Hey that's not right! (CA 37)

[Voyager]

This particular intersection is definitely not a freeway interchange, I wonder why Caltrans signed it as such...

[Max Rockatansky]

I'm sure the normals hardly notice the difference between an actual freeway and a four-lane expressway.  If there wasn't a traffic light a couple miles west CA 121 there would even be less of a hint.

[pderocco]

They're usually so good about putting END FREEWAY and BEGIN FREEWAY signs on either side of crossroads, such as along US-101 in SLO and Monterey Counties. That's always seemed a little like claiming undeserved credit, but it's better than just putting up a FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign and leaving it at that.

[RZF]

The CA 1/CA 23 junction in Malibu had a similar sign for a while back in 2017/2018 that has since been removed (I have a photo but don't know how to embed it)

[SeriesE]

Is there an official list of which highway segments are officially freeways?

[Max Rockatansky]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

[SeriesE]

That's unfortunate. Many digital mapping services don't get the partial freeway segments labeled correctly It would be nice to get an official source to use as evidence for the corrections.

[ClassicHasClass]

Although not an exact parallel because CA 37 isn't a freeway in that segment, it reminds me a little of the US 395-CA 70 junction where the onramps have FREEWAY ENTRANCE (because it is) but it immediately downgrades into one-lane-per-direction, not even an expressway or Super 2.

[cahwyguy]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

Actually, 2009, because I have a 2009 paper map. Not all of the maps are online.

[ElishaGOtis]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

Actually, 2009, because I have a 2009 paper map. Not all of the maps are online.

Are these different from roads functionally classified as "Principal Arterial Freeway/Expressway?"

[Max Rockatansky]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

Actually, 2009, because I have a 2009 paper map. Not all of the maps are online.

Are these different from roads functionally classified as "Principal Arterial Freeway/Expressway?"

Conventional, Expressway and Freeway.  Here is a link to the 2005 map I spoke of:

https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~238640~5511601:-California--State-Highway-Map-2005?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&mi=0&trs=2&qvq=q:CALTRANs%202005;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1

[pderocco]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

Actually, 2009, because I have a 2009 paper map. Not all of the maps are online.

Are these different from roads functionally classified as "Principal Arterial Freeway/Expressway?"

Conventional, Expressway and Freeway.  Here is a link to the 2005 map I spoke of:

https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~238640~5511601:-California--State-Highway-Map-2005?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&mi=0&trs=2&qvq=q:CALTRANs%202005;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1

The detail map on the second page shows it as an expressway.

[bing101]

I'm sure the normals hardly notice the difference between an actual freeway and a four-lane expressway.  If there wasn't a traffic light a couple miles west CA 121 there would even be less of a hint.

True and there has been talks to make the entire route  of  CA-37 as a freeway at one point as a full freeway but the issues surrounding how to protect San Pablo Bay came into play. The only portion CA-37 is a freeway is within the Vallejo City limits.

Note CA-37 prior to 2005-2006 in the Vallejo city limits was routed on the now city street of Lewis Brown Drive when it was then known as Marine World Parkway.

[FredAkbar]

They're usually so good about putting END FREEWAY and BEGIN FREEWAY signs on either side of crossroads, such as along US-101 in SLO and Monterey Counties. That's always seemed a little like claiming undeserved credit, but it's better than just putting up a FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign and leaving it at that.

I always thought it was a bit weird to have the end/begin freeway signs so close to the cross roads, especially when they are frequent. At that point it's a meaningless technicality. May as well sign my residential street as a freeway, with end/begin freeway signs around each driveway.

[Quillz]

The CA 1/CA 23 junction in Malibu had a similar sign for a while back in 2017/2018 that has since been removed (I have a photo but don't know how to embed it)

It was also oversized, intended for a 3di and placed low and awkwardly that it wasn't even visible when you turned. 

[pderocco]

They're usually so good about putting END FREEWAY and BEGIN FREEWAY signs on either side of crossroads, such as along US-101 in SLO and Monterey Counties. That's always seemed a little like claiming undeserved credit, but it's better than just putting up a FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign and leaving it at that.

I always thought it was a bit weird to have the end/begin freeway signs so close to the cross roads, especially when they are frequent. At that point it's a meaningless technicality. May as well sign my residential street as a freeway, with end/begin freeway signs around each driveway.

