Former US Route 99 and US Route 50 within the City of Stockton occupied a corridor which largely was aligned on a multiplex east of downtown via Wilson Way. At the corner of Wilson Way and Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (formerly Charter Way) was once where US Route 99 and US Route 50 split. Stockton was also was part of the early US Route 99 East/West corridor and also was host to the earliest alignment of the Lincoln Highway.
This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below.
Part 1; the history of the Lincoln Highway, US Route 99 and US Route 50 in Stockton
Stockton is one of the oldest cities in California and is the San Joaquin County Seat. The origins of Stockton date back to the late period of Mexican Alta California. In 1845 Captain Charles Maria Weber a German immigrant acquired Rancho Campo de los Franceses which was comprised of lands now occupied by modern day Stockton and French Camp. Weber was offered and declined a position in the Mexican Army as a cavalry captain when the Mexican-American War broke out in 1846. Weber at the time was living in San Jose and ultimately lost a great deal of trust with his Mexican business partners. Weber would subsequently sell all his business interests in San Jose in 1847 and move to his newly acquired lands on Rancho Campo de los Franceses.
Following the discovery of Gold at Sutter's Mill the lands of Rancho Campo de los Franceses began to see an influx of settlers landing via the San Joaquin River watershed through what came to be known as Stockton Slough. Weber attempted Gold mining but soon became more profitable at supplying the arriving miners. Weber set up the first permanent structure in what would become Stockton at what is known today as Weber's Point. The small community around Weber's Point would go by numerous names such as; Weberville, Fatville and California's Sunrise Seaport. In 1849 Weber laid out a town site known as Tulesburg but ultimately renamed it to Stockton in honor of United States Commodore Robert F. Stockton. Stockton was the first community in California to have an American name and would incorporate as a City on July 23rd, 1850.
Stockton would ultimately become the head of overland travel to Los Angeles via the Stockton-Los Angeles Road upon the beginning of the 1853 Kern River Gold Rush. The Stockton-Los Angeles Road was a replacement of the earlier El Camino Viejo which was aligned mostly through western San Joaquin Valley towards Corral Hollow Pass. Unlike the El Camino Viejo the Stockton-Los Angeles Road avoided the dense Tule Marshes of San Joaquin Valley. The Stockton-Los Angles Road stayed close to the Sierra Nevada Foothills southward from Stockton towards the new claims on the Kern River watershed.
From Stockton the path of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road traveled southeast to Heath & Emory's Ferry where it crossed the Stanislaus River into Stanislaus County. The Stockton-Los Angeles Road departing Stockton towards Stanislaus County can seen on the 1857 Britton & Rey's Map of California.
Stockton as it was in 1860 can be seen in this below public domain picture.
Stockton would begin to decline as a popular port in the later 19th Century but stayed relevant as a railroad corridor. The Western Pacific Railroad was completed in 1869 which connected Sacramento via Stockton and Altamont Pass to Alameda Terminal. The Western Pacific Railroad was absorbed by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1870 which annexed it into the First Transcontinental Railroad. The Central Pacific Railroad would begin construction of a line south from Stockton via Lathrop through San Joaquin Valley southward to Tehachapi Pass. The Central Pacific Railroad line south from Stockton to Tehachapi Pass would ultimately replace the Stockton-Los Angeles Road and push development of San Joaquin Valley. The development San Joaquin Valley was further enhanced when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad was constructed from Stockton south to Bakersfield during the 1880s. Stockton can be seen along the Central Pacific Railroad on the 1873 Oregon, California, & Nevada Railroad Map.
The emergence of the automobile in the early 20th Century in California led to the 1909 First State Highway Bond Act which was approved by voters during 1910. The majority of the highways approved as part of the First State Highway Bond Act were largely well established routes of travel. One such highway was Legislative Route Number 4 ("LRN 4") which was defined as a highway from "Sacramento to Los Angeles."
During 1912 Indiana Businessman Carl G. Fisher conceptualized the Lincoln Highway as a major transcontinental Auto Trail. The Lincoln Highway was formally dedicated on October 31st, 1913 and would be aligned south from Sacramento southward towards Stockton via the existing highway corridor. From Galt the Lincoln Highway southwards followed existing LRN 4/Lower Sacramento Road through Woodbridge and Lodi onward into Stockton. The original alignment of the Lincoln Highway through Stockton followed; Pacific Avenue, Maple Street, El Dorado Street, Weber Avenue, Center Street and French Camp Parkway towards French Camp. This early alignment of the Lincoln Highway through Stockton can be seen on the Lincoln Highway Association's Official Map.
