November Bay Trip Part 1; Interstate 205

This previous week I decided it was time to get out of town to explore more of the San Francisco Bay area. After some early morning fog along California State Route 99 I made my way west on CA 120 and I-5 to the first highlight of the trip; Interstate 205.

Interstate 205 is a mostly unremarkable 13 mile highway running from I-5 in San Joaquin County west to I-580 in Alameda County. I-205 starts in San Joaquin Valley at I-5 and climbs into the Diablo Range at I-580.

The only city of significance on I-205 is Tracy.

The only significant junctions on I-205 are with it's business loop and County Route J4 at Grant Line Road. For some reason J4 was signed as J5 from I-205 in error.

Near the western terminus I-205 enters Alameda County and crosses the California Aqueduct.

I-205 terminates at I-580 in the Diablo Foothills. Neither Interstate has any reassurance shields which I found odd.

On the surface there isn't too much to I-205 but there is a hell of backstory with the alignment history. The original alignment that became I-205 first ran on what is now the I-205 Business Loop on 11th Street which was part of the first US 48. US 48 was one of the original US Routes and ran through Tracy until 1935 when it was replaced by an extended US 50. The shift can be seen on the 1934 and 1936 California State Highway Maps.

1934 State Highway Map

1936 State Highway Map

US 48 was always an oddity given it was a short intrastate US Route. The route carried an important corridor but in my opinion was much better served by US 50. USends covers the history of US 48 on their website.

USends on US 48

I-205 was completed by 1970 and US 50 was shifted off of 11th street to multiplex it. US 50 was cut back to Sacramento by 1972 which left the I-205 designation alone. I-205 can be seen appearing between the 1969 and 1970 state highway maps while USends has a good piece on US 50.

1969 State Highway Map

1970 State Highway Map

USends on US 50

Comments

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...

Old NC 10 - The Central Highway: Old Fort to Black Mountain through the Royal Gorge

A unique way of tracing the remnants of the Central Highway is through the mountainous terrain of Eastern Buncombe and Western McDowell Counties. From the east on US 70, you reach the base of Blue Ridge Mountains at the town of Old Fort. Old Fort is a tiny rail town that the old Central Highway and now US 70 goes through. The Central Highway can be followed via a right onto Mill Creek Road from US 70. Follow the highway as it takes you closer to the mountains. When Mill Creek Road bears right to head towards Andrews Geyser stay straight until the road ends at a gate. The nearby Piney Grove Church can be used for parking. At this point, the old Central Highway began a 3.5 mile climb of the mountain to Swannanoa Gap. NC 10 and later US 70 travelers followed this road for over 30 years until a new and modern four lane US 70 was built to the south. This same four lane road would eventually become Interstate 40. The Centra...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog