Interstate 5 leaves Glenn County and enters Tehama County. A 230kV Pacific Gas & Electric power line passes over the freeway immediately after the county line. Photos taken 08/02/11.
Upon entering Tehama County, Interstate 5 leaves Caltrans District 3 and enters Caltrans District 2. This section of Interstate 5, from the county line north to Exit 631 (Corning Road), was built in 1966. In this scene, note the differences between the late summer and early spring shots. The difference is between brown and green due to the general lack of rainfall in the summer. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 passes under Sour Grass Road (no access). Photo taken 08/02/11.
Recreation unlimited ... enjoy Tehama County. Photo taken 08/02/11.
About six miles north of the Glenn-Tehama County Line is the first Tehama County interchange along Interstate 5 north: Exit 628, Liberal Avenue to Old U.S. 99W north into the city of Corning. A welcome sign for visitors to Corning is located behind the guide sign. Also becoming clearly visible for the first time is peak of towering Mount Shasta, which will remain visible along Interstate 5 north for miles to come. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 628, Liberal Avenue east to U.S. 99W north to Corning, the "Olive City." Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 630, South Avenue. Use South Avenue east to California 99 near Vina. Photo taken 03/31/05.
At Exit 630, use South Avenue east to Tehama County Route A-8/South Avenue east to Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area. The park is located at the Sacramento River crossing along South Avenue. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Use South Avenue east to Historic U.S. 99W (signed as Road 99W). The old alignment parallels Interstate 5 just east of here. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 630, South Avenue. Gas and food are available at this interchange. To the city of Corning, continue north one more exit. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 enters the city of Corning at the South Avenue interchange. Corning was incorporated on August 6, 1907, and had a population of 6,741 people in 2000 and 7,663 people in 2010 per U.S. Census figures. Most motorist services (gas, food) are available at this interchange. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 631, Junction Tehama County Route A-9/Corning Road east to Corning and west to Flournoy and Paskenta. At Paskenta, the signed county route ends, and two national forest highways continue into the Mendocino National Forest: Round Valley Road and Toomes Camp Road. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Use Exit 631 to the Corning Visitors Center and Mendocino National Forest Ranger Station. An auxiliary Tehama County Route A-9 shield is posted below the tourist information sign. The Bell Carter Olive Company is based in Corning, and its ripe olive cannery give the city its nickname of the "Olive City." Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 631, Junction Tehama County Route A-9 (Solano Street east to Corning and Corning Road west to Flournoy and Paskenta). This is the main city of Corning exit, and all motorist services are available both at the Interstate 5 interchange and also in downtown Corning. At this point, U.S. 99W will deviate somewhat from Interstate 5's path. The two routes have closely paralleled each other from Woodland to Corning, with the old U.S. highway serving as a frontage road or as the business loop. From here, Old U.S. 99W briefly follows Tehama County Route A-9 east to Corning, then turns north on its own alignment through Richfield and Proberta. At Proberta, U.S. 99W merges onto Tehama County Route A-8 north toward Red Bluff, the seat of Tehama County. Photo taken 03/31/05.
These pictures show the offramp from Interstate 5 to County Route A-9 (A-9/Corning Road west or A-9/Solano Street east). At the top of the ramp, turn left (west) on A-9 to Paskenta and Black Butte Reservoir, or turn right (east) on A-9 to downtown Corning and ultimately California 99 near Vina. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 632, Rest Area. The section of Interstate 5 from Exit 631 (Corning Road) north to Exit 647 (South Main Street, which is designated as Business Loop 5) was built in 1965. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 632, Rest Area. Restrooms, water, and pet exercise area are available here. Photos taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 633, Finnell Avenue to Richfield. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 633, Finnell Avenue east to Old U.S. 99W and the community of Richfield. The sign was changed to meet current Caltrans standards for exit numbers by 2011. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
This mileage sign along Interstate 5 north provides the distance to Red Bluff (seat of Tehama County, 13 miles) and Redding (seat of Shasta County, 43 miles). Photo taken 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 crosses Thomes Creek, which drains from Mendocino National Forest toward the Sacramento River. The view of the creek looks east. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Two volcanic mountains are visible from Interstate 5: Mount Shasta, which lies directly north of here, and Mount Lassen, which can be seen to the northeast (as seen here from the freeway). Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 636, Junction Tehama County Route A-11/Gyle Road west to Rancho Tehama and Flournoy and east to Tehama and Los Molinos. In Tehama, county route A-11 ends at county route A-8, and county route A-8 then proceeds across the Sacramento River to meet California 99 near Los Molinos. Photo taken 03/31/05.
