U.S. 50 West - Pollock Pines to El Dorado Hills


U.S. 50 west
We resume our westbound journey along U.S. 50 in the city of Placerville ("Old Hangtown") in the foothills. Placerville is the seat of El Dorado County, had a population of 10,389 as of the 2010 census, sits at an elevation of 2,187 feet, and was incorporated on May 13, 1854. It is located in the heart of California's Gold Country (California 49 follows the Mother Lode Highway through Gold Country) and takes its name from "placer," which is defined as an accumulation of valuable minerals formed by gravity separation during sedimentary processes. After its intersection with Bedford Avenue, U.S. 50 nears its off-ramp to Coloma Street, which functions as Exit 46. Use Coloma Street as a quick route to California 49 north. A pedestrian bridge crosses U.S. 50 overhead, but no access is offered from Coloma Street north of U.S. 50 to downtown Placerville south of U.S. 50. Continue east to the California 49 intersection to turn left (south) into downtown Placerville. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 next approaches the intersection with California 49 (Spring Street). California 49 is a major north-south state route that traverses California's Gold Country. Starting in Oakhurst north of Fresno, California 49 stays in the foothills for most of its route, connecting Mariposa, Sonora, Angels Camp, Jackson, Placerville, Auburn, Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Downieville. Much of its route passes through California's Gold Country and is known as the Mother Lode Highway for the historic cities and towns along its route, owing back to the Gold Rush of 1849. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 meets California 49 (Spring Street) north to Gold Hill, Georgetown (via California 193), and Auburn or south to Jackson, San Andreas, Angels Camp, and Sonora. The traffic signal poles at this intersection have been replaced with decorative poles since this picture was taken. After this intersection, U.S. 50 will intersect with Canal Street, which is the final traffic signal along U.S. 50 west. After Canal Street, U.S. 50 resumes as a freeway and will remain in that configuration all the way to its western terminus at Interstate 80 in West Sacramento. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Now as a freeway once again after the Canal Street intersection, westbound U.S. 50 next meets Exit 46, Placerville Drive (Old U.S. 50). The original alignment of U.S. 50 follows Main Street west along Placerville Drive to rejoin the freeway at Exit 44B and east via Main Street back into downtown Placerville. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Leaving Placerville, this mileage sign along U.S. 50 west provides the distance to Shingle Springs (nine miles), Sacramento (42 miles), and San Francisco (131 miles via Interstate 80). Photo taken 12/28/04.

The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 44B, Forni Drive and Placerville Drive (one mile). Photo taken 12/28/04.
A second advance sign for Exit 44B, Forni Drive and Placerville Drive, is posted on the overpass that carries Ray Lawyer Drive over U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Most motorist services (gas and food) are available at Exit 44B, Forni Drive and Placerville Drive. Upon exiting, turn left for Forni Drive and right for Placerville Drive (Old U.S. 50 east). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 44B, Forni Drive and Placerville Drive. Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 44A, Missouri Flat Road (0.75 mile). Photo taken 12/28/04.
U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) passes over the El Dorado County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, which is notable for its lack of shoulders. Not visible on the south side of this bridge is an older bridge that used to carry U.S. 50 before the modern bridges were placed into service. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Use Exit 44A to Diamond Springs, an unincorporated community in El Dorado County that had a population of 11,037 as of the 2010 Census. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 44A, Missouri Flat Road. From this interchange, Missouri Flat Road travels south to meet California 49 (Pleasant Valley Road) near Diamond Springs and west to merge with Green Valley Road, which eventually becomes Blue Ravine Road en route to Folsom. To Historic U.S. 50, take this exit and make a left on Missouri Flat Road and a right on Mother Lode Drive. Historic U.S. 50 then follows Mother Lode Drive west to Kingsville and Shingle Springs, where the old alignment rejoins the modern freeway alignment. Photo taken 12/28/04.
An overhead guide sign also advises of the succeeding interchange along U.S. 50 west: Exit 43, El Dorado Road. Photo taken 12/28/04.
A U.S. 50 west reassurance shield is posted shortly after the on-ramp from Missouri Flat Road. Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 43, El Dorado Road north to Missouri Flat Road and south to Pleasant Valley Road and the unincorporated community of El Dorado. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 43, El Dorado Road to El Dorado. Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 41, Greenstone Road (1.50 miles). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 41, Greenstone Road, which travels north to Green Valley Road and south to Mother Lode Drive (Old U.S. 50). Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 39, Shingle Springs Drive (one mile). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 39, Shingle Springs Drive. This interchange serves the unincorporated community of Shingle Springs, which is located near the freeway interchange and had a population of 4,432 as of the 2010 Census. Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 37, Ponderosa Road (one mile). Photo taken 12/28/04.
A U.S. 50 west reassurance shield is posted shortly after the on-ramp from Shingle Springs Drive. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 37, Ponderosa Road. Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 35, Cameron Park Drive (1.50 miles). Photo taken 12/28/04.
This mileage sign, posted after the on-ramp from Ponderosa Road, provides the distance to El Dorado Hills (seven miles) and Sacramento (30 miles). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 35, Cameron Park Drive. Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 34, Cambridge Road (one mile). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Looking ahead, this view shows the four-lane freeway as it snakes between Exits 35 and 34. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 34, Cambridge Road north to Cameron Park (unincorporated community of El Dorado County with a population of 18,228 as of the 2010 Census). Photo taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 32, Bass Lake Road (1.50 miles). Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 32, Bass Lake Road. Photo taken 12/28/04.
This series of pictures follows westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) as we descend through the foothills between Exit 32, Bass Lake Road and Exit 30, El Dorado Hills Boulevard. Note the seven percent downgrade, which is not Interstate standard. Photos taken 12/28/04.
The next exit along U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) west is Exit 30, El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Latrobe Road (one mile). Use Exit 30 to the unincorporated community of El Dorado Hills, which had a population of 42,108 as of the 2010 Census. Photo taken 12/28/04.
Westbound U.S. 50 (El Dorado Freeway) meets Exit 30, El Dorado Hills Boulevard north to El Dorado Hills and Latrobe Road south to Latrobe and Drytown (via California 16 east and California 49 south). Photo taken 12/28/04.
U.S. 50 leaves El Dorado County and enters Sacramento County (population was 1,418,788 as of the 2010 Census). The next interchange is Exit 27, East Bidwell Street (Old U.S. 50) northwest to Folsom and Scott Road south to White Rock, although a future interchange (Exit 26) is planned at Empire Ranch Road just west of the county line. Photo taken 12/28/04.


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Page Updated December 3, 2011.

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