Westside Parkway & Centennial Corridor (CA 58 realignment, Bakersfield)

[JustDrive]

I guess a good control for 58 WB from Bakersfield is also needed.  Is Buttonwillow sufficient?

From the sign that's there now, it seems like there isn't one? The covered up portion seems like it's only large enough to say 58 West, unless they plan to add more lettering later (but then why put the rest of the text there now).

99 at Rosedale is signed for Buttonwillow, so it wouldn't be odd to put it on the BGS

[Concrete Bob]

The right of way heading directly north and south of Stockdale Highway is for an extension of Rudd Road.  Rudd Road is planned to run from 7th Standard Road in the North to SR 119 in the south.  The road will be constructed to either expressway or freeway standards.  Ultimately, the expressway/freeway is slated to run from SR 99 in the north to I-5 on the south end. I believe it will be known as the West Beltway. 

[Occidental Tourist]

The right of way heading directly north and south of Stockdale Highway is for an extension of Rudd Road.  Rudd Road is planned to run from 7th Standard Road in the North to SR 119 in the south.  The road will be constructed to either expressway or freeway standards.  Ultimately, the expressway/freeway is slated to run from SR 99 in the north to I-5 on the south end. I believe it will be known as the West Beltway. 

Thanks

[cahwyguy]

The right of way heading directly north and south of Stockdale Highway is for an extension of Rudd Road.  Rudd Road is planned to run from 7th Standard Road in the North to SR 119 in the south.  The road will be constructed to either expressway or freeway standards.  Ultimately, the expressway/freeway is slated to run from SR 99 in the north to I-5 on the south end. I believe it will be known as the West Beltway. 

Doing a quick search, I found this: https://www.kerncog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/W_Beltway_Corridor_Study.pdf

There's also this from 2016: https://www.bakersfield.com/news/where-do-bakersfields-freeway-projects-stand/article_6655d31d-60d1-57d7-a62e-07e97352ee63.html

* West Beltway (7th Standard Road to Highway 119): Route adoption complete.

Construction dependent on future development and funding.

There's also this listing: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/150000-Rosedale-Hwy-Bakersfield-CA/29394454/

The potential of the West Beltway highway alignment with an interchange on the corner at Rosedale Hwy located in the blooming Rosedale CA is immense. This project will open up a new corridor of development opportunities for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. The new highway will provide a direct connection to the nearby cities of Bakersfield and Fresno, as well as other major cities in the Central Valley. Additionally, the interchange will provide easy access to the local businesses and attractions in Rosedale.

[ClassicHasClass]

No California Valley fans?  That legitimately is the biggest community on 58 west of Bakersfield even though I guarantee that 99% of travelers don't even realize it exists.

SIMMLER FOR CONTROL CITY 2024

[Max Rockatansky]

No California Valley fans?  That legitimately is the biggest community on 58 west of Bakersfield even though I guarantee that 99% of travelers don't even realize it exists.

SIMMLER FOR CONTROL CITY 2024

Why not La Panza for the OG CA 178 reference?

[thsftw]

Doing a quick search, I found this: https://www.kerncog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/W_Beltway_Corridor_Study.pdf

Why is the Centennial Corridor so far off its built alignment in this? It was going to connect to 178 originally?

[Concrete Bob]

It is probably decided that having the Centennial Corridor tie into SR 58 would serve a greater regional traffic purpose.  178 east will get someone to Lake Isabella, but 58 will get someone to Barstow, Las Vegas and Interstate 40. 

[ClassicHasClass]

No California Valley fans?  That legitimately is the biggest community on 58 west of Bakersfield even though I guarantee that 99% of travelers don't even realize it exists.

SIMMLER FOR CONTROL CITY 2024

Why not La Panza for the OG CA 178 reference?

Fair point. Besides, it's certainly true everything ends up in one's belly. 

[Occidental Tourist]

No California Valley fans?  That legitimately is the biggest community on 58 west of Bakersfield even though I guarantee that 99% of travelers don't even realize it exists.

SIMMLER FOR CONTROL CITY 2024

No California Valley fans?  That legitimately is the biggest community on 58 west of Bakersfield even though I guarantee that 99% of travelers don't even realize it exists.

