue 384) and Rest Area. Note the billboard advertising the Sun-Maid Raisins Visitors Center, which is located four miles ahead in Fresno County at Exit 114, Bethel Avenue. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
The last Tulare County exit is Exit 111, Road 12 south and 18th Avenue (Mendocino Avenue) north to Kingsburg. This is the first of two interchanges that serve the city of Kingsburg. Photos taken 06/19/10 and 11/25/04.
The next two exits serve the city of Kingsburg. Former U.S. 99 Business used to begin at this interchange. Starting in Kingsburg, the business route followed the old alignment of U.S. 99 beginning at Exit 111 near the Tulare-Fresno County Line. U.S. 99 Business then traveled north through Kingsburg (Simpson Street / Davis Avenue), Selma (Front Street, with Whitson Avenue as an alternate), Fowler (Golden State Boulevard / 8th Street) and Fresno. The northern terminus of U.S. 99 Business in Fresno could have been the point where Golden State Boulevard merges onto California 99 (near the California 41 interchange at Exit 132A, Ventura Avenue) or at Exit 136 by following G Street, Divisadero Street, and Thorne Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/11.
Northbound California 99 meets Exit 111, Road 12 south and 18th Avenue (Mendocino Avenue) north to Kingsburg. After passing through Kingsburg, 18th Avenue turns into Mendocino Avenue en route to Parlier. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.
These signs are posted on the off-ramp at Exit 111 to Road 12 south and 18th Avenue (Mendocino Avenue) north to Kingsburg. Although 18th Avenue north leads into the Kingsburg business district, this route is not an officially recognized business loop of California 99. To the old alignment of U.S. 99 (Golden State Boulevard), continue straight ahead onto Davis Avenue, which connects to the south end of Golden State Boulevard, a very long, old expressway that predates the freeway alignment of U.S. 99. This was a very long business route leading north from Kingsburg to Fresno, but no signs remain in place today for the former business loop. For old highway buffs, it is fun to drive this old expressway as it still has many of the older stylings that harken back to a different era of highway building. Photos taken 06/19/10.
The next exit along California 99 north is Exit 112, California 201 (Sierra Street) east and Sierra Street west (to Conejo Avenue west) (three-quarters of a mile). California 201 travels east from this interchange to California 245 near Woodlake via Culter and Yettem. This sign is actually located within Tulare County, but the actual interchange is located in Fresno County. Photos taken 07/31/11 and 11/25/04.

Continue north on California 99 to Fresno and Sacramento  Go to California 99 Index  Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated February 24, 2012.

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