U.S. 101 Business - Ventura

U.S. 101 Business Ventura north
Traveling north on U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway), a Route 101 Freeway/Business sign is posted prior to Exit 66B, U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) north (west) to downtown Ventura. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The right lane of U.S. 101 north departs to Exit 66B, Main Street. The business route will travel west on Main Street toward downtown Ventura. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A ramp carrying California 126 (Santa Paula Freeway) west to U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway / El Camino Real) north passes over the off-ramp to Exit 66B, U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) west. Photo taken 11/22/07.
At the signal ahead, turn right to follow U.S. 101 Business north (west) toward downtown Ventura (San Buenaventura). Turn left to follow Old U.S. 101 (Main Street) east. Photo taken 11/22/07.
To U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) south, turn left on Main Street and then reconnect to the freeway. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The left two lanes link to Main Street east, while the middle two lanes connect to westbound Main Street. The right lane connects to Mills Road. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The business route turns right onto Main Street westbound. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The first traffic signal on U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) north is with Mills Road. A large shopping center (Pacific View Mall) is located on the north side of Main Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Three lanes carry U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) west past the mall. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next traffic signal is with Lemon Grove Avenue. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Following that is the western entrance into the Pacific View Mall. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Westbound (northbound) U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) approaches Lang Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next traffic signal along Main Street is with Emma Avenue. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next intersection is with South Dos Caminos Avenue. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A trailblazer for U.S. 101 Business north is posted on westbound Main Street prior to the Central Avenue intersection. The business route will leave Main Street and follow Thompson Boulevard and Garden Street to bypass the downtown area. Photo taken 11/22/07.
As we approach the Thompson Boulevard and Telegraph Road intersection, note the divoted curbing in the center median. This was old U.S. 101 before the Ventura Freeway was constructed. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The left two lanes carry U.S. 101 Business west from Main Street onto Thompson Avenue. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 Business transitions from Main Street onto Thompson Avenue at this traffic signal. To downtown San Buenaventura, you can use either Main Street or Thompson Avenue. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Now on Thompson Boulevard, U.S. 101 Business continues west through Ventura. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A parking sign has the "City of San Buenaventura" written at the top. Most people know this city as Ventura, but that is an abbreviation for the full name of San Buenaventura. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next intersection along U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Boulevard west is with Borchard Drive. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Westbound U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Boulevard meets Howard Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Turn south on Seaward Avenue to return to U.S. 101. Continue straight ahead to follow U.S. 101 Business west to downtown Ventura. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Westbound U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Boulevard meets Seaward Avenue at this signalized intersection. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A U.S. 101 Business reassurance shield is posted after the Seaward Avenue intersection. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next signalized intersection is with Catalina Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
U.S. 101 Business north meets MacMillan Avenue at this traffic signal. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A wayfinder sign points the way to downtown, the oceanfront, and harbor. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Turn left (south) on Sanjon Road to the ocean, beaches, and harbor. Photo taken 11/22/07.
A fork in the road is found at Front Street; Thompson Boulevard turns toward the northwest. Photo taken 11/22/07.
To downtown Ventura, continue west on Thompson Boulevard (U.S. 101 Business). Photo taken 11/22/07.
Another U.S. 101 Business sign is posted prior to the signalized intersection with Kalorama Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Now approaching Chestnut Street, turn south here to connect with U.S. 101 south (east) to Los Angeles and continue straight ahead to U.S. 101 north (west) to Santa Barbara. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Westbound U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Avenue meets Chestnut Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next traffic signal along U.S. 101 Business (Thompson Boulevard) is with California Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Turn left on Oak Street to connect to U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north. The business route continues straight ahead past Oak Street along Thompson Boulevard. Note this shield does not have the "US" in the shield unlike most cutout U.S. shields in California. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Another business route reassurance shield is posted after Oak Street and prior to Figueroa Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound U.S. 101 Business meets Figueroa Street. The green overhead signs in the distance are for U.S. 101's interchange with California 33/Ojai Freeway. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Next, U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Boulevard meets Ventura Avenue at this traffic signal. A U.S. 101 Business shield is posted shortly thereafter. Thompson Boulevard turns toward the north and will change names to Garden Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Northbound U.S. 101 Business/Garden Street approaches Santa Clara Street. Photo taken 11/22/07.
The next traffic signal along U.S. 101 Business/Garden Street is with Main Street. Turn left to follow the business route back to U.S. 101 and to California 33/Ojai Freeway north; turn right to follow Main Street into downtown Ventura. Photo taken 11/22/07.
At this traffic signal, turn left to follow U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) west to U.S. 101 north and California 33 north. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Now approaching Olive Street, continue straight to U.S. 101 north or turn right to California 33 north. Photo taken 11/22/07.
Westbound U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) meets Olive Street. Turn right to California 33 north or continue straight to cross the Ventura River and rejoin U.S. 101 north toward Santa Barbara. Photo taken 11/22/07.
