State Route 65
California 65 is the Eastside Highway, divided into two sections. Currently two extant sections are in use: the southern section from Bakersfield north to Exeter and the northern section from Roseville to Marysville. Some portions are built to freeway standards, while others are expressway standards.
The most recently completed section of California 65 is the Lincoln Bypass, which opened to traffic on October 8, 2012. The old alignment, which might become California 65 Business, was decommissioned and is to be provided to the city of Lincoln in 2013 and renamed as Lincoln Boulevard.1,2
Feasibility studies were undertaken to determine if building all or part of the "missing section" of California 65 between Exeter and Roseville within the next 20 years is worthwhile. If connected, California 65 would serve as a relief route for through traffic on California 99 especially past rapidly growing Fresno, Merced, Modesto, and Stockton. The most difficult section to be constructed would be the urbanized areas near Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, and Folsom; community opposition would make it very difficult if not impossible for California 65 to be extended as a freeway from Interstate 80 south to U.S. 50.
North
California 65 is split into two sections. The southern section extends from California 99 north of Bakersfield to California 198 north of Exeter. This picture shows the two-lane highway as it approaches its terminus with California 198 east of Visalia. The northern section of California 65 begins at Interstate 80 in Roseville and ends at California 70 southeast of Marysville-Yuba City. Plans call for these two sections to be connected by what is called the "Eastside Freeway," which would act as a third Central Valley freeway that would bypass the major cities and towns along California 99. Such a freeway connection is not expected to be constructed until 2025 or later. Photo taken by Trevor Carrier, 04/05/04.
After a significant gap, California 65 resumes northward by separating from Interstate 80 (Exit 106) at the city limits boundary between Roseville and Rocklin. Two lanes will make a tight turn from northeast to northwest at this trumpet interchange. From here, California 65 will travel northwest and then north to Lincoln, then proceed north to Sheridan and Wheatland before connecting with California 70 near Marysville.
11/23/12
The freeway transition ramp from Interstate 80 east to California 65 north is a long loop ramp. It curves from northeast to southeast to northwest.
11/23/12
Still curving to the northwest on the loop ramp off Interstate 80 east, this roadside sign references the first interchange along California 65 north. Numbered as Exit 307, the first exit connects California 65 to Galleria Boulevard south and Stanford Ranch Road north in 0.75 mile. the exit numbering is presumed to include the mileage of the southern segment of California 65 between Oildale and Exeter as well as all of California 65's unconstructed mileage between Exeter and Roseville.
01/01/05
11/23/12
An overhead guide sign for Exit 307 is posted soon thereafter. California 65 will cross over the Interstate 80 freeway shortly after this sign.
11/23/12
Added by 2012, the reassurance marker preceding Exit 307 used an unusual font not commonly seen elsewhere in California.
11/23/12
01/01/05
California 65 is the Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson Expressway; it was named in 1986 and honors the memory of a former representative to the 1st Congressional District, California state senator, and city of Roseville mayor. Mr. Johnson was involved in obtaining funds to construct the California 65 freeway.³
11/23/12
A bridge carries California 65 onto the East Roseville Viaduct, built in 1987 and opened to traffic in early 1988.³
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 meets Exit 307, Galleria Boulevard south and Stanford Ranch Road north in Roseville.
11/23/12
The next two exits along California 65 north are Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard and Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard (To Old U.S. 99E).
01/01/05
The right lane of California 65 north becomes exit only for Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard.
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 (Harold T. Bizz Johnson Expressway) reaches Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard. The exit was widened to allow for a two-lane off-ramp.
11/23/12
01/01/05
The next two exits along California 65 north are Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard and Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard to Whitney Ranch Parkway (Future Exit 312).
01/01/05
Use either of the right two lanes for Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business (Washington Boulevard / Historic U.S. 99E). This major interchange connects to Blue Oaks Boulevard east/west, including a direct transition ramp to Blue Oaks Boulevard west. It also links to Washington Boulevard southbound.
01/01/05
Northbound California 65 reaches Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard east/west and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard south. California 65 Business, which is completely unsigned and would otherwise be considered decommissioned if not for a mention in the Caltrans District III California Log of Bridges on State Highways⁴ under the Route 65 entry (Postmile R008.72 and T001.34, confirmed its existence in the city of Roseville). California 65 Business followed Old U.S. 99E/Washington Street south from the Exit 309 interchange into downtown Roseville, ending at Historic U.S. 40. This business route is somewhat unusual in that it functioned like a spur rather than loop, with no connection back to its parent route at the southern end.
01/01/05
The exit from California 65 north splits, with the right two lanes linking to Blue Oaks Boulevard west and the left lane exiting to Blue Oaks Boulevard east and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard.
