California 259


California 259 is a very short freeway connection between westbound California 21 / southbound Interstate 215 and northbound Interstate 215 / eastbound California 210. The only interchanges in between the two freeways is the ramp to California 18-30 Business (Highland Avenue). A connection to Baseline Street is afforded after the merge between California 259 and Interstate 215. Since the state route is very short, it is generally not signed as California 259 (except for a few new reassurance shields posted in 2007 to coincide with the opening of the nearby California 210 freeway). Northbound, it is signed for eastbound California 210, and southbound it is signed for southbound Interstate 215. California 259 more or less forms the eastern terminus of the San Bernardino Freeway, which travels from San Bernardino west to Los Angeles.

California 259 north
Northbound Interstate 215 splits with California 259. Use California 259 north to California 210 east. The "ramp" that connects northbound Interstate 215 with eastbound California 210 (former California 30) is actually its own state route -- California 259 -- with its own exit at Highland Avenue. The overhead signs do not mention this designation, but it does appear on some road maps, including Thomas Guide. The exit to California 210 west is another couple miles north of Exit 45A. Photos taken 11/10/08 and 06/24/07.
This photo shows the beginning of northbound California 259 as seen at the Exit 45A split. Interstate 215 northbound veers off to the left. To California 210 (Foothill Freeway) west, use Highland Avenue (former California 30). A high-speed direct ramp will begin construction in 2009 for this missing link. Photos taken 11/10/08 and 06/24/07.
Now on California 259 north, the short freeway has only two lanes in each direction. The only standalone interchange along California 259 is with California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) and California 18 Business (Exit 1A). Photo taken 06/24/07.
The only California 259 north reassurance shield is posted prior to Exit 1A, California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) and California 18 Business. Photo taken 06/24/07.
This advance sign on northbound is the only indication that Highland Avenue is the business route for California 18 and California 30. California 30 Business is easy to determine: California 30 used to be routed along Highland Avenue, and when the freeway was built to the north, the business route remained along the old alignment. Shields are in place to designate the business route for California 30 along Highland Avenue. The business designation for California 18 is shrouded in history: California 18 used to extend southwest of its current terminus along California 30 via California 259, Interstate 215, and (roughly) via California 91. During the time when California 18 was a freeway along Interstate 215 and California 259, its old alignment through San Bernardino was made into a business route. Now that California 18 is no longer routed on the freeways, its business route is orphaned, but the signage for it remains, both here and on Highland Avenue. Photos taken 06/24/07 and 05/01/02.
Northbound California 259 reaches Exit 1A, California 18 Business and California 30 Business (Highland Avenue). Use Highland Avenue west to a hospital. Photos taken 06/24/07 and 05/01/02.
Now on the off-ramp from California 259 north to Highland Avenue, a California 30 trailblazer is posted. It seems as if a shield were removed from this assembly, as it only shows California 30 and not California 18. Note the absence of business banners above the shields. The freeway entrance signs in the background show California 30, since California 259 is unsigned. For the return on southbound California 259, the freeway entrance assemblies have an Interstate 215 shield. Photo taken 05/01/02.
As shown in this picture, signage for California 18 remains at the base of the off-ramp from northbound California 259 onto Highland Avenue. There are no "Business" banners on this particular shield assembly. Notice how the California 30 shield points traffic onto the ramp back onto northbound California 259, while California 18 points in both directions. Photo taken 05/01/02.
Returning to the mainline, northbound California 259 crosses over Highland Avenue in San Bernardino. Photo taken 06/24/07.
The second and final exit from California 259 north is Exit 1B, E Street (0.75 mile). Photo taken 06/24/07.
Northbound California 259 approaches Exit 1B, E Street (0.50 mile). Photo taken 06/24/07.
After California 259 crosses over H Street and curves toward the northeast, the freeway will find Exit 1B, E Street (north/south). Photo taken 06/24/07.
A callbox also references California 259's almost secret route number. Photo taken 06/24/07.
Northbound California 259 reaches Exit 1B, E Street. The left two lanes of California 259 will merge directly onto California 210 east. Photo taken 06/24/07.
This view shows the gore point of northbound California 259 at Exit 1B, E Street. Photo taken 06/24/07.
California 259 turns due east and passes under E Street. Ahead, the freeway will merge onto California 210 east (Exit 1C). Photo taken 06/24/07.
Traffic from California 210 merges in from the left. This point marks the northern terminus of California 259; no end shield is present. The next exit along California 210 east is with California 18/Waterman Avenue. Photo taken 06/24/07.

California 259 south
California 259 south is signed for Interstate 215. There is only one exit along California 259 south (for Highland Avenue). This view is taken along westbound California 210 at the off-ramp to California 259 south. Photo taken 06/24/07.
Two lanes serve the connection between California 210 west and California 259 south. Photo taken 06/24/07.
Southbound California 259 flies over the main lanes of California 210. An on-ramp from 30th Street joins the California 259 freeway; the freeway entrance shields on 30th Street show the route as "To Interstate 215." Photo taken 06/24/07.
The only exit along California 259 south is Exit 1B, California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) and California 18 Business (0.50 mile). California 30 Business is the original alignment of California 30 before the California 210 freeway was built. Photo taken 06/24/07.
In addition to carrying California 30 Business, Highland Avenue also carries California 18 Business between California 259 and Sierra Way (traveling east from this interchange). The California 18 Business designation is a throwback to when California 18 used to continue southwest along California 259, Interstate 215, and California 91 toward Long Beach. That state route was retracted in the mid-1960s. Photo taken 06/24/07.
To Interstate 215 north, use California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) west. Photo taken 06/24/07.
The only California 259 south reassurance shield is posted prior to the off-ramp to Exit 1B, Highland Avenue. Photo taken 06/24/07.
Southbound California 259 reaches Exit 1B, California 18 Business and California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) in San Bernardino. Photo taken 06/24/07.
After traffic departs from southbound California 259 at Exit 1B, this set of California 30 Business shields is posted at the base of the off-ramp. Turn left to follow California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) east and right to California 30 Business (Highland Avenue) west. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Back on the mainline and crossing over Highland Avenue, the final two exits along California 259 south are Exit 1A, Base Line Street and Exit 0, Interstate 215 (San Bernardino Freeway) south. Photo taken 06/24/07.
California 259 continues south with two lanes and a centerline jersey barrier. Photo taken 06/24/07.
The next exit along California 259 south is Exit 1A, Base Line Street (left exit). Photo taken 07/15/07.
Mexican fan palms are a landscaping theme along Interstate 215 through San Bernardino. As they come into view, we know that California 259 will quickly merge onto Interstate 215 south (Exit 0). Photo taken 06/24/07.
A route separation is indicated on this white bridge identification marker on southbound California 259. Photo taken 06/24/07.
California 259 passes under 16th Street and prepares to merge with Interstate 215 south. Photo taken 06/24/07.
The left lane splits for Base Line Street (Exit 1A), and the right two lanes connect with Interstate 215 (San Bernardino Freeway) south. Photo taken 06/24/07.
Southbound California 259 meets Exit 1A, Base Line Street. Ahead, California 259 ends and shifts onto Interstate 215 (San Bernardino Freeway) south. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Traffic from Interstate 215 south merges onto California 259 from the right. At this point, Interstate 215 continues south toward Riverside and San Diego. This point marks the unsigned southern terminus of this very short freeway route (no end shield is present for California 259). Photo taken 06/24/07.

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Page Updated January 10, 2010.

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