Historic U.S. 99

Immediately upon turning from southbound California 111 (Imperial Avenue) onto eastbound Second Street is this shield assembly showing the historic U.S. 99 shield along with an "end" U.S. 99 shield. While this intersection was not really the southern end of U.S. 99, it is the point where U.S. 99 used to turn east briefly for three blocks, then turn south again at Heffernan Avenue to cross the former border crossing into Mexico.

01/27/06

The cut-out U.S. 99 shield is made to today's Caltrans standard, and brown historic shield incorporates an older specification shield. The California Division of Highways insignia is located at the bottom tip of the U.S. 99 shield, which is authentic.

01/27/06

Two more historic U.S. 99 shields are posted along eastbound 2nd Street. This is the first of those two shields. They are both posted alongside the arches that support the facade of most of the shops along Second Street.

01/27/06

Another U.S. 99 historic sign is posted on the next block, between Rockwood Avenue and Heffernan Avenue. Note the redundant "HISTORIC" designation posted above and below the U.S. 99 shield. The upcoming intersection is Heffernan Avenue, and this is where U.S. 99 used to turn south to the former border crossing into Mexico. U.S. 99 used to connect to Heffernan Avenue via 3rd Street rather than 2nd Street (Cooper, n.d.), but today 2nd Street is recognized as the old alignment of U.S. 99.

01/27/06

After Heffernan Avenue (which takes U.S. 99 south toward the former border crossing), 2nd Street continues east for another block as a one-way street, but it will change into a two-way street after Heber Avenue (one block ahead). A historic J.C. Penney's is located on the north side of 2nd Street.

01/27/06

Behind the bus stop in the median island, U.S. 99 reaches its southern terminus at the border fence. Today, there is no access to Mexico through this former border crossing. Now traffic must use the California 111 or California 7 crossings to the city of Mexicali.

01/27/06

Next to the old border crossing is the old customs house, which is located to the east of the old port of entry. The building is still federally owned and used by the Border Patrol (as near as we could tell).

01/27/06

The menacing and seemingly impervious border fence marks the southern terminus of U.S. 99, after its journey all the way from British Columbia.

01/27/06

Standing in front of the border fence looking north, the bus stop that signifies the southern terminus of U.S. 99 lies in the view of the former U.S. highway that used to follow Heffernan Avenue north from here into the United States. To the right (east) sits the customs house, and the next intersection is with First Street.

01/27/06

Northbound U.S. 99/Heffernan Avenue meets First Street at this intersection.

01/27/06

A begin U.S. 99 shield is posted at the intersection between Heffernan Avenue and First Street in downtown Calexico.

01/27/06

Continuing north, U.S. 99 followed Heffernan Avenue briefly, then took Second Street west to today's California 111 west of downtown, then turned north to travel toward El Centro (via California 86).

01/27/06

This original section of former U.S. 99 along Coolidge Springs Road features single-slab concrete near Desert Shores along the western edge of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, just south of the Riverside County line. Power lines parallel this old alignment, making it easy to locate, but the old concrete surface has worn and rutted, making vehicular travel somewhat hazardous. This set shows old U.S. 99 looking north.

03/14/09

This next series of photos looks at southbound Coolidge Springs Road in the same area. The new California 86 expressway is located to the east of here.

03/14/09

Now in the city of Burbank north of Los Angeles, this Historic U.S. 99 route marker is posted along southbound San Fernando Boulevard after the intersection with Magnolia Boulevard just south of the Burbank Town Center shopping mall. Between downtown Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, U.S. 6 and U.S. 99 used to follow San Fernando Road (also known as San Fernando Boulevard in certain municipalities). After U.S. 6 and U.S. 99 were moved onto the new Golden State Freeway, the old alignment became U.S. 6 Business and U.S. 99 Business. When U.S. 6 and U.S. 99 were decommissioned in Los Angeles County, this segment was then designated as Business Loop I-5, but that designation did not gain popularity and eventually was decommissioned as well. Now San Fernando Road (and Boulevard) are signed with Historic U.S. 99 signs such as this one.

05/05/10

Within the Grapevine, this section of single-slab concrete from original U.S. 99 remains in tact near the one mile sign for Fort Tejon along Interstate 5 southbound. This series of photos looks at the alignment taken during a highway cleaning.