01/01/05
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along California 65 (Harold Johnson Expressway) north: Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard; Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive; and Exit 314, California 65 Business (Lincoln Boulevard) north. This sign was modified once the Lincoln Bypass was completed/opened to traffic in 2012. Omitted is planned/future Exit 312, Whitney Ranch Parkway.
11/23/12
01/01/05
The next exit along California 65 north is Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard (one mile).
11/23/12
The interchange at Exit 311 between California 65 and Sunset Boulevard opened to traffic in March 2010. Prior to that, this was an at-grade, signalized intersection. As such, the California 65 freeway temporarily ended in 2005 and then resumed on the other side of Sunset Boulevard. This sign is no longer in place, as this is now part of a continuous freeway alignment.
01/01/05
Exit 311 for Sunset Boulevard serves Rocklin. This sign was replaced once the freeway interchange opened in 2010.
11/23/12
01/01/05
Use Exit 311 to William Jessup University.
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 approaches Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard. The right two lanes will connect to Exit 311. Back in 2005, the junction with Sunset Boulevard was an at-grade, signalized intersection. In 2010, the intersection was upgraded to an interchange.
11/23/12
01/01/05
Northbound California 65 (Harold T. Bizz Johnson Expressway) reaches Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 north is Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive (two miles). This sign is mounted on the Sunset Boulevard overpass.
11/23/12
California 65 north next approaches is Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive (one mile). This interchange was constructed and opened to traffic in 2000.
11/23/12
01/01/05
A construction sign advises of the 2012 realignment and completion of the Lincoln Bypass, which took California 65 out of downtown Lincoln and off Lincoln Boulevard and onto a new-terrain freeway/expressway route.
11/23/12
California 65 enters the city of Lincoln, which had a population of 42,819 people as of the 2010 Census and was incorporated on August 7, 1890. Twelve Bridges is a master planned community located near Exit 313 in southern Lincoln.
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 reaches Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive. The guide sign was modified to include the exit number by 2010. This interchange was constructed and opened to traffic in 2000. Additional signage beyond the exit sign was added in 2012 with the completion of the Lincoln Bypass.
11/23/12
01/01/05
The next exit along California 65 north is Exit 314, California 65 Business (Lincoln Boulevard) north (0.75 mile).
11/23/12
This mileage sign along California 65 north provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 314, California 65 Business (Lincoln Boulevard); Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road; and Exit 318, Nelson Lane.
11/23/12
Use Lincoln Boulevard north to downtown Lincoln. This is the old alignment of California 65, which may have been intended as California 65 Business. However, no business route signs were present when we visited in fall 2012. Old California 65 proceeds north into downtown Lincoln, then stays east of the new bypass alignment before merging back together with the bypass just north of downtown Sheridan.
11/23/12
A California 65 north reassurance shield used to be posted after the on-ramp from Twelve Bridges Drive; it's gone now with the construction of Exit 314. Ahead, California 65 will shift onto the Lincoln Bypass, which is scheduled to open in late 2012.
01/01/05
11/23/12
The right lane of California 65 north becomes exit only for Exit 314, Lincoln Boulevard north to downtown Lincoln.
11/23/12
Back in 2005, the freeway ended after the Twelve Bridges Drive interchange. By 2012, the freeway was extended to include an interchange with Industrial Avenue (Old U.S. 99E) and Sterling Parkway. Ahead, the next two interchanges along California 65 (Lincoln Bypass) are Exit 314, California 65 Business (Lincoln Boulevard) north to Sterling Parkway and Industrial Avenue south and Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road. Ahead is the new Lincoln Bypass, which opened on October 8, 2012.
01/01/05
A dynamic message sign is posted just before the Lincoln Boulevard off-ramp.
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 reaches Exit 314, Lincoln Boulevard (California 65 Business) north to downtown Lincoln and Industrial Avenue south. Through traffic to Sheridan, Wheatland, and Marysville should follow California 65 north. Local traffic to downtown Lincoln and to California 193 (Lincoln-Newcastle Highway) should use California 65 Business (Lincoln Boulevard).
11/23/12
This view looks at the off-ramp to Lincoln Boulevard as seen from California 65 north.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 north is Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road (0.75 mile).
11/23/12
The right two lanes of California 65 north will connect to Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road. This interchange connects to a growing residential area on the west side of the freeway as well as more development on the east side.
11/23/12
California 65 crosses over Industrial Avenue, which becomes Lincoln Boulevard east of here.
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 (Lincoln Bypass) reaches Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road. Another bridge carries the freeway over a waterway.
11/23/12
The gore point is signed for Exit 315.