SIMMLER FOR CONTROL CITY 2024

I vote for Santa Margarita as the w/b control city.  We have some existing, incorrect signs here in District 12 you are welcome to take to use.

[mrsman]

The right of way heading directly north and south of Stockdale Highway is for an extension of Rudd Road.  Rudd Road is planned to run from 7th Standard Road in the North to SR 119 in the south.  The road will be constructed to either expressway or freeway standards.  Ultimately, the expressway/freeway is slated to run from SR 99 in the north to I-5 on the south end. I believe it will be known as the West Beltway. 

Doing a quick search, I found this: https://www.kerncog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/W_Beltway_Corridor_Study.pdf

There's also this from 2016: https://www.bakersfield.com/news/where-do-bakersfields-freeway-projects-stand/article_6655d31d-60d1-57d7-a62e-07e97352ee63.html

* West Beltway (7th Standard Road to Highway 119): Route adoption complete.

Construction dependent on future development and funding.

There's also this listing: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/150000-Rosedale-Hwy-Bakersfield-CA/29394454/

The potential of the West Beltway highway alignment with an interchange on the corner at Rosedale Hwy located in the blooming Rosedale CA is immense. This project will open up a new corridor of development opportunities for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. The new highway will provide a direct connection to the nearby cities of Bakersfield and Fresno, as well as other major cities in the Central Valley. Additionally, the interchange will provide easy access to the local businesses and attractions in Rosedale.

Such a highway would be nice.  Basically a straight line connection btwn 5 and 99 to connect LA to Fresno without going through cenral Bakersfield.

When built, Fresno should not be signed at 5/99 so that traffic to Fresno from 5 could take the West Beltway instead.

[Lukeisroads]

idk if im allowed to do this but i found a yt video of a time lapse and it showcases a brand new sign! Around 13:07 https://youtu.be/BrpdxW9hR4s?t=787

[The Ghostbuster]

Will the Westside Parkway still be completed by the end of the year? Or will construction continue into 2024?

[pderocco]

idk if im allowed to do this but i found a yt video of a time lapse and it showcases a brand new sign! Around 13:07

I'm surprised they don't have the westbound part of the sign (actually two of them) covered for now, because you can see that the ramp isn't open yet. But it does imply that it will be Real Soon Now.

Looks like the Ming on ramp is going to merge with the 58W off ramp, and then split into the 58W on ramp and a 99 on ramp, so perhaps it won't be possible to go from Ming to 58E via 99.

[ClassicHasClass]

Went by it today on my (nowadays) usual cross-Central Valley run. The WB flyover ramp is fully completed except for striping, but there was still equipment on it. The advance signage did have both 58 west and east as if the exit were open.

[oscar]

Local news report holds out hope the Centennial Corridor will be completed by the end of the year, maybe even by Christmas. Or maybe not.

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/centennial-corridor-near-completion-caltrans-bakersfield

[Voyager]

Local news report holds out hope the Centennial Corridor will be completed by the end of the year, maybe even by Christmas. Or maybe not.

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/centennial-corridor-near-completion-caltrans-bakersfield

It looks like the most recent SentinelHub images from there a few days ago have cleared out most of the construction equipment, I wouldn't be surprised if it was going to open in the next few weeks.

[The Ghostbuster]

It looks like CA 58 signage along Hageman Rd and Rosedale Hwy. was almost non-existent before CA 58 was moved to Stockdale Hwy. and the Westside Parkway. Except for one lone reassurance shield just east of CA 43 on Rosedale, and one just west of 43 on Hageman, the only indications that the roadways were part of CA 58 were Route 58 signs attached to traffic signal poles. Is this the norm for non-freeway highways on California?

[Henry]

I find the West Beltway interesting, since I feel that a loop highway (with two or three more sides added to it) would be nice for Bakersfield in the off chance that I-40 gets extended west from Barstow. I, for one, find it hard to believe that no such highways exist in CA. The closest to one would be the I-280/I-680/I-880 around the Bay, and even that's just a 3/4 loop at best.

[kkt]

The right of way heading directly north and south of Stockdale Highway is for an extension of Rudd Road.  Rudd Road is planned to run from 7th Standard Road in the North to SR 119 in the south.  The road will be constructed to either expressway or freeway standards.  Ultimately, the expressway/freeway is slated to run from SR 99 in the north to I-5 on the south end. I believe it will be known as the West Beltway. 

