Upon leaving Fresno County and entering Merced County, Interstate 5 reaches Exit 386, John "Chuck" Erreca Rest Area. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Traffic merges from the John "Chuck" Erreca Rest Area back onto Interstate 5 north. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A set of 230kV power lines approach and cross Interstate 5 after the rest area, and they cross the freeway near Milepost 390. Photos taken 11/22/07.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is the Dos Amigos Vista Point. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound Interstate 5 connects to the Dos Amigos Vista Point, which provides a view of the Central Valley and one of the pumping stations along the California Aqueduct. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A clear view of the California Aqueduct and the pumping station come into view after the Vista Point exit. Photo taken 11/22/07.
This power line connects the pumping station to the Path 15 power corridor, which is sitting west of Interstate 5. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 391, Junction California 165/Mercy Springs Road north to Los Banos. The city of Los Banos is located at the intersection of California 165 and California 33-152. North of Los Banos, California 165 continues north to California 99 in Turlock. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A hospital is located in Los Banos via California 165 north. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 391, Junction California 165/Mercy Springs Road north to Los Banos and Turlock. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A faded Interstate 5 notrh shield is posted after the onramp from California 165/Mercy Springs Road. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Within Merced County north of the California 165 interchange, Interstate 5 is designated in honor of CHP Officer Alfred R. Turner. Photo taken 07/05/06.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next interchange (Exits 403A-B, Junction California 152) and the control cities of San Francisco (106 miles via Interstate 580) and Sacramento (105 miles via Interstate 5). Photo taken 07/05/06.
The speed limit along Interstate 5 remains 70 miles per hour. Photo taken 07/05/06.
Due to its location in the western foothills, Interstate 5 can see some high winds especially during storms or summer wind events. Dust storms have plagued this stretch of freeway through the Central Valley in the past, causing accidents due to low visibility. Photo taken 07/05/06.
Plenty of trucks commonly use Interstate 5 through the Central Valley. As the freeway continues north, it enters more arable land with more plentiful water (well, plentiful in comparison with the driest corners of Kings and Kern Counties). Photo taken 07/05/06.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 403A, Junction California 33 south and California 152 east to Los Banos, three-quarters of a mile. This interchange is a cloverleaf, so the following exit is Exit 403B, Junction California 33 north and California 152 west to Hollister and Monterey (not shown here). Photo taken 11/22/07.
Exits 403A-B can be a congested, busy interchange. Through traffic is advised to use the left lane to avoid merging traffic when passing through this interchange. Traffic destined for San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Monterey will want to use this exit. Photo taken 07/05/06.
A sign was added in 2007 that advises that Exit 403B (California 152 west) leads to San Luis Reservoir and the city of Gilroy on the U.S. 101 corridor. Photo taken 11/22/07.
While we've visited with north-south California 33 previously in Fresno County, this is the only interchange with California 152. This major east-west expressway corridor is a multi-lane divided highway, offering the most direct east-west service between U.S. 101, Interstate 5, and California 99 between Gilroy, Los Banos, and Chowchilla. As an expressway, California 152 is very busy and can see delays during peak hours. Through the cities of Los Banos and Gilroy, California 152 becomes part of the arterial network and thus has traffic signals and heavier traffic. Photo taken 07/05/06.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 403A, Junction California 33 south and California 152 east to Los Banos. The next exit in this cloverleaf interchange is Exit 403B, Junction California 33 north and California 152 west to San Jose, Hollister, and Monterey. Note that the California 33 north shield is omitted on this overhead sign for Exit 403B. These porcelain enamel signs date back to the early 1970s, when the Interstate 5 freeway was first constructed through this area. Photo taken 07/05/06.
Immediately thereafter, Interstate 5 north reaches Exit 403B, Junction California 33 north and California 152 west to San Jose, Hollister, and Monterey. An interchange with California 33 is ahead, at Santa Nella. Photo taken 07/05/06.
An exit number gore point sign is posted for Exit 403B, Junction California 33 north and California 152 west. Photo taken 11/22/07.
After the California 152 interchange, Interstate 5 becomes an officially recognized scenic route as evidenced by this weathered scenic route marker. This reassurance shield is located after the onramp from California 152 west and California 33 north. Photo taken 11/22/07.
This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 provides the distance to Exit 407, Junction Northbound California 33 in Santa Nella and the city of San Francisco. For the first time, note that Sacramento (the official control city for Interstate 5 north) is omitted. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Interstate 5 crosses over the San Luis Canal, which links the San Luis Reservoir with the north-south California Aqueduct. Water is pumped through the canal to send water between the aqueduct and the reservoir. Photos taken 11/22/07.
As mentioned earlier, the next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 407, Junction California 33/Santa Nella Boulevard north to Gustine and south to Santa Nella. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Santa Nella makes no secret that it exists primarily as an Interstate stopover with all motorist services (gas, food, lodging, and camping). Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 407, Junction California 33/Santa Nella Boulevard. California 33 leads north to Gustine and Newman, but it remains fairly close to Interstate 5 between Santa Nella and Tracy. Photo taken 11/22/07.
This Interstate 5 north reassurance shield is posted after the California 33 onramp. Photo taken 11/22/07.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the Newman interchange (Exit 423, Junction Stanislaus County Route J-18/Stuhr Road). Omitted from this sign is the Weigh Station (Exit 408) and Exit 418, Junction California 140. The sign also provides the distance to the control cities of San Francisco and Sacramento. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 408, a weigh station located just north of the Santa Nella interchange. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The weigh station was closed on this Thanksgiving Day. Photo taken 11/22/07.
This view of northbound Interstate 5 is located after Santa Nella (Exit 408). Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 418, Junction Eastbound California 140, which leads east to meet California 33 in Gustine. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Interstate 5 serves as the western terminus of California 140, which is shown here approaching Exit 418, Junction California 140. Eastbound California 140 provides a direct connection into Yosemite National Park after passing through Merced. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 418, Junction California 140 after crossing Garzas Creek. Some motorist services are available here, and the end of California 140 is posted. Photo taken 11/22/07.
While within the footprint of the California 140 interchange, northbound Interstate 5 departs Merced County and enters Stanislaus County. Photo taken 11/22/07.
