California 115

This California 115 reassurance route marker is posted in Calipatria after the intersection with California 111 and Imperial County Route S-30. Photo taken 06/07/08.

Routing

California 115 begins at Interstate 8 near the Holtville Hot Springs, follows Historic U.S. 80 west through Holtville, then turns north parallel to California 111. Briefly merging with California 78, California 115 serves the assorted farms of the eastern Imperial Valley. California 115 turns west at Wirt Road, and it ends at its junction with California 111 and Imperial County Route S-30 in Calipatria.

Highway Guide

California 115 north
California 115 north and U.S. 80 west
This view looks north on California 115 and west on Historic U.S. 80 after the intersection with Historic U.S. 80 east and Interstate 8. Notice how green these fields are, thanks to irrigation water from the Colorado River via the Highline Canal. Photo taken 10/05/02.
This view looks northwest at sunset along California 115 after the intersection with Imperial County Route S-33/Miller Road. Photo taken 06/07/08.
California 115 north
California 115 north approaches the intersection with California 78. California 115 and Westbound California 78 merge briefly; California 78 then continues west into Brawley. California 78 eastbound leads to Glamis and the northern end of the Imperial Sand Dunes and the southern end of the Chocolate Mountains Naval Reservation Aerial Gunnery Range, ultimately ending at Junction Interstate 10 in Blythe. Photo taken 10/05/02.
Northbound California 115 meets California 78. There are no services at this intersection. Photo taken 10/05/02.

