News:

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on what errors you encountered from the forum database changes made in Fall 2023. Let us know if you discover anymore.

Main Menu

Former US Route 99 in McFarland and Delano

Started by Max Rockatansky, April 24, 2021, 10:45:56 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Max Rockatansky

McFarland and Delano are located in northern Kern County along the Union Pacific Railroad.  Both communities were part of the original surface alignment of US Route 99 in California.  Within Delano US Route 99 was originally aligned via High Street which was supplemented by the Delano Underpass which opened in 1936 (and is the cover photo of this blog).  US Route 99 in McFarland was upgraded to expressway standard in 1950 which effectively bisected the community in two.  The City off Delano signed a freeway construction agreement with the Division of Highways during late 1952 which culminated in US Route 99 moving to the Delano Bypass Freeway in Summer of 1956.  McFarland's expressway segment of US Route 99 was upgraded to freeway standards by 1957.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/04/former-us-route-99-in-mcfarland-and.html


sparker

It would certainly be nice if the US 99 Historical Society would endeavor to post historic shields on the original street alignment of US 99 in the major towns where much of the alignment is intact (Fresno would certainly have to be "massaged" to even come close!).  Give 'em something to do and a rationale to raise donations (I'd put a few bucks into the kitty if a workable plan for erecting such signage was offered).   I can think of a dozen towns/locations where such signage would be appropriate -- and for all intents and purposes, such would serve as an effective "business loop" if accompanied by trailblazers at the points the old alignment intersected present CA 99. 

Max Rockatansky

#2
Quote from: sparker on April 24, 2021, 11:59:33 PM
It would certainly be nice if the US 99 Historical Society would endeavor to post historic shields on the original street alignment of US 99 in the major towns where much of the alignment is intact (Fresno would certainly have to be "massaged" to even come close!).  Give 'em something to do and a rationale to raise donations (I'd put a few bucks into the kitty if a workable plan for erecting such signage was offered).   I can think of a dozen towns/locations where such signage would be appropriate -- and for all intents and purposes, such would serve as an effective "business loop" if accompanied by trailblazers at the points the old alignment intersected present CA 99.

Unfortunately the HSR is going to take too much of what is left to really make a historic corridor aside from South Golden State Boulevard viable.   Broadway has been long bisected, the Belmont Subway is getting torn out and almost all of North Golden State is getting shifted.  Herndon and Weber Avenue by comparison will be more intact. 

Regarding other communities there certainly is viability in places.  Delano would be a solid place to start but it is one of many communities that has an almost intact right of way of former US 99.  Bakersfield has signage but it partially incorrectly posted on 18th Street as opposed to 19th. Some cities like Redding and Weed up north already do have historic signage in place.

sparker

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 25, 2021, 12:15:20 AM
Quote from: sparker on April 24, 2021, 11:59:33 PM
It would certainly be nice if the US 99 Historical Society would endeavor to post historic shields on the original street alignment of US 99 in the major towns where much of the alignment is intact (Fresno would certainly have to be "massaged" to even come close!).  Give 'em something to do and a rationale to raise donations (I'd put a few bucks into the kitty if a workable plan for erecting such signage was offered).   I can think of a dozen towns/locations where such signage would be appropriate -- and for all intents and purposes, such would serve as an effective "business loop" if accompanied by trailblazers at the points the old alignment intersected present CA 99.

Unfortunately the HSR is going to take too much of what is left to really make a historic corridor aside from South Golden State Boulevard viable.   Broadway has been long bisected, the Belmont Subway is getting torn out and almost all of North Golden State is getting shifted.  Herndon and Weber Avenue by comparison will be more intact. 

To say that delineating a reasonably accurate historical route through the Fresno area would be difficult would be an understatement; the failed downtown "upgrades", the presence of the CA 41 freeway, and the disruption caused by the HSR easement just add to that particular misery.  Maybe the southern end of Golden State Blvd. -- Kingsburg up to the S-curve merge with present CA 99 -- would be all that could be practically accomplished at this time.   

