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 99 in the Chowchilla Area

Started by Max Rockatansky, January 09, 2021, 10:11:05 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Max Rockatansky

Former US Route 99 in the Chowchilla Area includes the communities of; Berenda, Fairmead, Califa, Chowchilla and Minturn.  Heading northbound from Madera the alignment of US Route 99 crossed from the western end of the Southern Pacific Railroad to the eastern side in Berenda.  From Berenda US Route 99 would have continued north via what is now Fairmead Boulevard through Fairmead and Califa to Chowchilla Boulevard.  From Califa US Route 99 continued north via Chowchilla Boulevard through the communities of Chowchilla and Minturn. 

Originally US Route 99 intersected Legislative Route 32 (future California State Route 152) at what is now Fairmead Boulevard and Arcade Drive.  US Route 99 was improved in 1930 when it moved onto a safer alignment which stayed west of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Berenda to a new triangle junction with Legislative Route 32.  From Legislative Route 32 the path of US Route 99 continued north via a Subway under the Southern Pacific Railroad to Califa and Chowchilla Boulevard.  This alignment would partially be reused by way of Southern Pacific Subway becoming part of the Chowchilla Freeway when US Route 99 was upgraded in 1957. 

The Chowchilla Area is interesting to explore given that the split in the Pre-1930/Post-1930 can be found near what was once Califa.  This split offers an opportunity to check out an original First State Highway Bond Act concrete road (seen in the cover photo) which is relatively intact. 

https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/01/former-us-route-99-in-chowchilla-area.html


Max Rockatansky

#1
Circling back to this topic here is the map I prepared for the blog which shows the alignments of US 99 near Chowchilla:

Chowchilla X by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

And the view south on the pre-1930 alignment of US 99:

0 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

sparker

The section of CA 99 near Chowchilla hosts the last "over/under" crossing of the UP/former SP main line that 99 tracks between Bakersfield and Manteca -- NB uses the original US 99 RR underpass, while SB goes over the tracks adjacent to the underpass and was constructed when the freeway was built in the mid-50's.  The other extant such configuration, south of Elk Grove, is currently being replaced by a 6-lane bridge.  I was just up there earlier today; while running behind schedule -- what else is new these COVID-impacted days -- it should be completely opened this summer (NB is running over half of the new bridge).   



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.