11/23/12
This mileage sign along California 65 north provides the distance to Sheridan (ten miles), Wheatland (14 miles), and Marysville (26 miles). With the opening of the Lincoln Bypass, most of the route from here to Marysville is built to freeway or expressway standards, except the segment between Sheridan and the resumption of the freeway north of Wheatland.
11/23/12
Traffic from Ferrari Ranch Road merges onto California 65 north.
11/23/12
A California 65 north reassurance shield is posted soon thereafter.
11/23/12
A sound wall helps diminish freeway noise from residential areas on the other side of this wall.
11/23/12
California 65 crosses another waterway.
11/23/12
As the freeway comes to an end, California 65 will revert to expressway standards. The first signalized intersection along California 65 north is with Nelson Lane. If built to an interchange standards in the future, it would most likely be signed as Exit 317.
11/23/12
The sound wall continues as California 65 curves from northwest to due west.
11/23/12
California 65 north approaches the signalized intersection with Nelson Lane.
11/23/12
Northbound California 65 meets Nelson Lane. Turn right for Nelson Lane north to Lincoln Regional/Karl Harder Field (airport). After this intersection, California 65 narrows from four lanes to two lanes.
11/23/12
North of Sheridan, California 65 (Lincoln Bypass) merges back with its original alignment (Historic U.S. 99E) in the unincorporated community of Sheridan just northwest of Lincoln. Soon after California 65 reassumes its original alignment, it enters the city of Wheatland (population 3,456 as of the 2010 Census and incorporated on April 23, 1874), now in Yuba County (having left Placer).
01/01/05
A California 65 reassurance shield is posted along northbound D Street in Wheatland.
01/01/05
Another confirming marker assembly is posted as California 65 passes northwest through Wheatland.
01/01/05
Impatient drivers are advised to wait for the freeway segment (two miles ahead) for passing slower vehicles.
01/01/05
This mileage sign provides the distance to Marysville (12 miles), Chico (59 miles via California 70, California 149, and California 99), and Red Bluff (100 miles via the same series of routes).
01/01/05
Northbound California 65 approaches Dairy Road, which travels west to Arboga.
01/01/05
11/23/12
This California 65 route marker is posted along northbound between the intersections with Dairy Road and Oakley Lane (located between Wheatland and Marysville in rural Yuba County).
05/24/08
Northbound California 65 expands to four lanes ahead of Rancho Road.
01/01/05
05/24/08
Ranch Road north from SR 65 is part of old U.S. 99E.
01/01/05
The old alignment of U.S. 99E rejoins SR 65 at Exit 333 / McGowan Parkway, just south of SR 70.
01/01/05
05/24/08
As promised, the freeway resumes along California 65 north after the Rancho Road turnoff.
01/01/05
This final section of California 65 freeway was constructed in 1971. The concrete shows its age. Unfortunately, the other sections of California 65 freeway needed from here south to Lincoln were not built back then and are only now being constructed in segments (as of 2012).
01/01/05
The next exit along California 65 north is Exit 332, Forty Mile Road and Ostrom Road (one mile).
01/01/05
Northbound California 65 reaches Exit 332, Forty Mile Road and Ostrom Road.
01/01/05
The next exit along California 65 north is Exit 333, McGowan Parkway (one mile).
01/01/05
California 65 enters the unincorporated community of Olivehurst.
01/01/05
Northbound California 65 reaches Exit 333, McGowan Parkway.
01/01/05
A California 65 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from McGowan Parkway.
01/01/05
The final exit along California 65 north is Exit 334, California 70 north to Marysville. This directional interchange marks the northern terminus of California 65, although legislatively California 65 is supposed to continue west from this point over the Feather River to link to California 99 near Yuba City. This bridge remains unconstructed.
05/24/08
01/01/05
The left lane of California 65 north ends as the freeway prepares to merge onto California 70 north en route to Marysville.
05/24/08
01/01/05
Traffic from California 70 will merge with California 65 from the left.
05/24/08
01/01/05
South
California 65 south at the last traffic light along the Lincoln Bypass with Nelson Lane. Ahead, California 65 becomes freeway for the final distance around Lincoln and remaining distance through Roseville and Interstate 80.
11/23/12
This California 65 south reassurance shield assembly is posted after the intersection with Nelson Lane in Lincoln. Note the postmile marker using "R" miles, which indicates California 65 had been realigned from its original path through Lincoln.
11/23/12
Three lanes along California 65 south narrow to two lanes.
11/23/12
The California 65 freeway begins and curves toward the southeast.
11/23/12
A sound wall separates the freeway from nearby residential development.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 south is Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road (one mile).