09/25/05

U.S. 99E followed U.S. 40 (Auburn Boulevard) from Downtown Sacramento northeast to Downtown Roseville, entering Roseville via Vernon Street. Once in Roseville, the connection from Vernon Street to Washington Boulevard is made via Taylor Street and Oak Street. Once traveling north on Washington Boulevard, Old U.S. 99E proceeds under Vernon Street and the railroad via a subway as shown here. Note the divoted curbing on the median. The old alignment of U.S. 99E was designated as SR 265 long after U.S. 99E was eliminated and the parallel SR 65 freeway built. SR 265 was decommissioned by 1994 (Faigin, 2023).

05/24/08

Divoted curbing -- a common design feature for old state expressways/divided highways -- remains in use along U.S. 99E/Washington Boulevard north of Main Street in Roseville. Old U.S. 99E will follow Washington Boulevard north until it meets up with Industrial Avenue. Old U.S. 99E turns onto Industrial Avenue, although quite a few route realignments have occurred due to ongoing residential and commercial development in northern Roseville. Washington Boulevard itself ultimately merges directly onto California 65 north of downtown at the Blue Oaks Boulevard interchange. California 65 follows the original route of U.S. 99E, meeting U.S. 40 Alternate in Marysville and rejoining U.S. 99W in Red Bluff.

05/24/08

The original alignment of U.S. 99E has been rerouted since its original construction due to ample residential development in northern Roseville. The best modern path of travel is to take Washington Boulevard north to Industrial Avenue north. Upon reaching an electrical substation on the left (west) side of the roadway, Industrial Avenue follows the original route of U.S. 99E north of Roseville. It is likely that former California 256 followed Washington Boulevard, not Industrial Avenue.

05/24/08

Northbound U.S. 99E/Industrial Avenue approaches the interchange with Blue Oaks Boulevard. Due to its proximity to the railroad, Industrial Avenue shares grade separation with the railroad. As a result, access to Blue Oaks Boulevard east is via Packard Drive (next right). To Blue Oaks Boulevard west, continue under the bridge to Alantown Road (second right).

05/24/08

Industrial Avenue passes under Blue Oaks Boulevard. The railroad continues to parallel Old U.S. 99E on the left (west) side and the modern California 65 freeway to the east .

05/24/08

Northbound U.S. 99E/Industrial Avenue next meets Alantown Road to westbound Blue Oaks Boulevard.

05/24/08

U.S. 99E/Industrial Avenue cross over the south branch of Pleasant Grove Creek on this old bridge. The rails of this bridge used to be white, but the paint has mostly peeled away.

05/24/08

Northbound U.S. 99E/Industrial Avenue next approaches a grade separated junction with Sunset Boulevard. The next right connects to Sunset Boulevard east to California 65. The second right (after the overpass) connects to Sunset Boulevard west. After this interchange, Industrial Avenue will next interchange directly with California 65 (Lincoln Bypass).

05/24/08

A very nicely preserved, concrete section of old U.S. 99E's original alignment parallel to the railroad tracks is located off Industrial Avenue in northern Roseville. From northbound Washington Boulevard, turn left on Industrial Avenue after the Pleasant Grove Boulevard intersection. Follow Industrial Avenue north, and you'll see an electrical substation as Industrial Avenue curves next to a railroad track. The concrete road leads south into the substation is Old U.S. 99E; this view looks south toward the substation.

05/24/08

The extant concrete section of old U.S. 99E off Industrial Avenue was poured on May 6, 1929.

05/24/08

An extant section of Old U.S. 99E is located along Rancho Road southeast of Marysville in Yuba County. This two-lane segment of old U.S. highway parallels modern California 65 just south of the state highway's terminus.

05/24/08

A single-circuit power line crosses over Rancho Road; this line brings power from the Shasta Dam area (near Redding) south into the Sacramento metropolitan area.

05/24/08

White wooden railing lines this old bridge, which dates to the mid-1930s.

05/24/08

Northbound U.S. 99E/Rancho Road meets Ostrom Road east or Forty Mile Road south. Use Forty Mile Road south to California 65 Exit 332.

