The message icon is intentional. Indulging in some copy/paste research from what I just posted on Gribblenation:
Pictured is southbound China Lake Boulevard in the city of Ridgecrest. Despite presence of a California State Route 395 spade this is a segment of the US Route 395 Business Route through Ridgecrest.
The US Route 395 Business Route through Ridgecrest is approximately 16 miles long. The Business Route begins at the US Route 395/California State Route 178 interchange near Inyokern. US Route 395 Business multiplexes eastbound California State Route 178 on Inyokern Road and China Lake Boulevard to the intersection Ridgecrest Boulevard. California State Route 178 continues east towards Trona on Ridgecrest Boulevard whereas US Route 395 Business continues south on China Lake Boulevard to mainline US Route 395.
The US Route 395 Business Route in Ridgecrest is rare example of American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approving a designation which was never a former US Route segment. On January 4, 1989, the Ridgecrest city council formally requested Caltrans submit a request to AASHTO for the designation of US Route 395 Business. The Caltrans application dated February 24, 1989, was considered and approved by the AASHTO Executive Committee on June 7, 1989.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54162025231_76653dc2ec_4k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qw7x8e)IMG_4163 (https://flic.kr/p/2qw7x8e) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
I found the file for this by searching "395" in the AASHTO database. For some reason it doesn't show up in the filter result for California. To my knowledge this is the only time a city has followed the AASHTO application process in California and had Caltrans submit a request on their behalf.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 24, 2024, 06:09:34 PMThe US Route 395 Business Route in Ridgecrest is rare example of American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approving a designation which was never a former US Route segment.
Sure. If Ridgecrest even existed when US-395 was born, it was a mere speck in the desert that wouldn't have been able to tempt a US route off its shortest path. Most of its growth occurred in the 80s. It certainly deserves a BR now.
Doesn't seem like much need for a BR 395 through Inyokern proper, no. :P
The signage for BR 395 south of CA 178 has always been weird.
It is worth pointing to this older post from 2016 touching upon this: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18621.msg2172672#msg2172672
In it, good old Michael B points out: "US 395 Business in Ridgecrest, CA was NEVER US 395. It was also never a State highway south of Ridgecrest Blvd."
What is the reason that they don't use a US route shield?
Quote from: kendancy66 on November 28, 2024, 06:56:06 PMWhat is the reason that they don't use a US route shield?
It didn't look Caltrans spec. If Ridgecrest is supplying the signs all bets are off.
Put this to blog format:
https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/04/us-route-395-business-in-ridgecrest.html?m=1