At Exit 207 (Lebec), this trailblazer shield points the way to Interstate 5/Golden Freeway north on the Lebec Service Road (on the east side of the freeway; Old U.S. 99 is located on the west side of Interstate 5 at Exit 207). Photo taken 09/25/05.
Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north
Now leaving Los Angeles County, Interstate 5 enters Kern County. Interstate 5 mostly passes through rural, undeveloped sections of Kern County and avoids the county seat of Bakersfield. Photo taken 10/07/06.
A truck warning sign is posted for the high winds common along this stretch of freeway. Additionally, Interstate 5 will soon drop several thousand feet in elevation at the Grapevine, so motorists are advised to check their brakes at the Exit 206 Rest Area. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway reaches Exit 206, Rest Area and Brake Inspection Area. This is only the second rest area along northbound Interstate 5; the only other rest area seen along northbound Interstate 5 was in Camp Pendleton, located midway between Oceanside and San Clemente. There are no rest areas in Los Angeles County. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Now Interstate 5 is slowly descending from its prior heights of Tejon Pass (elevation 4,183 feet), but it remains fairly level between Frazier Park Road and Lebec. The next exit along Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north is Exit 207, Lebec. Photo taken 09/25/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 207, Lebec. The unincorporated community of Lebec is located mostly on the west side of the freeway, including an antique store and post office. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The Lebec overpass crosses Interstate 5 as the freeway bends a bit to the northwest. Between Lebec and Fort Tejon, the old alignment of U.S. 99 remains on the west side of the freeway and provides local access. U.S. 99 returns back to Interstate 5 at Exit 210, Fort Tejon. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Mileage sign for Bakersfield, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Interstate 5 itself only serves Sacramento, but it connects to Bakersfield via California 99 and San Francisco via Interstate 580 and Interstate 80. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Between Fort Tejon and Wheeler Ridge, Interstate 5 will make its most steep descent from the 4,183-foot Tejon Pass to the nearly sea level Central Valley. This warning sign indicates that trucks should be mindful of a 6% grade on the five-mile downslope along Interstate 5 into the Central Valley. This five-mile section of steep downgrade is known as The Grapevine. In winter, this section can be especially dangerous with wet, slick roadways and significant truck traffic. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The original brake inspection area has been closed for several years and remains closed currently. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Cones and barricades block access to the Brake Check Area. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The next exit along Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north is Exit 210, Fort Tejon to Historic U.S. 99. The extant portions of U.S. 99 that are not buried under Pyramid Lake or underneath the freeway are still accessible by many of the exits between Castaic and Fort Tejon, including Lebec, Frazier Park, and Smokey Bear Road. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The Fort Tejon interchange is one of the first sections of Interstate 5 in Kern County to receive an exit number in 2003. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Use Exit 210 to Fort Tejon State Historical Park. This fort, located at the top of Grapevine Canyon, had strategic uses in the early days of California. According to the state park webpage, "The fort was established to protect and control the Indians who were living on the Sebastian Indian Reservation, and to protect both the Indians and white settlers from raids by the Paiutes, Chemeheui, Mojave, and other Indian groups of the desert regions to the south east." Photo taken 11/25/04.
Watch for Slow Trucks for the next five miles. The downslope to the Central Valley begins here at Exit 210 and extends north until Exit 215, Grapevine. These power lines (behind the yellow overhead sign) connects power generation facilities in the Kern River Canyon with the city of Los Angeles. These lines are among the oldest tranmission lines still in service in the Golden State. They connect hydroelectric facilities along Kern Canyon with the megalopolis to the south, and they were originally constructed in 1909. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway reaches Exit 210, Fort Tejon. Exit 210 is the last exit on northbound before descending the Grapevine grade into the Central Valley, with five miles of a six percent downgrade. Note that there is no alternate route through the Grapevine; old U.S. 99 was directly replaced by the freeway. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The ramp to Exit 210 is very sharp. Watch for slow trucks upon making this exit. Compare this exit ramp during normal weather and foggy, rainy weather. Photos taken 06/28/06 and 11/23/06.