11/23/12
A bridge carries California 65 over a waterway.
11/23/12
This view is from along southbound California 65 prior to the Ferrari Ranch Road interchange.
11/23/12
To downtown Lincoln via Lincoln Boulevard (old California 65) north, use Exit 315/Ferrari Ranch Road east. Immediately after this sign, California 65 south meets Exit 315, Ferrari Ranch Road.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 south is Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive (one mile). There is no direct access to Exit 314, Lincoln Boulevard and Industrial Avenue.
11/23/12
This mileage sign along California 65 south provides the distance to Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive; Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard; and Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard.
11/23/12
The right lane of California 65 south becomes exit only for Exit 313, Twelve Bridges Drive. This exit will serve the master-planned Twelve Bridges community.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 south is Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard (two miles).
11/23/12
Use Exit 311 (Sunset Boulevard) to Rocklin.
11/23/12
The right lane of California 65 south becomes exit only for Exit 311, Sunset Boulevard.
11/23/12
Passing under Sunset Boulevard, the next exit from California 65 south will be Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard.
11/23/12
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along California 65 south: Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard and Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard.
11/23/12
Southbound California 65 meets Exit 309, Blue Oaks Boulevard and California 65 Business/Washington Boulevard. The business route is generally unsigned, even from the freeway.
11/23/12
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along California 65 south: Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard and Exit 307, Stanford Ranch Road and Galleria Boulevard.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 south is Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard.
11/23/12
Use Exit 308 to Park Drive and Pleasant Grove Boulevard.
11/23/12
Southbound California 65 meets Exit 308, Pleasant Grove Boulevard.
11/23/12
The next exit along California 65 south is Exit 307, Stanford Ranch Road and Galleria Boulevard (one mile).
11/23/12
Southbound California 65 meets Exit 307, Stanford Ranch Road and Galleria Boulevard.
11/23/12
California 65 passes through the Stanford Ranch Road and Galleria Boulevard interchange.
11/23/12
The final two exits along California 65 south will be Exits 306A-B, Interstate 80 east to Reno and west to Sacramento.
11/23/12
The left two lanes connect to Exit 306A, Interstate 80 east to Reno. The right two lanes connect to Exit 306B, Interstate 80 west to Sacramento. The northern segment of California 65 will come to an end at this trumpet interchange.
11/23/12
Southbound California 65 ends as the freeway splits between Interstate 80 east to Reno and Interstate 80 west to Sacramento.
11/23/12
This view looks at the connection from California 65 south to Interstate 80 east as seen from the lanes exiting onto Interstate 80 west.
11/23/12
Lincoln Boulevard - Lincoln
After the Lincoln Bypass (California 65) splits off, Old California 65 (Historic U.S. 99E) proceeds north toward its intersection with Sterling Parkway. Use Sterling Parkway north to Joiner Parkway. Joiner Parkway turns north to cross over Old California 65 ahead. We are not sure if Old California 65 will become California 65 Business, so we will use the two terms interchangably in this write-up.
01/01/05
Northbound Old California 65 meets Sterling Parkway at this signalized intersection. The overpass ahead carries Joiner Parkway over California 65; this overpass was built in 2004 and thus was relatively new when this picture was taken.
01/01/05
Northbound Old California 65 approaches and meets Ferrari Ranch Road at this traffic signal.
01/01/05
Lincoln Boulevard (old California 65) crosses over Auburn Ravine on this short bridge built in 1926 and expanded to its current configuration in 1971. After this bridge, Old California 65 used to become known as G Street, but that designation was replaced with Lincoln Boulevard officially on October 20, 2012 (although signs were changed to the new Lincoln Boulevard designation starting the last weekend in September 2012).
01/01/05
Most motorist services are available along old California 65.
01/01/05
Northbound Lincoln Boulevard (formerly G Street / historic U.S. 99E) meets Third Street at this traffic signal.
01/01/05
Through the city of Lincoln (population 42,819 as of 2010 Census; incorporated on August 7, 1890), original California 65 (U.S. 99E) is relocated to a freeway bypass route that skirts the city to the west (as of Fall 2012). California 65/G Street will likely become a business route as it passes through the city center of Lincoln and intersects California 193/McBean Park Drive (Fourth Street). California 193 is an east-west route that connects Lincoln with Newcastle and Interstate 80.
05/24/08
A California 65 north reassurance shield is posted after the California 193 intersection in downtown Lincoln. With the completion of the 11.7-mile long Lincoln Bypass, old California 65 (U.S. 99E) will cease to be the main through route (with the bypass completion dedicated on October 5, 2012, and officially open on October 8, 2012).