Northbound California 115 meets Eddins Road, Wirt Road, and West Road at this intersection. California 115 turns from a northerly to a westerly direction at this intersection. Photo taken 10/05/02.
After entering Calipatria, northbound California 115 approaches California 111 and Imperial County Route S-30. Photo taken 08/99.
Northbound California 115 meets California 111 in Calipatria. Imperial County Route S-30 continues as Eddins Road west of Calipatria. First photo taken 08/99; second photo taken 11/00.
California 115 south
A California 115 shield is posted on the side of a building in downtown Calipatria as the highway begins its journey east and south. Some changes occurred between 2004 and 2008, including the business names as well as the introduction of a landscaped median along the centerline of California 115. Photos taken 08/27/04 and 06/07/08.
California 115 proceeds east through Calipatria. Photo taken 06/07/08.
Leaving Calipatria, eastbound California 115 approaches the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. The railroad parallels California 111 from Calipatria north along the eastern shore of the Salton Sea to the Coachella Valley. Photos taken 06/07/08.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Holtville (29 miles) and Junction Interstate 8 (34 miles). The Holtville Hot Springs are located near the Interstate 8 interchange on Old U.S. 80. Photos taken 06/07/08 and 08/27/04.
Southbound (eastbound) California 115 approaches Blair Road. In the 2004 picture, large bales of hay were stacked on the south side of the roadway. Photo taken 06/07/08 and 08/27/04.
California 115 proceeds east past farmlands, then passes by an H-frame power tower. Soon thereafter, 115 will make a sharp turn south. Photos taken 06/07/08.
At this point, California 115 turns from east to south. A trailblazer shield points the way south on California 115. Photos taken 06/07/08.
At the curve, the intersection is with Wiest Road and Wirt Road. Photo taken 06/07/08 and 08/27/04.
A reassurance shield for California 115 is posted after the change in directions at Wiest Road/Wirt Road. Photo taken 08/27/04.
The next major intersection along southbound California 115 is with Imperial County Route S-26, Rutherford Road. This highway travels west to California 111 and east to Imperial County Route S-32. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Now approaching California 78, the two state highways merge together. Turn right to follow California 78 west to Brawley; turn left to follow California 78 and California 115 southeast to Holtville and Glamis. Photo taken 06/07/08.
These shields reaffirm that a left turn is required to remain on California 115 south via California 78 east. Photo taken 08/27/04.
While Brawley is five miles west of here, Holtville is 15 miles southeast of here. Photo taken 06/07/08.
California 115 south and California 78 east
California 78 east and California 115 south share pavement for a short distance, as marked by this reassurance route marker east of Brawley. California 115 stays well to the east of Brawley and thus avoids any developed areas until reaching Holtville. Photo taken 06/07/08.
This mileage sign along California 78 east and California 115 south provides the distance to Interstate 8 (22 miles south via California 115) and Blythe (Junction Interstate 10) (82 miles via California 78 east). Photo taken 06/07/08.
A row of palms line the south side of California 78 east and California 115 south. Photo taken 06/07/08.
Eastbound California 78 and southbound California 115 approach their intersection with Casey Road. Photo taken 06/07/08.
A porcelain-enamel F.A.S. (Federal Aid Secondary) marker is posted at the intersection of California 78-115 and Casey Road. Photo taken 06/07/08.
California 78 and California 115 split soon thereafter. California 78 will turn left (east) toward Glamis and Blythe. Prior its designation as a state highway, California 78 was briefly known as Imperial County Route S-78. Bear right here for California 115 south to Holtville. Photo taken 06/07/08.
A pair of trailblazer shields for California 78 and California 115 are posted soon thereafter. Photo taken 06/07/08.
A second sign points the way to California 78 east to Glamis, Palo Verde, and Blythe. Photo taken 06/07/08.
California 78 departs to the left/east, while California 115 proceeds right/south to Holtville. Photo taken 06/07/08.
California 115 south
After separating from California 78, this mileage sign provides the distance to Holtville and Interstate 8. Photo taken 08/27/04.
A major intersection along southbound California 115 is with Imperial County Route S-28, Worthington Road. Use Imperial County Route S-28 west to the city of Imperial. Photo taken 08/27/04.
This reassurance shield is posted after the Worthington Road intersection. Photo taken 08/27/04.
Now approaching Imperial County Route S-80 (Old U.S. 80), California 115 turns east toward Holtville. Photo taken 08/27/04.
The city of El Centro lies to the east via Imperial County Route S-80 (Old U.S. 80). Photo taken 08/27/04.
Although this intersection marks the eastern terminus of Imperial County Route S-80, California 115 turns east onto Old U.S. 80 for the route into Holtville and then onward to Interstate 8. Photo taken 08/27/04.
California 115 south and Historic U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway east
After turning east onto U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway, California 115 is signed as "south" even though it is traveling due east. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The expressway conditions seen on U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway between California 111 and California 115 continue briefly until California 115 approaches the outskirts of Holtville. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The divided highway approaches its end west of Holtville. My guess is that this divided highway was originally going to connect to an unconstructed bypass of Holtville back when Interstate 8 was to be routed on Old U.S. 80. However, when Interstate 8 was moved to its current alignment, it is likely that the U.S. 80 bypass of Holtville was killed along with the proposal to implement Interstate 8 on top of Old U.S. 80. Photo taken 10/14/06.
A second lane constriction sign is posted soon thereafter. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The merge between the two eastbound lanes is relatively easy due to the limited amount of traffic seen on this stretch of highway. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The continuation of California 115 south (east) is almost like a ramp leaving a highway as it goes around the median that likely was to be the foundation of a bypass route that would have taken U.S. 80 around Holtville to the south of the city. Such a bypass was never built and was no longer needed once Interstate 8 was built south of here. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Traffic is again two-lanes at the conclusion of the expressway section of California 115. Photo taken 03/26/06.
At the Alamo River crossing, California 115 and U.S. 80 enter the city of Holtville. Incorporated in 1908, Holtville was named after its founder, W.F. Holt and is located about 16 feet below sea level, much like other Imperial Valley cities. Home to about 6,000 people, Holtville sees itself on the verge of an economic upswing due to its proximity to the Interstate 8 and California 7 interchange north of the international border crossing. Photos taken 10/14/06 and 03/26/06.
Like its companion the New River, the Alamo River flows northward from Mexico into the Salton Sea. The Alamo River also carries a significant share of pollutants as it travels north, mostly due to agricultural and urban runoff that constitutes the majority of its year-round flow. Such a year-round flow would otherwise not occur in the desert absent some other perpetual source of water. This bridge carries California 115 and U.S. 80 east over the Alamo River. Photo taken 03/26/06.