Upon reaching the Fort Tejon overcrossing, the right lane of Interstate 5 northbound becomes a truck-only lane with a 35 miles-per-hour speed limit. This is designed to keep slower traffic to the right as the freeway descends from the 4,000-foot plus Tejon Pass to the floor of the Central Valley, which is only slightly above sea level in elevation. Most of the downgrades are at six percent, as noted in the previous sign. For a comparable descent, see Interstate 70 in Colorado on the freeway descent on eastbound toward Denver. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The right lane is marked with a solid white line to indicate its role as a truck lane. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Quickly, the descent gets steep. Most cars will stay in the left lanes, while trucks will stay right. Watch for slowing traffic and sudden lane changes. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Each of the destinations as well as the control city listed on this mileage sign are directly accessible via California 99, while only Sacramento may be reached via Interstate 5. Through the Central Valley, California 99 serves most of the large population centers, while Interstate 5 prefers to remain on the west side of the valley, avoiding most metropolitan areas until reaching the Tracy-Manteca area. Photo taken 10/07/06.
An overhead sign reminds motorists of the lowered speed limit for the Truck Lane. Photo taken 10/07/06.
After passing Fort Tejon, northbound Interstate 5 descends into the Central Valley. These pictures chronicle the descent of the freeway, which features a lane dedicated to trucks so that they can maintain a slower speed limit than passenger vehicles might be traveling. This grade, commonly known as the Grapevine, can be treacherous in wet or foggy weather, but it also affords spectacular views of the mammoth Central Valley sprawling in the distance. The fact that the mountains end here and the valley begins is no accident; this is close to where the infamous San Andreas Fault passes Interstate 5. Julian Balgobin writes that the San Andreas Fault actually meets up with the highway just south of Gorman and runs parallel to the freeway. Interstate 5 then crosses the fault at Tejon Pass, where the fault then trends in a westerly direction through Cuddy Valley, while Interstate 5 makes a sharp right hand turn to heads toward for Lake Castac. The San Andreas Fault, meanwhile, heads northwesterly parallel to the coast en route to San Francisco and easterly toward the Salton Sea basin, which is the southern end of the San Andreas Fault. These mountains, and the valley below, are all the result of the earth's constant geological motion and development, including plate tectonics, earthquakes, erosion, weathering, and uplift. Photos taken 11/25/04, 06/28/06, and 10/07/06.
The second truck escape ramp is a left exit. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 215, Grapevine. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Coming close to the bottom of the Grapevine Canyon grade, northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 215, Grapevine. It can be tricky to reach this exit because motorists must cross the slow-moving truck lane to make the exit. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The speed limit climbs back to 70 miles per hour after the Grapevine interchange. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The next interchange on Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north is Exits 219A-B, Laval Road. This interchange serves Wheeler Ridge (elevation 964 feet above sea level) and connects to Wheeler Ridge Road (former California 184) north to Lamont and Lake Isabella (via California 178). Photos taken 06/28/06 and 11/25/04.
An overhead sign advises of Exit 219A, Laval Road east to Wheeler Ridge north to Arvin, Lamont, and Lake Isabella and Exit 129B, Laval Road west to Wheeler Ridge. Several large-scale distribution centers are located at this interchange. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Use Wheeler Ridge north to Arvin, which is located on California 223 (Bear Mountain Road) east of Weedpatch and southeast of Lamont. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 219A, Laval Road east; the following ramp connects to Exit 219B, westbound Laval Road. All motorist services (including truck stops) are located at this interchange. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 219B, Laval Road west. The next exit is the Interstate 5/California 99 split (Exit 221). Compare the picture from October 2001 to the picture from June 2006. The shields on the original overhead signs were probably the largest on any overhead sign in California; the replacement signs were installed in 2002. Now the signs have been replaced with reflective signage, and shields have been reduced in size (and exit numbers have been added, making this the first instance we've seen of an exit number on a freeway-to-freeway connection). California 99 serves the more populated east side of the Central Valley and foothills, while Interstate 5 follows the west side of the valley. Technically, the Golden State Freeway continues north along California 99, while the Westside Highway follows Interstate 5 northbound. By this point, most travelers refer to this as Interstate 5 or "the 5," not the Golden State Freeway or Westside Highway. Photos taken 06/28/06 and 10/22/01.
The next exit on Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway north is Exit 221, Junction California 99/Golden State Freeway north. California 99 is the original route of U.S. 99 through the Central Valley, and it serves cities such as Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, and Sacramento. It is only a few miles longer than Interstate 5, but it passes through many cities, making it more congested than Interstate 5. Through traffic is recommended to use Interstate 5, as is traffic headed for the San Francisco Bay Area. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 221, Junction California 99/Golden State Freeway north. As shown by comparing the November 2002 pictures with the January 2002 pictures, all original signage at this interchange has been replaced. Photos taken 06/28/06 and 10/07/06.
A set of trailblazer shields for California 99 and Interstate 5 are posted at the split of the two routes. This view shows the two shields as seen from the California 99 exit. Photos taken 11/25/04 and 10/07/06.
