News:

While the Forum is up and running, there are still thousands of guests (bots). Downtime may occur as a result.
- Alex

Main Menu

County Route A12 (99-97 Cutoff)

Started by Max Rockatansky, November 30, 2020, 12:03:38 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Max Rockatansky

While digging around through CHPW volumes regarding US 99 in Weed I found an article discussing Siskiyou County completing 99-97 Cutoff which was featured in the March/April 1955 Volume:

https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa195455calirich/page/n511/mode/2up?q=Siskiyou

Apparently 99-97 Cutoff was an FAS program build.  99-97 Cutoff would become County Route A12 by 1959 according to CAhighways.org.


sparker

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 30, 2020, 12:03:38 AM
While digging around through CHPW volumes regarding US 99 in Weed I found an article discussing Siskiyou County completing 99-97 Cutoff which was featured in the March/April 1955 Volume:

https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa195455calirich/page/n511/mode/2up?q=Siskiyou

Apparently 99-97 Cutoff was an FAS program build.  99-97 Cutoff would become County Route A12 by 1959 according to CAhighways.org.

A12 is one particular county highway that in most other states would have been part of the state highway system once improved, as it connects two sizeable regional towns albeit in different states (Yreka, Klamath Falls) with an all-weather route that doesn't require surmounting a major pass or two.  Also, the area around Macdoel and Dorris is a major agricultural zone (horseradish -- the major US production area for that, plus sugar beets).  Hey, if CA 161 can be a state highway, A12 should have been a slam-dunk. 

TheStranger

Quote from: sparker on December 01, 2020, 12:38:32 AM

A12 is one particular county highway that in most other states would have been part of the state highway system once improved, as it connects two sizeable regional towns albeit in different states (Yreka, Klamath Falls) with an all-weather route that doesn't require surmounting a major pass or two.  Also, the area around Macdoel and Dorris is a major agricultural zone (horseradish -- the major US production area for that, plus sugar beets).  Hey, if CA 161 can be a state highway, A12 should have been a slam-dunk. 

In that vein, I find it fascinating that the direct route between two segments of US 395 east of Susanville (county route A3) is not a state highway, while the tiny segment of what was built as Route 77 in Oakland not only is in the state system, but has several route shields on it!

But it goes back to the fact California seems to think route signing outside of the freeway system is primarily a way to denote state maintenance rather than the basic navigational function that trailblazers are supposed to offer.
Chris Sampang

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: TheStranger on December 01, 2020, 09:52:03 AM
Quote from: sparker on December 01, 2020, 12:38:32 AM

A12 is one particular county highway that in most other states would have been part of the state highway system once improved, as it connects two sizeable regional towns albeit in different states (Yreka, Klamath Falls) with an all-weather route that doesn't require surmounting a major pass or two.  Also, the area around Macdoel and Dorris is a major agricultural zone (horseradish -- the major US production area for that, plus sugar beets).  Hey, if CA 161 can be a state highway, A12 should have been a slam-dunk. 

In that vein, I find it fascinating that the direct route between two segments of US 395 east of Susanville (county route A3) is not a state highway, while the tiny segment of what was built as Route 77 in Oakland not only is in the state system, but has several route shields on it!

But it goes back to the fact California seems to think route signing outside of the freeway system is primarily a way to denote state maintenance rather than the basic navigational function that trailblazers are supposed to offer.

Some of the best short cuts in the State are found on the County Routes.  J59, J132, J1, G16, and G20 are all in my frequent rotation locally.  I just wish that there was more care put into maintenance of the County Routes, it really can be all over the place (looking at you J1).  At minimum with the State Highways there is at least a consistent standard one can expect. 

Regarding CA 77, the amount of shields present on that short little freeway makes me think someone in Caltrans has a sense of humor. 

sparker

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 01, 2020, 09:58:36 AM
Quote from: TheStranger on December 01, 2020, 09:52:03 AM
Quote from: sparker on December 01, 2020, 12:38:32 AM

A12 is one particular county highway that in most other states would have been part of the state highway system once improved, as it connects two sizeable regional towns albeit in different states (Yreka, Klamath Falls) with an all-weather route that doesn't require surmounting a major pass or two.  Also, the area around Macdoel and Dorris is a major agricultural zone (horseradish -- the major US production area for that, plus sugar beets).  Hey, if CA 161 can be a state highway, A12 should have been a slam-dunk. 

In that vein, I find it fascinating that the direct route between two segments of US 395 east of Susanville (county route A3) is not a state highway, while the tiny segment of what was built as Route 77 in Oakland not only is in the state system, but has several route shields on it!

But it goes back to the fact California seems to think route signing outside of the freeway system is primarily a way to denote state maintenance rather than the basic navigational function that trailblazers are supposed to offer.

Some of the best short cuts in the State are found on the County Routes.  J59, J132, J1, G16, and G20 are all in my frequent rotation locally.  I just wish that there was more care put into maintenance of the County Routes, it really can be all over the place (looking at you J1).  At minimum with the State Highways there is at least a consistent standard one can expect. 

Regarding CA 77, the amount of shields present on that short little freeway makes me think someone in Caltrans has a sense of humor. 

I'm going to need to check out the CA 77/High Street stretch for that signage the next time I'm up that way -- if only to see how badly D4 screwed up the number placement and kerning (they're notorious for that!).  I'm going to assume that the presence of the signage is simply literal thinking on the part of the district rather than anything more profound, such as a sense of irony!

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: sparker on December 01, 2020, 04:36:17 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 01, 2020, 09:58:36 AM
Quote from: TheStranger on December 01, 2020, 09:52:03 AM
Quote from: sparker on December 01, 2020, 12:38:32 AM

A12 is one particular county highway that in most other states would have been part of the state highway system once improved, as it connects two sizeable regional towns albeit in different states (Yreka, Klamath Falls) with an all-weather route that doesn't require surmounting a major pass or two.  Also, the area around Macdoel and Dorris is a major agricultural zone (horseradish -- the major US production area for that, plus sugar beets).  Hey, if CA 161 can be a state highway, A12 should have been a slam-dunk. 

In that vein, I find it fascinating that the direct route between two segments of US 395 east of Susanville (county route A3) is not a state highway, while the tiny segment of what was built as Route 77 in Oakland not only is in the state system, but has several route shields on it!

But it goes back to the fact California seems to think route signing outside of the freeway system is primarily a way to denote state maintenance rather than the basic navigational function that trailblazers are supposed to offer.

Some of the best short cuts in the State are found on the County Routes.  J59, J132, J1, G16, and G20 are all in my frequent rotation locally.  I just wish that there was more care put into maintenance of the County Routes, it really can be all over the place (looking at you J1).  At minimum with the State Highways there is at least a consistent standard one can expect. 

Regarding CA 77, the amount of shields present on that short little freeway makes me think someone in Caltrans has a sense of humor. 

I'm going to need to check out the CA 77/High Street stretch for that signage the next time I'm up that way -- if only to see how badly D4 screwed up the number placement and kerning (they're notorious for that!).  I'm going to assume that the presence of the signage is simply literal thinking on the part of the district rather than anything more profound, such as a sense of irony!

I have a couple photos of the CA 77 shields:

77CAa by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

77CAb by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr


Also, I put together a blog on County Route A12.  I thought the Gold Rush era wagon road and FAS modern highway actually were pretty interesting considering most Sign County Routes don't exactly have that well of documented backstories.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2020/12/siskiyou-county-route-a12-99-97-cutoff.html



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.