Doing a quick search, I found this: https://www.kerncog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/W_Beltway_Corridor_Study.pdf

There's also this from 2016: https://www.bakersfield.com/news/where-do-bakersfields-freeway-projects-stand/article_6655d31d-60d1-57d7-a62e-07e97352ee63.html

* West Beltway (7th Standard Road to Highway 119): Route adoption complete.

Construction dependent on future development and funding.

There's also this listing: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/150000-Rosedale-Hwy-Bakersfield-CA/29394454/

The potential of the West Beltway highway alignment with an interchange on the corner at Rosedale Hwy located in the blooming Rosedale CA is immense. This project will open up a new corridor of development opportunities for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. The new highway will provide a direct connection to the nearby cities of Bakersfield and Fresno, as well as other major cities in the Central Valley. Additionally, the interchange will provide easy access to the local businesses and attractions in Rosedale.

Such a highway would be nice.  Basically a straight line connection btwn 5 and 99 to connect LA to Fresno without going through cenral Bakersfield.

When built, Fresno should not be signed at 5/99 so that traffic to Fresno from 5 could take the West Beltway instead.

Not CA 43?  or CA 41?  or 269 to 145 to 180?

[Max Rockatansky]

I wouldn't recommend anyone hold their breath for a western beltway in the Bakersfield.  1990 is a long time ago and lot of that land they have in the corridor runs into the Ag Wall.  Besides, it isn't as though the topic has been talked about seriously by any agency in several decades. 

From I-5 the most streamlined routing to Fresno is CA 41.  Even if the western beltway was built I don't see a point in not signing Fresno as a control city along with Bakersfield for 99.  The local commercial traffic is going to stick to 99 just like it always has. 

[Max Rockatansky]

It looks like CA 58 signage along Hageman Rd and Rosedale Hwy. was almost non-existent before CA 58 was moved to Stockdale Hwy. and the Westside Parkway. Except for one lone reassurance shield just east of CA 43 on Rosedale, and one just west of 43 on Hageman, the only indications that the roadways were part of CA 58 were Route 58 signs attached to traffic signal poles. Is this the norm for non-freeway highways on California?

Rosedale Highway was adequately signed on Rosedale Highway before the Westside Parkway got going.  By "traffic poles" are you referring to Postmile paddles?

[pderocco]

I find the West Beltway interesting, since I feel that a loop highway (with two or three more sides added to it) would be nice for Bakersfield in the off chance that I-40 gets extended west from Barstow. I, for one, find it hard to believe that no such highways exist in CA. The closest to one would be the I-280/I-680/I-880 around the Bay, and even that's just a 3/4 loop at best.

If you look at the geography, circumferential beltways couldn't work around any of the cities in California that are big enough to need one. Los Angeles has various ridges that defy the construction of a good loop, San Jose is too close to the Diablo range, and San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach, and Oakland are next to water. The only significant cities I see that could fit a beltway in the future are Fresno, Sacramento, and eventually Bakersfield, but that's a long way off.

[Max Rockatansky]

Fresno won't need one, the general plan has the city growing eastward between Jensen Avenue and CA 180 towards McCall Avenue.  Both the Jensen and CA 180 corridors are high quality expressway already.  The city has basically no real long term plans to grow to the south or west.  Considering much of the lane west of 99 is owned by factory farms the easier growth pattern is eastward towards Sanger.  There is some growth in Madera County north of the San Joaquin River but it is largely contained to CA 41 and probably will require expansion to four lanes maybe to CA 145 one day.

[Voyager]

Fresno won't need one, the general plan has the city growing eastward between Jensen Avenue and CA 180 towards McCall Avenue.  Both the Jensen and CA 180 corridors are high quality expressway already.  The city has basically no real long term plans to grow to the south or west.  Considering much of the lane west of 99 is owned by factory farms the easier growth pattern is eastward towards Sanger.  There is some growth in Madera County north of the San Joaquin River but it is largely contained to CA 41 and probably will require expansion to four lanes maybe to CA 145 one day.

Too bad 65 was never built on the east side though, that would have created an almost beltway around the city.