After crossing the Ventura River, northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) merges back onto U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) west to Santa Barbara. No end shield is present for the business route. Photo taken 02/03/08.
U.S. 101 Business Ventura south
Upon exiting southbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway), a stop ahead sign is posted on the transition ramp to Main Street eastbound. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The ramp from U.S. 101 south (east) to U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) east swings under the mainline freeway. Photo taken 02/03/08.
At the base of the ramp from U.S. 101 south, turn right (east) to follow U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) east toward downtown Ventura. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The west end of U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) is much less developed than the east end. Photo taken 02/03/08.
A multi-colored welcome sign to the city of Ventura is posted prior to crossing the Ventura River. Photo taken 02/03/08.
This series of pictures follows eastbound U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) across the Ventura River toward downtown Ventura. This bridge has been deemed in need of full replacement, but limited funding has delayed the replacement project ($30 million to replace the bridge). "During the floods of 1995, the bridge partially collapsed, and during high flows the city closes it. The bridge has also had seismic work to prevent the possibility of a catastrophic failure."1 In the distance is the California 33 bridge over Main Street. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) prepares to cross under the California 33/Ojai Freeway bridge after crossing the Ventura River bridge. Photo taken 02/03/08.
A California 33 trailblazer is posted after the overpass. Use California 33 north to Ojai, Taft, and Coalinga. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Reaching Olive Street, continue straight on Main Street to follow U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) east toward downtown Ventura or turn left to California 33/Ojai Freeway north to Ojai. Photo taken 02/03/08.
At Garden Street, U.S. 101 Business turns right (southeast) to skirt downtown Ventura. Continue east on Main Street into downtown Ventura. Photo taken 02/03/08.
A U.S. 101 trailblazer (without the business banner) is posted at Garden Street. Entrances to both directions of U.S. 101 are available via Garden Street (which becomes Thompson Boulevard upon turning east a few blocks south of here). Photo taken 02/03/08.
Old U.S. 101/Main Street south
While the official business route bypasses downtown Ventura, the old alignment of U.S. 101 continues along Main Street east into downtown San Buenaventura. The next signalized intersection is with Ventura Avenue. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Main Street meets Ventura Avenue at this traffic signal. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Main Street enters downtown Ventura after crossing Ventura Avenue. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The ninth and last mission to be opened by Father Junipero Serra, the San Buenaventura Mission is located on north side of Main Street (old U.S. 101). The mission opened in 1782 and still functions today as part of a Catholic parish. Mission Park is located on the south side of Main Street. Photos taken 02/03/08.
Interesting art is painted on the side of this storefront seen from Main Street at the Figueroa Street intersection in downtown Ventura. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Continuing east, Main Street passes through downtown Ventura and is lined with shops. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Historic U.S. 101/Main Street meets Palm Street at this signalized intersection. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Use Oak Street south to the U.S. 101 freeway. This U.S. 101 trailblazer is placed by the city of Ventura and is unique in that the numerals are fitted into a two-digit wide shield. Photos taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Historic U.S. 101/Main Street approaches California Street in downtown Ventura. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Use Chestnut Street south from Historic U.S. 101/Main Street to U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) south to Los Angeles. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Historic U.S. 101/Main Street meets Chestnut Street. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Leaving downtown Ventura, eastbound Historic U.S. 101/Main Street gains a middle turning lane and is a bit less congested than the segment through downtown. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Main Street meets Hemlock Street; ahead, Memorial Park is located on the left (north) side of Main Street. Old U.S. 101 continues east along Main Street as well. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Main Street meets Santa Clara Street and Lincoln Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 02/03/08.
After the traffic signal, old U.S. 101 travels downhill providing this view. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Historic U.S. 101/Main Street meets Seaward Avenue at this intersection; turn right (south) to U.S. 101 and Ventura Harbor. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound Historic U.S. 101/Main Street approaches U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Boulevard. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Turn left to Telegraph Road north and right to U.S. 101 Business/Thompson Boulevard. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Main Street merges with traffic from U.S. 101 Business from the left. Note the pavement markings, which betray the presence of an older concrete roadway underneath the current asphalt road surface. Photo taken 02/03/08.
U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) south (east)
After passing by the Pacific View Mall, eastbound U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) approaches U.S. 101 (Exit 66). Photo taken 02/03/08.
An unusual sign points the way to California 126 east to Santa Clarita and U.S. 101 north to Santa Barbara and San Francisco (could this be the southernmost sign to use the control city of San Francisco along U.S. 101?). Through traffic to U.S. 101 south should continue straight ahead along Main Street. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The Ventura Freeway flies over Main Street. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The next left turn connects U.S. 101 Business to California 126 east to Santa Clarita. The business route continues east on Main Street to eventually rejoin U.S. 101 southeast to Los Angeles. Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound U.S. 101 Business meets California 126 east to Santa Clarita. Photo taken 02/03/08.
To U.S. 101 south to Los Angeles, continue east on Main Street (U.S. 101 Business). Photo taken 02/03/08.
Eastbound U.S. 101 Business (Main Street) meets Callens Road at this traffic signal. Photo taken 02/03/08.
The last traffic signal along eastbound Main Street is with Telephone Road. Photo taken 02/03/08.
As Main Street merges onto U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) south (east), the business route comes to an end (no end shield is posted). Photo taken 02/03/08.

Sources:

  1. Bridge projects difficult to fund, Ventura County Star, by Scott Hadly and Charles Levin, Friday, August 17, 2007.

Return to the U.S. 101 Guide Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated April 30, 2009.

© AARoads