The planned route of LRN 4 can be seen on the on the 1917 California State Automobile Association Map. The planned route of LRN 4 (denoted as the red line) was conceived as a direct alignment from Galt to Lodi which would bypass Woodbridge. LRN 4 was planned to be realigned towards an eastern approach to Stockton via what is known Cherokee Road.
LRN 4 (then also known as the Inland Route) through Stockton is shown realigned onto the more direct routing from Lodi via what is now Cherokee Road on the 1920 Clason Highway Map of California. The Lincoln Highway is shown picking up a multiplex of the National Roosevelt Midland Trail from Waterloo Road southward to Lathrop. The Lincoln Highway Association notes this generation of the Lincoln Highway through Stockton as following; Cherokee Road, Waterloo Road, Wilson Way, Weber Avenue, Center Street and French Camp Turnpike.
The September 1924 California Highways & Public Works details the issues presented by upgrading LRN 4/Lincoln Highway between Sacramento and Stockton. A segment of oil bound macadam surface extending thirteen miles southward from Sacramento laid by Sacramento County in 1910 is cited as a problematic area. This segment of the Lincoln Highway was transferred to the State Highway System as part of LRN 4 during July of 1915 and had become functionally obsolete due to increasing traffic. The macadam surface is described as being replaced by a twenty foot wide Portland Cement surface.
The below photo is a illuminated warning sign on the Lincoln Highway/LRN 4 denoted thirteen bridges were under construction between Sacramento and Stockton. This photo can be seen in the September 1924 California Highways & Public Works.
The January 1925 California Highways & Public Works notes that twelve new bridges along the Upper Stockton Road (Lincoln Highway and LRN 4) had been completed.
Weed trimming along the Lincoln Highway/LRN 4 is displayed in the June 1925 California Highways & Public Works.
The initial draft of the US Route System was approved by the Secretary of Agriculture during November of 1925. The US Route System within California was approved by California Highway Commission with no changes recommended by January 1926. The initial alignment of US Route 99 ("US 99") was planned to follow the Inland Route via LRN 4 from Sacramento to Los Angeles. US 99 is shown on a map published in the 1926 California Highways & Public Works following LRN 4 south from Sacramento through Stockton. Stockton is also listed as one of the principal cities along US 99.
The initial alignment of US 99 southward through Stockton followed the Lincoln Highway/LRN 4 from Lodi towards French Camp where it intersected US 48. This early alignment of US 99 can be seen on the 1927 National Map Company Highway Map of California.
The May 1927 California Highways & Public Works announced the first Carquinez Bridge over Carquinez Strait near Vallejo had opened to traffic on May 21st. Upon completion of the Carquinez Bridge the Lincoln Highway was realigned out of Stockton and Altamont Pass onto the new structure multiplexed with the Pacific Highway. The realignment of the Lincoln Highway left US 99 as the primary highway corridor through Stockton.
The April 1928 California Highways & Public Works cites the new entrance alignment of US 99/LRN 4 as being nearly completed. Contractors are cited to have encountered delays with completing grading due to wet weather.
The January/February 1929 California Highways & Public Works announced US 99/LRN 4 had been relocated onto the new northern entrance to Stockton via the Wilson Way extension over Stockton Diverting Canal.
The January/Febuary 1929 California Highways & Public Works announced the planned relocation of existing US 99/LRN 5 between Stockton and French Camp. A new grade intended to replace French Camp Turnpike south of Stockton is cited as being necessary due to the existing road being aligned over high dirt fill. The existing State Highway on French Camp Turnpike is stated to be planned for abandonment upon completion to the new grade of US 99/LRN 5. Note; LRN 4 had been relocated in 1928 from being aligned from Stockton towards Manteca via French Cram and Lathrop. The new alignment LRN 4 followed Mariposa Road and Hogan Road south from Wilson Way in Stockton on a more direct alignment towards Manteca.
The shift of LRN 4 onto Mariposa Road resulted in Division of Highways shifting US 99 out of French Camp and Lathrop (which appears to have been done without AASHO approval) on the new new direct highway to Manteca. The Division of Highways subsequently made a request to the AASHO during February 1929 to extend US 48 via LRN 5 to US 99/LRN 4 in Stockton. This proposed extension of US 48 would see it aligned over the new grade of LRN 5 from French Camp northward into Stockton. An additional southern spur of US 48 was proposed to connect with US 99/LRN 4 in Manteca The AASHO rejected the concept proposed by Division of Highways but offered an alternative which truncated US 48 from San Jose to Hayward and from French Camp to Mossdale. This alternative conceptualized US 101E and the US 99W/US 99E split from Stockton-Manteca. The truncation of US 48, creation of US 101E and creation of the US 99W/US 99E Stockton-Manteca split was approved in April of 1929 by the AASHO Executive Committee.
