CA-58 and I-40

Hellfighter · March 14, 2009, 02:56:43 PM

Is California still planing to ask AASHO to rename CA-58 as an extension of I-40? I know they're still expanding it, especially west of needles.

Sykotyk · March 14, 2009, 10:49:32 PM

I was just on CA-58 recently. They're still some work to be done. They seem to be doing some right of way grading for what will be the west bound lanes east of Boron and west of Barstow.

The problem is there is still that 2-lane stretch that needs some massive work down. For the most part, I would suggest they just build a whole new freeway slightly to the north of CA-58 from Boron to Barstow and leave old CA-58 as a two-lane feeder route (therefore, no need for on and off ramps the rest of the way). This also allows US395 to have a full interchange just north of 'four corners'.

Over in the mountainous stretch east of Bakersfield, there's still several intersections that needs to be removed that will be costly. I don't see them doing it any time soon.

Sykotyk

Voyager · March 16, 2009, 12:59:01 AM

Not sure if they had actually planned on upgrading it, considering the costs to upgrading 58 in the Mojave Pass.

Sykotyk · March 16, 2009, 11:28:26 AM

Well, in the mountains the interstates, at least when first built, were given some leeway. Because many places along CA-58 simply have a jersey barrier down the median. No way to widen it with mountains there.

Sykotyk

Tarkus · March 16, 2009, 03:52:57 PM

Couldn't be any worse than the stretch of I-5 north of Yreka. Last time I was down that way in 2002, the divider between the two sides of the freeway was just paint--no barriers, no physical barriers.

There would be a certain logic with having I-40 go all the way to I-5, but at least the way I perceive things, there are certain California state routes that kind of just have a reputation for being "big deals" on par with US Highways or Interstates as it is. I'd say CA-58 is in that boat. I'd also throw CA-89 into the mix as well--it's a sensical way to get to Reno from Medford/Ashland area.

-Alex (Tarkus)

AZDude · March 20, 2009, 12:57:44 AM

CA 58 to me is very unique. One thing I ponder, were there plans to extend I-40 west of I-15 in the past but then were dropped? The reasons I suspect this are as follows.

* The 13 mile Interstate standard freeway (with a 70 mph speed limit) between Boron and North Edwards.

* The rest area.

* The two freeway (not sure if interstate standard) sections between Bakersfield and Mojave. Not counting the Mojave bypass because this freeway section is recent.

On a side rant...

* Why did Caltrans leave a gap in freeway between Mojave and Bakersfield? Why not leave it a freeway?

* Why isn't the speed limit 70 on that stretch?

*Why isn't the speed limit 70 on the Mojave bypass?

mapman · March 20, 2009, 01:21:59 AM

I can answer your first question. According to cahighways.org, Caltrans asked AASHTO to designate CA 58 as an interstate twice -- in 1956 and 1968. AASHTO rejected the request each time.

AZDude · March 20, 2009, 01:35:47 AM

Oh wow, so there were plans way back then. Hence the freeway sections of CA 58. Thanks! I am hopeful that someday CA 58 would become an extension of I-40 (my favorite interstate).

Sykotyk · March 20, 2009, 03:21:59 PM

AZDude, I've driven CA-58 several times. I like the road, but it's rather misunderstood:

Quote* The 13 mile Interstate standard freeway (with a 70 mph speed limit) between Boron and North Edwards.

* The rest area.

* The two freeway (not sure if interstate standard) sections between Bakersfield and Mojave. Not counting the Mojave bypass because this freeway section is recent.

On a side rant...

It'd make sense. CA-58 is a well-trafficked road.

Quote* Why did Caltrans leave a gap in freeway between Mojave and Bakersfield? Why not leave it a freeway?

This is a rather mountainous stretch of road from just west of Mojave to Bakersfield. There are several intersections that just don't make sense to have an interchange due to limited usage. CA-223 is a direct intersection in a rather tight spot. CA-223 is a rather hilly stretch of road that bypasses Bakersfield through the town of Arvin (I've been on it) that intersects CA-58 between two hills. It can be done, but the cost is probably not justified.

Quote* Why isn't the speed limit 70 on that stretch?

Again, mountainous grades, curves, etc.

Quote*Why isn't the speed limit 70 on the Mojave bypass?

Not sure, probably to match the old stretch through the Tehachapi Mountains.

They already have a bypass built on the west side of Barstow, and the last time I was there, they do appear to be starting work on adding a second ROW between Boron and Barstow with piles of dirt brought in and laid down next to the existing roadway.

They would just need to build a small bypass around "Four Corners" where US-395 and CA-58 intersect, as well as fix the roadway up near Hinkley/Lenwood. A sharp curve to cross a railroad track and then as it comes into Barstow before the new bypass.