05/24/08

This 1935 bridge carries U.S. 99E/Rancho Road over a creek. White wooden railing has faded as the paint has peeled off. Note the date stamp, which is imprinted into the concrete curb.

05/24/08

This view looks due north on U.S. 99E/Rancho Road after one of the creek bridges.

05/24/08

Prior to the McGowan Parkway intersection, Rancho Road sees two more bridges to cross small creeks and waterways.

05/24/08

Both of these bridges are just like the earlier two, with faded, white wooden railing and concrete curbs.

05/24/08

Northbound U.S. 99E/Rancho Road meets McGowan Parkway. Turn left (west) on McGowan Parkway to return to California 65 and connect to California 70.

05/24/08

This historic U.S. 99 shield was located along Midway Road south of Chico near Durham (old U.S. 99E). It is not certain whether this shield remains posted today or not.

03/29/02

In the vicinity of Lake Shasta, U.S. 99 has several bridges on old alignments that are no longer in use. One such bridge is the Charlie Creek Bridge located along Lakeshore Drive in Lakehead. Originally built in 1925, the deck was raised up to allow for the higher water level caused by the construction of Shasta Dam and raising of Lake Shasta in the early 1940's. As a result, the bridge has a rather unusual side view with two apparent road decks.

05/25/08

The abandoned Dog Creek Bridge formerly carried U.S. 99 over a narrow, two-lane bridge. The bridge is still passable on foot. It is located near Exit 707 from Interstate 5 just north of Lakehead and east of the freeway. This arch bridge was built in 1927 (per a date stamp located on the arch below the bridge) and is massive in scale, both in length and height.

05/25/08

This view looks down from the abandoned Dog Creek Bridge toward the nearby Sacramento River, a small truss bridge that carries Fenders Ferry Road over the river, and the Union Pacific Railroad.

05/25/08

The newer Dog Creek Bridge (Harlan D. Miller Bridge) carries Interstate 5 over Dog Creek north of Lakehead between Exits 704 and 707. This view is taken from an abandoned segment of old U.S. 99. Built in 1956, the Dog Creek Bridge originally served as part of U.S. 99 and was expanded to accommodate the U.S. 99 expressway, which later became Interstate 5. The bridge saw an expansion in 1989 according to the Caltrans Bridge Log. These pictures also portray an abandoned section of U.S. 99 located near the Exit 707 interchange.

05/25/08

Before construction of modern Interstate 5, U.S. 99 followed a combination of Eagles Roost Road, Highland Lakes Road, and Gibson Road between Exits 712 and 714. At two points, the old road passes under Interstate 5 as it follows the west bank of the Sacramento River.

05/25/08

At the second passing under Interstate 5, U.S. 99 sees a pair of bridges (vintage 1915 and 1928 arch) that span Boulder Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River.

05/25/08

The section of Interstate 5 that runs high above Gibson Road was built in 1989 and eliminated one of the last segments of old U.S. 99 expressway not upgraded to freeway standards. For a time, the old U.S. 99 expressway stayed on the west side of the river just like its original alignment did, but that was abandoned in favor of the two bridges that cross the Sacramento River between Exits 712 and 714.

05/28/08

05/25/08

Between Exits 714 and 718, a dirt road peels off the freeway to a short, extant segment of abandoned U.S. 99. This particular segment leads to another abandoned bridge, this time crossing over Shotgun Creek not far from Castella.

05/25/08

A below-surface truss helps support the old bridge, which is dated 1928 under the bridge.

05/25/08

Shotgun Creek flows through a culvert below Interstate 5 nearby.

05/25/08

A federal aid primary marker is located here, but it has faded quite a bit over the decades.

05/25/08

North of Sims Road and near Interstate 5 Exit 718, northbound Historic U.S. 99/Mears Ridge Road passes over Mears Creek on this concrete tee beam bridge that was built in 1929. Historic U.S. 99 parallels Interstate 5 to the west of the freeway through here.

05/25/08

In Castella and near Castle Crags State Park (Interstate 5 Exit 724), northbound U.S. 99 follows Main Street as it crosses Castle Creek on this 1918 concrete tee beam bridge.

05/25/08

Northbound Dunsmuir Boulevard, Historic U.S. 99 was briefly signed with shields such as this one along Business Loop I-5 in Dunsmuir. None of them remained by 2008.

March 1999