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: sparker on April 25, 2021, 12:21:35 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 25, 2021, 12:15:20 AM
Quote from: sparker on April 24, 2021, 11:59:33 PM
It would certainly be nice if the US 99 Historical Society would endeavor to post historic shields on the original street alignment of US 99 in the major towns where much of the alignment is intact (Fresno would certainly have to be "massaged" to even come close!).  Give 'em something to do and a rationale to raise donations (I'd put a few bucks into the kitty if a workable plan for erecting such signage was offered).   I can think of a dozen towns/locations where such signage would be appropriate -- and for all intents and purposes, such would serve as an effective "business loop" if accompanied by trailblazers at the points the old alignment intersected present CA 99.

Unfortunately the HSR is going to take too much of what is left to really make a historic corridor aside from South Golden State Boulevard viable.   Broadway has been long bisected, the Belmont Subway is getting torn out and almost all of North Golden State is getting shifted.  Herndon and Weber Avenue by comparison will be more intact. 

To say that delineating a reasonably accurate historical route through the Fresno area would be difficult would be an understatement; the failed downtown "upgrades", the presence of the CA 41 freeway, and the disruption caused by the HSR easement just add to that particular misery.  Maybe the southern end of Golden State Blvd. -- Kingsburg up to the S-curve merge with present CA 99 -- would be all that could be practically accomplished at this time.

It would certainly line up with how US 99 actually was for a time when the first freeway segment through Fresno opened up in the 1950s.  Out of all the historic corridors that existed in Fresno the only two real true analogs that can be replicated down to their original alignments are CA 180 and CA 168.  41 has some gaps west of downtown where it used to connect to Elm Avenue. 

One that I would like to see is the Stockton-Manteca US 99 W/E corridor signed.  It can't be fully done of course but a lot of the 99W shields would be could be co-signed with the already existing Lincoln Highway stuff. 

sparker

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Now that would be fun! -- taking it to the limit and posting the 99/99E/99W split at the old US 99/CA 120 intersection in central Manteca (and also at the corner of Wilson Way and Charter Way in Stockton!).  Try getting all that onto one of the usual beige historical rectangles!  That'd be one BBS (Big Beige Sign)!  :sombrero:

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: sparker on April 25, 2021, 12:35:26 AM
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Now that would be fun! -- taking it to the limit and posting the 99/99E/99W split at the old US 99/CA 120 intersection in central Manteca (and also at the corner of Wilson Way and Charter Way in Stockton!).  Try getting all that onto one of the usual beige historical rectangles!  That'd be one BBS (Big Beige Sign)!  :sombrero:

Stockton would be another solid corridor given Wilson Way hasn't really changed much since it was US 99-50.  Cherokee Lane in Lodi is similar and actually kind of has nice foliage. 

cahwyguy

#7
Quote from: sparker on April 24, 2021, 11:59:33 PM
It would certainly be nice if the US 99 Historical Society would endeavor to post historic shields on the original street alignment of US 99 in the major towns where much of the alignment is intact (Fresno would certainly have to be "massaged" to even come close!).  Give 'em something to do and a rationale to raise donations (I'd put a few bucks into the kitty if a workable plan for erecting such signage was offered).   I can think of a dozen towns/locations where such signage would be appropriate -- and for all intents and purposes, such would serve as an effective "business loop" if accompanied by trailblazers at the points the old alignment intersected present CA 99. 

If you didn't notice it in my headline post at the start of May, the Historic 99 Group and Michael are doing just that. See this article ( https://www.thedesertreview.com/news/historic-highway-99-association-installs-new-signs-seeks-to-promote-economic-development/article_6aa77598-9b52-11eb-aab1-036c504e19ab.html ), which has a nice picture of Michael posting signs in Calexico. With enough time, money, and volunteers, anything is possible. The link for the association is https://historic99.org/ .

Daniel
Daniel - California Highway Guy ● Highway Site: http://www.cahighways.org/ ●  Blog: http://blog.cahighways.org/ ● Podcast (CA Route by Route): http://caroutebyroute.org/ ● Follow California Highways on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cahighways



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.