Sykotyk

AZDude · March 20, 2009, 10:35:18 PM

Thanks skyotyk for your input.

Glad that Caltrans is upgrading the road.

flowmotion · March 22, 2009, 03:25:14 PM

If I recall the story correctly, Caltrans wanted to use nuclear bombs to excavate through the Tehachapi Pass. When that didn't pan out, they backed-off on the interstate idea.

The 4-lane expressway/freeway will be a vast improvement between Bakersfield and Barstow. However, I don't know of any serious plans to extend the CA58 to I-5 in the central valley.

Also, CA HSR will run though Mojave and Palmdale, and there's already talk of building a spur to Las Vegas here.

TheStranger · March 23, 2009, 03:05:03 PM

flowmotion: Doesn't one of the Bakersfield belt route plans (mentioned at cahighways.org) include a connector to I-5?

Concrete Bob · March 27, 2009, 11:48:30 PM

Hi There !!!

You can find information concerning the upgrading of the last two lane stretches of SR 58 between Boron and Barstow at the following links:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist8/projects/san_bernardino/sr58/kramerjunction/index.htm

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist8/projects/san_bernardino/sr58/hinkley/index.htm

Should SR 58 be re-signed as Interstate 40? Personally, I don't care. Should SR 58 be a freeway from Barstow to Bakersfield? Extended west to I-5? Hell yes, I say!!!

mapman · March 29, 2009, 08:45:17 PM

Chris: No, none of the Bakersfield freeway improvements extends all the way to I-5. The furthest west any of them get is about half-way.

Voyager · March 29, 2009, 08:46:43 PM

Is there even any room through Bakersfield for an extension of the freeway?

Sykotyk · March 30, 2009, 12:03:45 AM

No, they'd probably have to multiplex along CA-99 north (as they do currently with CA-58) until there's a suitable area to build a freeway headed west.

Sykotyk

tankerdave · April 16, 2009, 10:03:41 PM

I remember reading somewhere about a possible freeway allignment from 99 to I-5 about 2-3 miles north of the current CA-58 allignment (Rosedale Hwy/Bakersfield-McKittrick Hwy) along 7th Standard Rd.

rebel049 · April 17, 2009, 07:48:27 AM

There are multiple alignments under consideration at this time.

http://www.bakersfieldfreeways.us/

TheStranger · April 17, 2009, 05:07:02 PM

tankerdave and rebel049: Looks like two of the proposed routes seem to correspond to a Route 58 freeway extension west to I-5: the Westside Parkway, and upgrades to the Rosedale Highway.

leifvanderwall · September 24, 2009, 10:05:54 PM

What I would do is have I-40 multiplex with I-15 to San Bernardino and then take over CA/I- 210 and I-605 to terminate at I-405. I don't think people take I-40 west to take a drive to Fresno.

agentsteel53 · September 24, 2009, 10:39:57 PM

Quote from: leifvanderwall on September 24, 2009, 10:05:54 PM
What I would do is have I-40 multiplex with I-15 to San Bernardino and then take over CA/I- 210 and I-605 to terminate at I-405. I don't think people take I-40 west to take a drive to Fresno.

no, they use it to go up to the bay area via 5 and 580.

leifvanderwall · September 25, 2009, 12:40:10 PM

I think California 58 is good enough to do that job. Until California balances its own budget I don't see I-40 being extended to Bakersfield and besides on I-17 , the control cities for I-40 is Albuquerque & Los Angeles.

agentsteel53 · September 25, 2009, 01:14:45 PM

Quote from: leifvanderwall on September 25, 2009, 12:40:10 PM
I think California 58 is good enough to do that job. Until California balances its own budget I don't see I-40 being extended to Bakersfield and besides on I-17 , the control cities for I-40 is Albuquerque & Los Angeles.

it gets pretty inadequate around Kramer's Junction. Then again, US-395 also needs to be upgraded to a freeway, or at least a four-lane expressway between Adelanto and the junction with the 14 at Brady.

TheStranger · September 25, 2009, 04:03:26 PM

leifvanderwall: control cities really don't have any bearing on where a highway should end up or ends up; in some cases they reflect more the destination of a previous route than the existing interstate (US 66 went to Los Angeles, while I-40 does not come close).

leifvanderwall · September 25, 2009, 04:45:14 PM

Actually, LA is a shorter distance from Barstow than Bakersfield is and I would think the LA traffic to and from Las Vegas gets pretty heavy on I-15 on the weekends. If they can upgrade CA 58 to interstate standards to Bakersfield and further to US 101 I'd be happy with that, but I think LA is a much more logical place to terminate I-40. Let's do a compromise here: I-40 gets the old 66 route and I-540 gets the old CA 58 corridor. The CA 14 freeway could be a x40 spur also.

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CA-58 and I-40