Early US 40 on the Martinez-Benicia Ferry and Carquinez Scenic Drive

[Max Rockatansky]

This morning I took a trip out to what was US 40 between Benicia westward towards Crockett.  From 1926-1932 US 40 followed Legislative Route 7 to 5th Street in Benicia where it crossed the Carquinez Straights on the Martinez-Benicia Ferry to Legislative Route 14.  US 40 followed Legislative Route 14 west out of Martinez on what is now Carquinez Scenic Drive through Port Costa (of rail ferry fame) towards Crockett.  Interestingly when the 1927 Carquinez Bridge opened US 40 didn't immediately shift to it but rather the Lincoln Highway was realigned over it.  It wasn't until 1931 when a State adopted a spur route of Legislative Route 7 to Vallejo by way of American Canyon did the realignment of US 40 gain traction.  US 40 was announced being realigned through Vallejo by way of the American Canyon Route and the Carquinez Bridge by the Division of Highways in 1932:

IMG_6612 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

The original route of US 40 over the Martinez-Benicia Ferry can be seen on this 1932 ACSC insert map:

IMG_6610 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

IMG_6611 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

I know as a group we have talked about this subject before it but it was only recently was able to find Division of Highways documentation and maps to prove the early alignment of US 40.  That being the case I went out to the old alignment of US 40 and followed it from Benicia westward towards Crockett.  Of note; both ferry landings in Benicia and Martinez are more or less intact.  In Benicia the Martinez-Benicia Ferry landed on 5th Street which is now a private repair dock.  In Martinez the landing for the Martinez-Benicia Ferry is now a city park and largely remains in a state of decade.  For the record the Martinez-Benicia Ferry was used by CA 21 until 1962 when it was replaced by the namesake bridge.  At the time the Martinez-Benicia Ferry had been in operation since 1847 and I'm understand was the second oldest ferry in the Bay Area. 

US 40 followed Esobar Street and Talbart Street to what is now Carquinez Scenic Drive.  US 40 continued westward on Carquinez Scenic Drive over the Diablo Range to Crockett where it would have met the Lincoln Highway as it landed from the Carquinez Bridge.  After US 40 was moved off Carquinez Scenic Drive it remained part of Legislative Route 14 until 1953.  In the ensuing decades Carquinez Scenic Drive became weathered and was heavily eroded in the past decades.  Part of former US 40 on Carquinez Scenic Drive 2.2 miles west of Martinez Drive was converted to the George Miller Regional Trail which is multi-use facility.  Note; Carquinez Scenic Drive was completed in 1912 as part of the First State Highway Bond Act projects which included Legislative Route 14.

Anyways, I'll have something up for this topic on Gribblenation tomorrow but I got my photos finished.  The alignment of US 40 over Carquinez Scenic Drive is Ridge Route-like aside from a lack of vintage concrete.  The George Miller Trail is worth a stop for the vistas of the Carquinez Straights alone, I did find it strange that there is not even a historic plaque which tells people using it about it's historical significance.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJz8yZN

[Max Rockatansky]

Finished my blog on US 40 on the Martinez-Benicia Ferry and Carquinez Scenic Drive.  The intro below is more meant for the Gribblenation Facebook page but it more or less is a summary.

Yesterday I visited the original 1926-1932 alignment of US Route 40 from Benicia west to Crockett via the Martinez-Benicia Ferry and Carquinez Scenic Drive over the Diablo Range.  US 40 was originally carried into Benicia via Legislative Route 7 where it crossed the Martinez-Benicia Ferry to Legislative Route 14 in Martinez.  Legislative Route 14 west of Martinez was completed circa 1912 and bears a heavy resemblance to other early State Highways like; the Old Ridge Route and San Juan Grade.  Interestingly when the 1927 Carquinez Bridge opened it was the Lincoln Highway that originally crossed it and it took a spur route of Legislative Route 7 to be added into the State Highway System to shift US 40.  After US 40 was moved to the Carquinez Bridge the Martinez-Benicia Ferry was recycled into the route of CA 21.  CA 21 used the Martinez-Benicia Bridge until September 1962 when it was replaced by a new highway bridge which now carries I-680 south.  When the Martinez-Benicia Bridge closed in 1962 it had been in operation since 1847.

My journey on the 1926-1932 route of US 40 from Benicia west to Crockett took me by several other points of interest.  I did stop to check out the 1879-1930 Central Pacific/Southern Pacific Railroad ferry landings in Benicia and Port Costa.  I spent some additional time in Port Costa checking out the older buildings in the community and had a brief look at the ghost towns/rail sidings of; Ozol, Nevada Dock and Eckley.  Contained within are the typical "behind the wheel" photos that I usually do in my blogs following the path of US 40 between Benicia and Crockett.  Further, there are several California Highway and Public Work publications that I added along with some side pieces about the rail ferry landings.  While part of former US 40 on Carquinez Scenic Drive is now a trail it is a good state of repair and much easier to complete than the former US 99 on the Old Ridge Route. 

https://www.gribblenation.org/2019/11/the-original-alignment-of-us-route-40.html

[bing101]

https://www.beniciamagazine.com/hidden-benicia-benicias-ports/
https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/988
https://www.ssamarine.com/locations/port-of-benicia/
I seen this one Port of Benicia which is located under the Benicia-Martinez Bridge is where new cars are sent before they go to dealerships around Northern California.  Note this port has new cars being processed until the area car dealers get them.Yes the Port of Benicia still exists even though they are no longer signed as US-40.

[cahwyguy]

https://www.beniciamagazine.com/hidden-benicia-benicias-ports/
https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/988
https://www.ssamarine.com/locations/port-of-benicia/
I seen this one Port of Benicia which is located under the Benicia-Martinez Bridge is where new cars are sent before they go to dealerships around Northern California.  Note this port has new cars being processed until the area car dealers get them.Yes the Port of Benicia still exists even though they are no longer signed as US-40.

I believe it is on Maritime Route M-580 https://www.maritime.dot.gov/sites/marad.dot.gov/files/2023-11/U.S.%20Marine%20Highway%20Program%20Routes%20Map_October%202023.pdf

[bing101]

https://www.beniciamagazine.com/hidden-benicia-benicias-ports/
https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/988
https://www.ssamarine.com/locations/port-of-benicia/
I seen this one Port of Benicia which is located under the Benicia-Martinez Bridge is where new cars are sent before they go to dealerships around Northern California.  Note this port has new cars being processed until the area car dealers get them.Yes the Port of Benicia still exists even though they are no longer signed as US-40.

I believe it is on Maritime Route M-580 https://www.maritime.dot.gov/sites/marad.dot.gov/files/2023-11/U.S.%20Marine%20Highway%20Program%20Routes%20Map_October%202023.pdf

And it's interesting to see the maritime routes have it's number assignments similar to the Interstate system like M-5 is on the west coast of the USA and M-95 for the East Coast.

[pderocco]

And it's interesting to see the maritime routes have it's number assignments similar to the Interstate system like M-5 is on the west coast of the USA and M-95 for the East Coast.

They wish they were Interstates. But they'll have to get their AADTs up a little bit to qualify.