Interstate 5/Westside Highway north
After splitting with California 99, Interstate 5 continues to have two lanes that swing around the interchange and then crosses over California 99. Photo taken 07/02/04.
This is a view of the bridge that carries Interstate 5 over California 99. Photo taken 07/02/04.
After California 99 splits away from northbound Interstate 5, the freeway becomes a four-lane (two lanes each way) highway for the first time on its northbound journey. It will remain this way until reaching Interstate 205 near Tracy. This mileage sign is located along northbound immediately after Exit 221, Junction California 99. Even though this is the southern end of the Central Valley, agriculture is not as prominent as it is farther north due to the lack of rainfall and lower quality soil. It is interesting to see how the valley changes from arid/semi-desert into a fertile growing region as Interstate 5 continues northward. However, as evidenced by the oil rig, there is some oil to be found in this region. Photo taken 11/28/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 225, Junction California 166, one mile. California 166 east connects to California 99 and ends. However, westbound California 166 links to California 166 near Maricopa, then continues east to meet U.S. 101 at Santa Maria and California 1 near the coast at Guadalupe. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Use California 166 west to reach the California Aqueduct pumping stations just west of Wheeler Ridge. The California Aqueduct parallels Interstate 5 from Los Angeles north through the Central Valley to the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta. To pump the water up and over the 4,000 foot mountains that divide the Central Valley from Los Angeles, massive pumping stations push the water uphill to ensure water is received by the megalopolis. These pumping stations use so much power that their usage had to be curtailed during the power crisis of the summer of 2001. Photo taken 11/28/02.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 225, Junction California 166, next right. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 225, Junction California 166. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 228, Copus Road (one mile). Photo taken 07/02/04.
In an adjustment from the urban driving conditions of Interstate 5, the feel of the freeway is vastly different as drivers become accustomed to a wide, expansive valley with little or no development. Mileage signs such as this one usually point to the next major highway interchange (usually a state route) and (along northbound) the control points of Sacramento and San Francisco. This remains the case through Kern, King, and Fresno Counties. However, the control cities on these signs only indicate San Francisco in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Also of interest in this picture is the first of many locally-placed signs that remind motorists of the value of water in the rural farming communities, especially in arid locations such as the south end of the Central Valley. A "water war" between the urban and rural regions has been brewing for years, and with the federally mandated reduction in the availability of Colorado River water, the remaining water is hotly contested, including water previously allocated to farm interests. This debate is by no means over. Photo taken 11/28/02.
The next exit along Interstate 5/Westside Highway is Exit 239, Junction California 223/Bear Mountain Boulevard (one mile). California 223 leads east to meet California 99/Golden State Freeway south of Bakersfield and California 58 east of Arvin. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Use Exit 239, Junction California 223/Bear Mountain Boulevard to reach Buena Vista Recreation Area. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/02/04.
Northbound Interstate 5/Westside Highway reaches Exit 239, Junction California 223/Bear Mountain Boulevard. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/02/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next exit (Exit 244, Junction California 119/Taft Highway) in two miles plus the distance to the control cities of Sacramento (275 miles) and San Francisco (276 miles). It is interesting to note that there is only a one mile difference in the distance to Sacramento and San Francisco. Photo taken 11/28/02.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 244, Junction California 119/Taft Highway (one mile). This is the old alignment of U.S. 399, which was decommissioned in 1964. U.S. 399 used to extend north from Ventura via California 33 to Taft, then northeast via California 119 to Bakersfield. Photo taken 07/20/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 244, Junction California 119, next right. The poles behind this sign are for the replacement reflective sign that will feature an exit number. The new sign was in place by 2003, and the 2006 photo shows the new exit number sign. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 11/28/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 244, Junction California 119 (old U.S. 399). Photo taken 07/20/04.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 246, Junction California 43 (one mile). Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/20/04.
California 43 travels north-south through the southern Central Valley. Beginning at California 119, California 43 travels north through Shafter, Wasco, Corcoran, and Hanford before ending at California 99 in Selma. The 2004 sign is reflective, but it is not the standard reflective sheeting featuring the brighter green that is becoming more and more prominent on California's highways. It was replaced shortly after the 2004 photo was taken. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/20/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 246, Junction California 43. Photo taken 07/20/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Lost Hills (Junction California 46), San Francisco, and Sacramento. This is the same format used for most mileage signs in Kern County. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 253, Stockdale Highway. Stockdale Highway leads due east into Bakersfield. One of the options being considered for a freeway connection from Bakersfield to Interstate 5 would be to overlay such a route on Stockdale Highway. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Use Exit 253, Stockdale Highway, to reach the Tule Elk Reserve. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 253, Stockdale Highway. Stockdale Highway has been considered at times for an expressway or freeway corridor from Interstate 5 east into Bakersfield. Photo taken 07/20/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Buttonwillow (Junction California 58), San Francisco, and Sacramento. This is the same format used for most mileage signs in Kern County. Photo taken 07/02/04.