After downtown Holtville, no motorist services are available on either California 115 or Interstate 8 until Felicity, on the eastern side of the Algodones Sand Dunes. Fuel is available in Holtville, as is food and lodging. Photo taken 03/26/06.
California 115 south, Palm Avenue north, and Historic U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway east
Old U.S. 80 and California 115 (Evan Hewes Highway) make a turn to the north in order to enter downtown Holtville via Palm Avenue. A right turn here connects to eastbound Fourth Street. Photos taken 10/14/06 and 08/27/04.
A "Welcome to Holtville" sign is posted along southbound California 115 south and Historic U.S. 80 east. As the highway briefly swings northeast, the speed limit reduces to 25 miles per hour. This is a major change from the earlier journey past rural farms and ranches at 65 miles per hour. Photo taken 10/14/06.
California 115 makes a right turn from Palm Avenue onto Fifth Street, the main east-west street through downtown Holtville. Photo taken 10/14/06.
A second California 115 trailblazer is posted at the turn from northbound Palm Avenue onto eastbound Fifth Street. Photo taken 10/14/06.
California 115 south and Historic U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway and Fifth Street east
This reassurance shield is posted after the jog from Palm Avenue. The stop sign ahead is the pending junction with Imperial County Route S-32, Orchard Road. Orchard Road travels south from downtown Holtville to meet Interstate 8, where it transitions directly onto California 7 expressway. California 7 in turn travels south to the Calexico East Port of Entry. Photo taken 08/27/04.
For a two-block stretch, California 115 south and Imperial County Route S-32 north share a wrong-way multiplex on Evan Hewes Highway (old U.S. 80). After passing Pine Avenue, Imperial County Route S-32 turns north onto Holt Road (Holt Avenue). Photo taken 03/26/06.
At this intersection in downtown Holtville, California 115 and Imperial County Route S-32 split. Imperial County Route S-32 turns north onto Holt Road. California 115 continues east along Old U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway. Turn left (north) on S-32 to Holt Park. Within the park are a few interesting highway artifacts, including a replica Auto Club of Sourhern California mileage sign along with some comemmorative plaques. Photo taken 03/26/06.
This reassurance shield is posted after the Holt Road (Imperial County Route S-32 north) intersection. Photo taken 08/27/04.
A few industrial and commercial sites are located in eastern Holtville before the highway reenters the agricultural areas of the desert. The agricultural areas will dominate the highway until we reach the Highline Canal near the Intestate 8 interchange. From that area east to Winterhaven, the agricultural interests end, and the arid/unirrigated desert once again resumes. Photo taken 08/27/04.
California 115 south and Historic U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway east
This mileage sign provides the distance to Interstate 8 (six miles), Winterhaven (46 miles), and Yuma (48 miles). Photo taken 08/27/04.
Continuing east along California 115 south and Historic U.S. 80 east, the highway again enters rural farmland east of Holtville. Here, eastbound California 115 and U.S. 80 approach Towland Road. Photo taken 10/21/06.
A California 115 south reassurance shield is posted soon thereafter. Photo taken 10/21/06.
At Snyder Road, California 115 and U.S. 80 turn southeast. Photo taken 10/21/06.
California 115 south and Historic U.S. 80 east proceed through more agricultural land, all irrigated thanks to water from the Colorado River. Photo taken 10/21/06.
Southbound California 115 and eastbound Historic U.S. 80 approach Imperial County Route S-33/Miller Road. S-33, the easternmost north-south county-signed road in the Imperial Valley, follows Miller Road, Highline Road, and Green Road north to its end at California 78 just west of Glamis. To the south, S-33 follows Miller Road and Bonesteele Road to its southern terminus at California 98. Photo taken 10/21/06.
Imperial Irrigation District (IID) power lines cross over California 98. These lines connect to a geothermal power plant located near Holtville Hot Springs and transmit electricity back onto the IID grid. These lines are likely 92kV. Photo taken 10/21/06.
The IID power lines follow California 115 for a short distance, until the point where Historic U.S. 80 turns east just prior to the Interstate 8 interchange. Photo taken 10/21/06.
Southbound California 115 and eastbound Historic U.S. 80 separate at this intersection. Turn left for Historic U.S. 80/Evan Hewes Highway east to Holtville Hot Springs. Proceed south on California 115 to Interstate 8 east to Yuma or west to El Centro and San Diego. The following right turn connects to Interstate 8 west to El Centro, and the second left turn connects to Interstate 8 east to Yuma. Photo taken 10/21/06.
An END California 115 shield assembly is posted on the bridge that carries California 115 over Interstate 8. The next left turn connects to Interstate 8 east to Algodones (Imperial) Sand Dunes, Winterhaven, and Yuma. Photo taken 08/08/99.
Scenes Pertaining to California 115
From the south side of California 115 is this view of the Alamo River bridge in western Holtville. Photo taken 03/26/06.
This view of the Alamo River Bridge is looking south from the defunct Interurban Railway bridge. Photo taken 03/26/06.
A remnant of old U.S. 80 is found on the south side of the Alamo River bridge. This twin-slab concrete section, which was covered in asphalt, used to bend to a different bridge over the river. That older bridge is gone, having been replaced by the current California 115 Alamo River Bridge. Photo taken 03/26/06.
The Interurban Railway, which used to connect Holtville with El Centro, has many relics left along its route even though the railroad is not in use today. This picture shows the bridge (looking south and east) that the railroad uses to cross the Alamo River adjacent to California 115 (Old U.S. 80) in western Holtville. Photo taken 03/26/06.
Between the defunct Interurban Railway tracks on the north side of California 115 (U.S. 80) and the highway sits this C Block, on the east side of the Alamo River Valley in Holtville. Photo taken 03/26/06.
These porcelain enamel street blade signs are posted at the intersection of Fourth Street and California 115/Palm Avenue in southwestern Holtville. Photo taken 10/14/06.
This old, porcelain enamel speed limit sign (white on black) is fairly old, but there are no date stamps on the back of the sign to confirm its age. This sign is located on Fourth Street in Holtville, less than a block after Fourth Street splits from California 115. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Holt Park, located in downtown Holtville, is situated on the north side of Fifth Street (California 115 and Historic U.S. 80). At the south end of the park is a replica Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC) mileage marker with four faces mounted on a pillar. Photos taken 10/14/06.
Northbound Walnut Avenue meets California 115 and Historic U.S. 80/Fifth Street in downtown Holtville. Turn left here for California 115 north and U.S. 80 west to El Centro or right for California 115 and U.S. 80 east to Interstate 8 and Yuma. Photo taken 10/14/06.
One common feature along the highways of Imperial County are the omnipresent hay bales. However, this picture shows another baled product of the Imperial Valley: wool. These white bales do not hold hay; they are compressed piles of wool sheared from herds of valley sheep seen along California 115. These wool bales are located along northbound California 115 just after the at Eddins Road/Wirt Road/West Road intersection just east of Calipatria. Photo taken 10/05/02.
This confluence of power lines is visible from California 115 near its southern terminus. Photo taken 06/07/08.
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Page Updated March 6, 2013.

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