A single Tehama County Route A-11 standalone trailblazer is posted prior to the Exit 636 offramp. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 636, Junction Tehama County Route A-11/Gyle Road east to Tehama and Los Molinos. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 642, Flores Avenue east to Proberta, La Flores, and Gerber. All three of these towns are located along Old U.S. 99W, which has strayed away from Interstate 5 between Corning and Red Bluff. Oddly, the sign was replaced without the exit number by 2011. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 642, Flores Avenue east to Proberta, La Flores, and Gerber. Photo taken 03/31/05.
This Interstate 5 reassurance shield, along with dominating Mount Shasta in the background, make for a great scene along northbound after the Proberta interchange (Exit 642). Clarity is key, since the mountain was not visible from this vantage point during our set from August 2, 2011. Photo taken 03/31/05.
A mileage sign provides the distance to Red Bluff (four miles) and Redding (34 miles). After this mileage sign, Interstate 5 will almost arbitrarily increase to three northbound lanes. At this location is the proposed yet unconstructed connection for a future California 99 freeway merge, should California 99 ever be built as a freeway this far north. This merge point would be somewhere near Manor Lane (south of the Riverside Avenue overpass and north of the Flores Avenue interchange) based on the spot where two-lane asphalt roadway changes to three-lane concrete roadway. It is not clear if a California 99 freeway will ever be constructed this far north. Photo taken 03/31/05.
After the mileage sign, Interstate 5 sees a brief asphalt median, which is where seemingly and almost arbitrarily the freeway widens to three northbound lanes. At this location is the proposed yet unconstructed connection for a future California 99 freeway merge, should California 99 ever be built as a freeway this far north. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The Interstate 5 and California 99 merge point would be somewhere near Manor Lane (south of the Riverside Avenue overpass and north of the Flores Avenue interchange) based on the spot where two-lane asphalt roadway changes to three-lane concrete roadway. Despite the accommodation provided here for the future California 99 merge, it is not known whether the 99 freeway will ever be constructed this far north. Photo taken 08/02/11.
As Mount Shasta comes closer into view, northbound Interstate 5 enters the vicinity of Red Bluff area. Red Bluff sits at the crossroads of Interstate 5, Tehama County Route A-8 (Old U.S. 99W), California 99 (Old U.S. 99E), and California 36. The next three exits all serve the city of Red Bluff: Exit 647, Junction Business Loop I-5, Tehama County Route A-8, and Old U.S. 99W (Main Street); Exit 649, Junction California 36 (Antelope Boulevard/Historic U.S. 99E) west to downtown Red Bluff and east to California 99 south; and Exit 650, Adobe Road. There is no access to Exit 651, Junction Business Loop I-5/U.S. 99 (Main Street) south from northbound Interstate 5. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 647, Junction Business Loop I-5, Tehama County Route A-8, and Old U.S. 99W (Main Street). U.S. 99W, which has paralleled Interstate 5 since Woodland, will rejoin U.S. 99E in Red Bluff to reform U.S. 99. U.S. 99E intersects Interstate 5 at the California 36 interchange a bit further ahead. U.S. 99E stayed in the eastern part of the Sacramento Valley, serving Yuba City-Marysville and Chico. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next interchange connects to Business Loop I-5/Main Street north into Red Bluff and Tehama County Route A-8 (South Main Street/Old U.S. 99W) south to Proberta. The business route and county route are cosigned into downtown Red Bluff. The business loop will return to Interstate 5 about four miles north of here, at Exit 651. Use Exit 647 to Shasta College-Tehama Campus. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 647, Junction Business Loop I-5/Main Street. This configuration changed between 2005 and 2011. In 2011, the right lane was striped as an exit only lane with an overhead guide sign, while in 2005, there was a roadside sign indicating that the next exit connected to Business Loop I-5 (with a traditional "Route 5 Business Next Right" auxiliary panel). Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
By 2011, the Business Loop I-5 trailblazer sign was moved to the services sign. To the Red Bluff Municipal Airport, use Business Loop I-5/Old U.S. 99W/Tehama County Route A-8 (Main Street) north to Luther Road. Follow Luther Road west to Airport Boulevard south, which leads to the airport terminals. Other services include gas, food, lodging, hospital, and visitors information center. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
The city of Red Bluff is the seat of Tehama County, with a population of 13,147 people as of the 2000 Census and 7.6 square miles of area. The average elevation is 350 feet above sea level, and Red Bluff is one of the northernmost cities of the enormous Central Valley, which is more commonly referred to as the Sacramento Valley this far north. Foothill terrain separates Red Bluff and Redding north of here. Additional people live in unincorporated areas around Red Bluff, adding to the total population of the area. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Northbound Interstate 5 meets Exit 647, Junction Business Loop I-5, Tehama County Route A-8, and Old U.S. 99W (Main Street) into the city of Red Bluff. The right lane exits directly onto Exit 647, and Interstate 5 will again become four lanes (two in each direction). In 2005, the right lane only went a short distance further north before ending, so the 2011 configuration of "right lane exit only" makes sense. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
The third lane used to come to an at this point before the lane was reconfigured by 2011. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The interchange between Interstate 5 and Main Street (Business Route 5) is a partial cloverleaf, so traffic from southbound Business Loop I-5 and Tehama County Route A-8 merges onto Interstate 5 north. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Interstate 5 passes under Business Loop I-5/U.S. 99W (Main Street) under this first bridge, then passes under the railroad, and finally passes under Diamond Avenue. Onramps to northbound come from both Main Street/U.S. 99W and Diamond Avenue, but there is no direct access to Diamond Avenue. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 649, Junction California 36/Antelope Boulevard to downtown Red Bluff and to California 99 south. This interchange serves central Red Bluff. The Interstate 5 bypass around Red Bluff was built in 1964-1965 (from Exit 647 to Exit 651). Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 crosses over the Sacramento River for the first time since near Sacramento International Airport. The freeway will cross the river several more times as we proceed north through Tehama County into Shasta County. Photo taken 08/02/11.