These power lines connect the backbone north-south transmission lines with power generated from the Colorado River dams, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, power facilities from Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, and even power from fossil fuel generation plants located around the Four Corners region. These particular poles were placed by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and are part of Path 26; Interstate 5 has left Southern California Edison (SCE) territory and is now firmly within PG&E territory. Other Path 26 lines, which have crossed Interstate 5 at varying intervals, were built by SCE to allow interconnection between PG&E and SCE and to carry power north-south through the state of California. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 257, Junction California 58, Buttonwillow/McKittrick, one mile. California 58 leads east to Bakersfield and west to San Luis Obispo. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Exit 257/California 58 is the first exit with a full array of motorist services since the Grapevine/Wheeler Ridge exit (Exit 215). California 58 is also noteworthy for what it is not: a freeway. In spite of the fact that most of California 58 east of Bakersfield/California 99 is a freeway, this stretch of highway is only two lanes. In fact, the average daily traffic counts are fairly low on this portion of highway, and they get even lower west of California 33. The reason for this is because most east-west traffic uses California 46 (old U.S. 466) to reach the Central Coast rather than California 58. If an extension to the freeway were constructed west to Interstate 5, it is more than likely that it would utilize California 46 rather than California 58 due to traffic counts. However, much depends on the future expansion of the Bakersfield metropolitan area, which is pushing further west. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The next gas available along northbound (after Exit 257, California 58, Buttonwillow/McKittrick) is the interchange with California 46 at Lost Hills. Photo taken 07/02/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 257, Junction California 58, Buttonwillow/McKittrick. The connection between the freeway and California 58 is accessed via a frontage road. This is a very old sign that probably dates to the original construction of the freeway. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The offramp from northbound Interstate 5 to California 58 makes a sharp, 90-degree turn, then connects to a stop sign at the frontage road (Tracy Avenue) on the east side of the freeway. To reach California 58, traffic must turn right (south) on the frontage road, pass by the various gas stations, restaurants, and other motorist amenities, and then reach a second stop sign at the highway. A left turn at this stop sign is eastbound California 58; a right turn is westbound California 58. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 01/21/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is a rest area located near Milepost 259. Photo taken 07/02/04.
This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 provides the distance to the next major exit (Junction California 46) as well as San Francisco and Sacramento. This sign is located after the onramp from Exit 257 (Junction California 58). The next major exit is Exit 278, Junction California 46 (former U.S. 466) in Lost Hills. This mileage sign is one of the few remaining in the Central Valley segment of Interstate 5 to feature distance in kilometers. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 262, 7th Standard Road and Rowlee Road (one mile). Photo taken 11/28/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 262, 7th Standard Road/Rowlee Road. Photo taken 11/28/02.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 268, Lerdo Highway. Photo taken 07/02/04.
These power lines (part of Path 15 now that we are north of Buttonwillow and the Midway Substation) provide the primary electricity transmission corridor between southern and northern California. They cross the freeway multiple times between here and Redding. Photo taken 07/02/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 278, Junction California 46/Lost Hills, one mile. Westbound California 46 follows historic U.S. 466 west toward Lost Hills and Paso Robles (although U.S. 466 used to follow California 41 southwest to Atascadero and Morro Bay). Photos taken 11/23/06 and 11/28/02.
Use Exit 278 to reach the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/02/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 278, Junction California 46/Lost Hills, next right. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 11/28/02.
The next gas on the freeway (along northbound) is 32 miles ahead at Exit 309, Junction California 41. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/02/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 278, Junction California 46/Lost Hills. Eastbound California 46 leads to Wasco before culminating at California 99. At a seemingly arbitrary point north of California 46 and south of Utica Avenue, northbound Interstate 5 crosses from Kern County into Kings County. Photo taken 11/28/02.
This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 provides the distance to California 41, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Photos taken 11/23/06 and 07/02/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5/Westside Highway is Exit 288, Twisselman Road. Photo taken 07/02/04.
After the Twissleman Road interchange, this mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 provides the distance to California 41, San Francisco, and Sacramento. From here, Interstate 5 departs Kern County and enters Kings County around Milepost 292. Photo taken 07/02/04.