05/24/08
On the east side of Lincoln Boulevard (G Street) is the Lincoln Heritage Theatre.
01/01/05
Northbound Lincoln Boulevard meets Seventh Street at this traffic signal.
05/24/08
After passing by the Seventh Street intersection, California 65 Business leaves the downtown area and enters an industrial area, which is mostly located on the east side of old California 65.
05/24/08
01/01/05
A California 65 reassurance shield is posted soon after the industrial area. This route marker was changed between 2005 and 2008.
05/24/08
01/01/05
09/16/00
This mileage sign provides the distance to Sheridan (seven miles), Wheatland (11 miles), and Marysville (23 miles) via California 65 (Old U.S. 99E) north. The Lincoln Bypass returns to California 65 near Sheridan.
01/01/05
The speed limit increases to 65 miles per hour beyond Lincoln.
01/01/05
Northbound Business (Old) California 65 approaches Chamberlain Road.
01/01/05
California 65 sees a flat, straight section prior to reaching the unincorporated community of Sheridan.
01/01/05
Entering Sheridan, the highway slows down for a railroad crossing. The next right connects to Riosa Road east to Camp Far West Lake. The business route would presumably extend this far north, since the bypass route does not merge back with the old alignment until after the railroad crossing.
01/01/05
The Lincoln Bypass will stay west of the railroad and thus won't merge back to the old alignment of California 65 and U.S. 99E until about a mile north of this railroad crossing.
01/01/05
scenes
Southbound Nelson Lane approaches California 65 (Lincoln Bypass) in Lincoln. Turn right for California 65 north to Sheridan, Wheatland, and Marysville. Turn left for California 65 south to Roseville, Rocklin, and Sacramento.
11/23/12
A California 65 north freeway entrance route marker assembly is posted after the on-ramp from McGowan Parkway.
01/01/05
Eastbound Twelve Bridges Road approaches California 65 between Roseville and Lincoln. The first left turn connects to California 65 south (via a loop ramp) to Roseville and Sacramento. The second left turn connects to California 65 north to Lincoln. The trailblazer sign here for California 65 north is now a freeway entrance with the completion of the Lincoln Bypass.
05/28/08
Westbound McGowan Parkway approaches California 65 between Lincoln and Marysville. The next right turn connects to California 65 north to Marysville, and the next left connects to California 65 south to Lincoln and Roseville.
05/28/08
References:
- Lincoln Bypass Official Site, http://lincolnbypass.com/ (retrieved Sept. 8. 2012) - Relevant quote: "The Placer Transportation Planning Agency will host the grand opening celebration ceremony of the Highway 65 Lincoln Bypass on Friday October 5th at 10:00 a.m. Completion of this monumental $325 million project was accomplished through partnerships between the Placer Transportation Planning Agency, Caltrans, the City of Lincoln, Placer, the South Placer Regional Transportation Authority, and the federal government. The Lincoln Bypass will provide a new thoroughfare for Highway 65 through the Lincoln area. The 11.7-mile Bypass begins at Industrial Boulevard, moves traffic around the City of Lincoln, and will connect back to the existing Highway 65 near Sheridan."
- Bypass set to open Oct. 8: Celebration to happen within weeks, by Patty McAlpin, Lincoln News Messenger, September 5, 2012. Relevant quote: "Two of the most likely drivers to be among the first on the Lincoln Bypass when it opens in the wee hours of Oct. 8 are Lincoln Councilman Tom Cosgrove and Placer Transportation Planning Agency's executive director Celia McAdam. ... The bypass also is expected to improve safety, traffic mobility and address current and future demands between the city of Lincoln and the town of Sheridan. Lincoln Mayor Spencer Short anticipates Caltrans will relinquish G Street [California State Route 65], which will become Lincoln Boulevard, 'ometime next year.' The timing of the traffic signals along G Street in town will be changed after Caltrans relinquishes the road to the city, according to Short. Caltrans spokesman Gilbert Mohtes-Chan said the earliest relinquishment could happen is late spring 2013. Cosgrove anticipates the signs in town will be changed to read Lincoln Boulevard the weekend before the bypass officially opens." http://lincolnnewsmessenger.com/detail/218242.html
- Obituary: H.T. Johnson - Served 22 Years in Congress, dated March 18, 1988 in L.A. Times and United Press International. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-03-18/news/mn-1516_1_h-t-johnson
- Caltrans District III California Log of Bridges on State Highways. Postmile R008.72 and T001.34 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd03.pdf
Photo Credits:
- Andy Field: 01/01/05, 05/24/08, 05/28/08, 11/23/12
- Joe Rouse: 09/16/00
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Page Updated Sunday December 02, 2012.