After crossing the Sacramento River, this sign advises that California 36 travels east to Lake Almanor and Susanville, where it ends at its junction with U.S. 395. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
California 36 east connects to California 99 south, which reaches its northern terminus at its junction with California 36 a few miles east of this interchange. There is no direct connection between Interstate 5 and California 99 at the northern end of the Central Valley, although there are provisions for a freeway connection south of Red Bluff as evidenced by the six-lane section of Interstate 5. All motorist services (gas, food, lodging) are available at this interchange. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
To the east, California 36 connects to California 89 north into Lassen National Park; California 89 north to California 44 is closed through the park during winter months. The national park portion of this sign should be brown rather than green in color. Although no signs mention it, California 36 also travels west toward the coast. It winds through the Coast Range before ending on U.S. 101 near Alton and Hydesville. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 649, Junction California 36 (Antelope Boulevard) to California 99 south. This is a partial cloverleaf with an exit ramp that was reconfigured by 2011. The sign bridge was replaced, and the pull-through sign for Interstate 5 north was removed. The 2005 overhead signs did not include the exit number, but the gore point sign showed the exit number. Prior to its removal, this was the first overhead Interstate 5 signage to use Portland as a control point, with Redding as the destination city. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Looking at the exit ramp, stay left to follow California 36 west to Red Bluff or right for California 36 east to Susanville and California 99 south to Chico. Photos taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 650, Adobe Road (0.75 mile). An empty sign gantry sits on the California 36/Antelope Boulevard overpass. It is not clear what sign used to reside here, but it was probably for the next interchange (Exit 650 to Adobe Road). Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Use Adobe Road to California 36 west to Fortuna and Business Loop I-5 south to Red Bluff. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Interstate 5 again crosses over the Sacramento River. The river takes a bend to pass through Red Bluff (hence crossing Interstate 5 twice since downtown Red Bluff is west of Interstate 5), then turns northeast. We'll see the river again near Anderson just south of Redding. The river view looks northeast toward Lassen National Park. Photos taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 650, Adobe Road. Use Adobe Road west to Business Loop I-5/U.S. 99 (Main Street) and northern Red Bluff. There is no access to Exit 651, which directly connects to North Main Street. Photo taken 08/02/11.
This Interstate 5 shield is posted after the onramp from Main Street (Exit 651, which only has access from southbound). Photo taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 is Exit 652, Wilcox Golf Road, one-half mile. Interstate 5 from Exit 651 north to the Shasta County Line was built in 1963. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 652, Wilcox Golf Road. Note how the landscape now features trees and rolling hills as opposed to the predominant agriculture of the Central Valley. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
This unusual gore point signage along northbound for Exit 652 (Wilcox Golf Road) is worth a photo because the exit number was tagged onto an existing "exit" gore point sign. Photo taken 01/20/03.
An Interstate 5 north reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Wilcox Golf Road. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 is Exit 653, Jellys Ferry Road (one mile). Photo taken 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 north approaches Exit 653, Jellys Ferry Road (one-half mile). Photo taken 08/02/11.