The November 1929 California Highways & Public Works notes a contract to construct two bridges over French Camp Slough as part of the new right of way of McKinley Avenue/US 99W/LRN 5 had been awarded.
The 1930 Division of Highways Map City Insert displays the US 99W/US 99E split in Stockton. US 99/LRN 4 is seen entering Stockton southbound via Wilson Way. At the intersection of Wilson Way and Charter Way US 99E/LRN 4 split towards Manteca via Charter Way eastbound and Mariposa Road southbound. US 99W/LRN 5 split towards French Camp via Charter Way westbound and McKinley Avenue (now El Dorado Street) southbound.
During June of 1931 the Division of Highways made a request to the AASHO to extend US 50 from Stockton to Oakland. The AASHO approved US 50 to subsume all of remaining US 48 shortly after the Division of Highways request was made. The extension of US 50 aligned it through Stockton via Wilson Way on a multiplex of US 99 /LRN 4 and onward towards French Camp via what had been US 99W/LRN 5. US 99 south of Wilson Way subsequently reverted to a single mainline route to following what had been US 99E/LRN 4 via Mariposa Road and Hogan Road.
In the August 1934 California Highways & Public Works the Sign State Routes were announced. California State Route 4 ("CA 4") was announced as the highway originating at US 40 and terminating at CA 89 near Ebbetts Pass. CA 4 eastbound originally entered Stockton via LRN 75 on Garwood Ferry Road. CA 4 eastbound multiplexed US 50/LRN 5 on Charter Way from McKinley Avenue east to Wilson Way. From Wilson Way CA 4 eastbound multiplexed US 99/LRN 4 on Mariposa Road and split away at Farmington Road/LRN 75.
The October 1935 California Highways & Public Works lists US 50/LRN 5 on Charter Way as a recommended location for a subway beneath the Southern Pacific Railroad to be constructed.
The December 1935 California Highways & Public Works announced $400,000 dollars in Federal WPA funds being dedicated as part of the project to construct the Charter Way Subway on US 50/LRN 5. A drawing of the planned Charter Way Subway is depicted along with numerous details about the project.
The 1936-37 Division of Highways Map City Insert is the first to show US 99 and US 50 as they were aligned through Stockton.
The February 1937 California Highways & Public Works announced Central California Traction Company was removing it's line from US 99/US 50 on Wilson Way.
The May 1937 California Highways & Public Works announced the opening of the Charter Way Subway on US 50/LRN 5. An opening ceremony dedicating the Charter Way Subway was held on May 8th, 1937. Previous to the opening of the Charter Way Subway US 50/LRN 5 had crossed eight sets of railroad tracks. A similar subway structure on US 99/US 50 on Wilson Way is stated to be going up for bid during May 1937.
The February 1938 California Highways & Public Works announced $833,000 dollars had been earmarked for construction of four railroad subways. The Wilson Way Subway under the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad on US 99/US 50 in Stockton is listed as one of the four projects.
The March 1938 California Highways & Public Works announced the opening of the Wilson Way Subway. The Wilson Way Subway was formally dedicated in an opening ceremony hosted by Governor Frank Merriam held on February 19th, 1938.
The 1938 Division of Highways Map City Insert is the first to show the Sign State Routes in Stockton in relation to US 99 and US 50 in detail. CA 4 is shown following the alignment described above and CA 8/LRN 5 is shown terminating at US 99/US 50 at the intersection of Wilson Way and Linden Road. US 99/US 50 on Wilson Way is shown intersecting LRN 97 at Cherokee Lane.
The November/December 1946 California Highways & Public Works cites an ongoing project to convert 8.2 miles of US 99/US 50/LRN 4 between Stockton and Lodi as a limited access four lane freeway (which was in reality more in line with modern surface expressway standards). The freeway project is cited to originate at the Calaveras River four miles north of Stockton at the end of Wilson Way and included construction of two new concrete surfaced travel lanes.
The Stockton-Lodi Freeway is cited as being completed in the July/August 1947 California Highways & Public Works. The Stockton-Lodi Freeway is cited to be a feature of the upcoming 1947 California State Fair. The article cites plans to convert US 99/LRN 4 to freeway from the Calaveras River south to Mariposa Road via a bypass of Stockton.
The November/December 1947 California Highways & Public Works features a photo of the Stockton-Lodi Freeway segment of US 99/US 50/LRN 4.
The January/February 1948 California Highways & Public Works announced contracts to build a 6.3 mile new limited access alignment of US 99/LRN 4 from the Calaveras River south to Mariposa Road had been awarded.