On the other hand, Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica has a two-block long freeway stretch with a diamond interchange with 4th St:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/g1gUuFuppRb558Xq5
but they neglected to put up the BEGIN FREEWAY and END FREEWAY signs.

[cahwyguy]

They're usually so good about putting END FREEWAY and BEGIN FREEWAY signs on either side of crossroads, such as along US-101 in SLO and Monterey Counties. That's always seemed a little like claiming undeserved credit, but it's better than just putting up a FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign and leaving it at that.

I always thought it was a bit weird to have the end/begin freeway signs so close to the cross roads, especially when they are frequent. At that point it's a meaningless technicality. May as well sign my residential street as a freeway, with end/begin freeway signs around each driveway.

On the other hand, Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica has a two-block long freeway stretch with a diamond interchange with 4th St:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/g1gUuFuppRb558Xq5
but they neglected to put up the BEGIN FREEWAY and END FREEWAY signs.

Perhaps because Ocean Park Blvd is not a state highway, nor is it part of the Freeway and Expressway system. La Cienega also doesn't have such signs for its old freeway section, again, not part of the state freeway and expressway system.

[Voyager]

I'm sure the normals hardly notice the difference between an actual freeway and a four-lane expressway.  If there wasn't a traffic light a couple miles west CA 121 there would even be less of a hint.

True and there has been talks to make the entire route  of  CA-37 as a freeway at one point as a full freeway but the issues surrounding how to protect San Pablo Bay came into play. The only portion CA-37 is a freeway is within the Vallejo City limits.

Note CA-37 prior to 2005-2006 in the Vallejo city limits was routed on the now city street of Lewis Brown Drive when it was then known as Marine World Parkway.

The other end is also a freeway between the Petaluma River bridge and 101.

[heynow415]

I'm sure the normals hardly notice the difference between an actual freeway and a four-lane expressway.  If there wasn't a traffic light a couple miles west CA 121 there would even be less of a hint.

True and there has been talks to make the entire route  of  CA-37 as a freeway at one point as a full freeway but the issues surrounding how to protect San Pablo Bay came into play. The only portion CA-37 is a freeway is within the Vallejo City limits.

Note CA-37 prior to 2005-2006 in the Vallejo city limits was routed on the now city street of Lewis Brown Drive when it was then known as Marine World Parkway.

The other end is also a freeway between the Petaluma River bridge and 101.

On SR 37 between the Hanna Ranch Road and Atherton Ave interchanges there are several driveways that provide access to the adjacent parcels, so it's not fully limited-access even though it otherwise functions like a freeway.  Granted, the fronting lands are all agriculture and flood control so the driveways are infrequently used but they're still at-grade access points.

[Voyager]

I'm sure the normals hardly notice the difference between an actual freeway and a four-lane expressway.  If there wasn't a traffic light a couple miles west CA 121 there would even be less of a hint.

True and there has been talks to make the entire route  of  CA-37 as a freeway at one point as a full freeway but the issues surrounding how to protect San Pablo Bay came into play. The only portion CA-37 is a freeway is within the Vallejo City limits.

Note CA-37 prior to 2005-2006 in the Vallejo city limits was routed on the now city street of Lewis Brown Drive when it was then known as Marine World Parkway.

The other end is also a freeway between the Petaluma River bridge and 101.

On SR 37 between the Hanna Ranch Road and Atherton Ave interchanges there are several driveways that provide access to the adjacent parcels, so it's not fully limited-access even though it otherwise functions like a freeway.  Granted, the fronting lands are all agriculture and flood control so the driveways are infrequently used but they're still at-grade access points.

I never noticed those before, but you're right there are a few when I check Google Maps. Huh.

[bing101]

https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-37-corridor-projects

Here is more details on the current projects on CA-37. 

[cahwyguy]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

Actually, they were last published in 2009 (I have 2 of the 2009s), but the latest in the Rumsey collection is 2005.

[pderocco]

Caltrans displayed that information on their later state highway maps.  Problem is that those were last published in 2005. 

Actually, they were last published in 2009 (I have 2 of the 2009s), but the latest in the Rumsey collection is 2005.

Send one to Rumsey. Maybe he'll scan it.