Here is another view of the odd exit number gore point signs in use along this section of Interstate 5, this time at Exit 653, Jellys Ferry Road. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 656, Rest Area. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
A mileage sign provides the distance to Cottonwood (10 miles), Anderson (14 miles), and Redding (23 miles). Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 656, Rest Area, which contains restrooms, water, pet exercise area, and related facilities. This rest area was closed in 2005 but open in 2011. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Another set of Pacific Gas & Electric power lines cross Interstate 5. We are reaching the northern edge of PG&E territory. These lines leave Path 66, the main north-south power transmission corridor that follow the western edge of the Sacramento Valley, and travel northeast. Two 230kV and one 138kV power lines cross Interstate 5 here; the Path 66 500kV power lines, which have remained hidden to the west of Interstate 5, will eventually cross over the freeway on its own alignment near Cottonwood. These 230kV PG&E power lines will interconnect with other regional power lines at a large substation east of Cottonwood off Trefoil Lane (power generated from Shasta Dam meets the grid at this substation). From there, the assorted power lines again parallel Path 66 from Cottonwood northeast. Path 66 itself does not interconnect here but instead will next stop at a substation near Malin, Oregon. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 657, Auction Yard Road/Hooker Creek Road (three-quarters of a mile). Note the brief third lane that is added through this section of Interstate 5 (the third lane was not there in 2005). Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 657, Auction Yard Road and Hooker Creek Road. Use Auction Yard Road north to follow alongside Interstate 5 as a frontage road; turn left to Hooker Creek Road west to rural northern Tehama County ranches and homes. Photo taken 08/02/11.
Upon departing the offramp to Exit 657, continue straight ahead for Auction Yard Road (Old U.S. 99) north or turn left for Hooker Creek Road west, which loops north and eventually connects to County Route A-5/Bowman Road southwest of Cottonwood. Turn right on Hooker Creek Road east to Snively Road north/south. Auction Yard Road returns to Interstate 5 at Exit 659. Photo taken 08/02/11.
This view follows the onramp from Hooker Creek Road onto Interstate 5 north. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The left lane ends, again reverting Interstate 5 to two northbound lanes. Photo taken 08/02/11.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 659, Sunset Hills Drive (formerly Snively Road), one mile. Snively Road actually parallels Interstate 5 for a stretch from here north to Lake California Drive/Tehama County Route A-5. Mount Shasta again dominates the northbound view. Photo taken 03/31/05.
A Taco Bell billboard vies with Mount Shasta for motorists' attention as Interstate 5 continues north. The parallel highway on the east side of Interstate 5 is Auction Yard Road. Photo taken 03/31/05.
After the gore point for Exit 659, the next exit is a weigh station (Exit 660). Photo taken 03/31/05.
All trucks must exit into the weigh station during hours of operation. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Prior to the weigh station, this mileage sign provides the distance to Cottonwood (four miles) and Weed (Junction U.S. 97, 88 miles). Curiously absent is Redding, which is still the northbound control city. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 660, Weigh Station. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 662, Junction Tehama County Route A-5 (Bowman Road) west and A-17/(Former) Business Loop I-5/U.S. 99 (Main Street) north to Cottonwood. This is the main route into Cottonwood. Naturally, the business route is not signed from the freeway on the new sign, but it was signed along northbound as recently as 1999, according to Jerry Mullady. It may be decommissioned now that it is unsigned from northbound Interstate 5. The loop returns to the Interstate at Exit 665, but only "Historic U.S. 99" shields are present along the length of the route. Tehama County Route A-5 leads southwest to meet California 36 west of Red Bluff. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
Use Exit 662 to follow Historic U.S. 99 (Former Business Loop I-5) north via Main Street into the Cottonwood Historic District. Cottonwood is an unincorporated community of southern Shasta County. Photo taken 08/02/11.
This is the first of two standalone trailblazer shields for Tehama County Route A-17 along Interstate 5 north prior to Exit 662 into Cottonwood. County Route A-17 extends north from Interstate 5, following Old U.S. 99 and Business Loop I-5. The county route then crosses Cottonwood Creek (which serves as the Tehama-Shasta County Line) into Cottonwood, and turns east along Balls Ferry Road and Ash Creek Road to Shasta County Route A-16/Dersch Road. County Route A-16 eventually connects to California 44 east of Redding; California 44 in turn travels east toward Lassen Volcanic National Park and Susanville. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 662, Tehama County Route A-5 (Bowman Road) west and A-17 (U.S. 99/Main Street/Business 5) north. Unmentioned on either county shield trailblazer, Tehama County Route A-5 extends west from this interchange along Bowman Road to California 36 west toward the coast. Photo taken 03/31/05.
A second standalone trailblazer shield for Tehama County Route A-17 is posted just prior to the gore point for Exit 662 along Interstate 5 north. The Tehama-Shasta County Line lies just north of this interchange. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 664, Gas Point Road west and Balls Ferry Road east to Shasta County Route A-17 east. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
This view shows Interstate 5 about to cross Cottonwood Creek, which is the county line between Tehama and Shasta Counties. The older two-lane bridge, which is Old U.S. 99 (now Business Loop I-5 and County Route A-17) can be seen to the east from the freeway. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 leaves Tehama County and enters Shasta County at the midpoint of the Cottonwood Creek bridge. The original Interstate 5 bridge over Cottonwood Creek was replaced in 1998. Photos taken 08/02/11 and 03/31/05.