The September/October 1948 California Highways & Public Works features a sketch of the Stockton Bypass project.
The March/April 1950 California Highways & Public Works illustrates the nearly complete Stockton Bypass. The Stockton Bypass is cited to have a planned opening during June of 1950 and would save through traffic 1.57 miles of travel.
The July/August 1957 California Highways & Public Works details the planned freeway upgrade to US 50/LRN 5 from the San Joaquin River north to Richards Avenue in French Camp. This upgrade included an interim improvement which would expand US 50/LRN 5 to four lanes from French Camp to Charter Way in Stockton.
The May/June 1958 California Highways & Public Works announced the US 99/LRN 4 Stockton Bypass had been picked up for full freeway conversion as part of a 1958 Federal Act Project. The project originated 0.2 miles south of Mariposa Road northward to Farmington Road and would include three interchange structures.
The July/August 1959 California Highways & Public Works notes US 50/LRN 5 had been expanded to an interim four lanes from French Camp north to Charter Way in Stockton during 1958.
The same article notes US 99/LRN 4 on the Stockton Bypass between Mariposa Road and Farmington Road was planned to be completed to full freeway standards by August 1959.
The 1959 Division of Highways Map City Insert shows US 50/LRN 5 was split into one-way couplets immediately south of Charter Way. Eastbound US 50 reached Charter Way via El Dorado Street (formally McKinley Avenue) whereas westbound US 50 departed via Center Street.
The September/October 1960 California Highways & Public Works announced the adoption of the planned alignment of Interstate 5 ("I-5") on the West Side Freeway. The adopted portion of the West Side Freeway extended 256 miles north from Wheeler Ridge towards Stockton as a western bypass. The West Side Freeway functionally was intended to replace US 50 from the outskirts of Tracy towards Stockton and supplement US 99 north of Wheeler Ridge. The West Side Freeway alignment north of Stockton to Sacramento is shown to be under study.
The November/December 1960 California Highways & Public Works announced another portion of the Stockton Bypass was slated for full freeway conversion.
The January/February 1961 California Highways & Public Works announced the completion of the Harding Way underpass on the Stockton Bypass. The Harding Way underpass was fully completed by August 25th, 1960 and provided a grade separation for US 99/US 50 under the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The November/December 1962 California Highways & Public Works announced the budgeted (for the 1962-63 Fiscal Year) 6.7 mile freeway conversion of US 99/US 50/LRN 4 from the Calaveras River north of Stockton to Lodi.
The Calaveras River-Lodi freeway segment of US 99/US 50/LRN 4 is cited in the November/December 1963 California Highways & Public Works as being completed during November 1963 alongside the Lodi Bypass Freeway.
The January/February 1965 California Highways & Public Works discusses the ongoing progress towards completing US 99 to full freeway standards in San Joaquin County. Only two miles of US 99/US 50 in Stockton are cited as still being at expressway standards within the Stockton Bypass. These expressway segments of the Stockton Bypass are shown to be near Washington Avenue and Section Avenue. The article references the upcoming conversion of the remaining Stockton Bypass segments of US 99/US 50 to freeway standards in the near future.
The 1964 California State Highway Renumbering saw numerous US Routes eliminated to avoid numbering duplications of Interstates and long multiplexes. Given a large portion of US 99 was slated to be replaced with Interstate 5 it also was targeted for removal from California. The AASHO Renumbering database shows that US 99 was approved to be truncated out of California by the AASHO Executive Committee on June 29th, 1965. This measure was put Stockton on what is now California State Route 99 which would have become effective on New Years Day 1966.
The California Highways & Public Works publication ended in 1967 which makes tracing the exact date of the final freeway conversion of the Stockton Bypass difficult. The 1967 Division of Highways Map shows US 50 and CA 99 multiplexing on the the fully freeway grade Stockton Bypass south from Lodi towards Charter Way. US 50 and CA 4 are shown multiplexing west on Charter Way towards El Dorado Street/Center Street.
Pertaining to the truncation of US 50; on April 13th, 1963 the Division of Highways petitioned the AASHO to scale the highway back from San Francisco to Sacramento due to it being multiplexed by numerous Interstate highways. The AASHO Executive Committee approved the truncation of US 50 to Sacramento during June of 1963 but it remained field signed into the early 1970s to San Francisco. US 50 was likely field signed to San Francisco due to the I-5/West Side Freeway segment not yet being completed.
According to CAhighways.org the West Side Freeway segment of I-5 was completed to Sacramento by 1975. USends.com notes that field signage of US 50 was scaled back from San Francisco to Sacramento likely by 1972. I-5 shows completed on the 1975 Caltrans State Highway Map City Insert with CA 4 being the stand alone route signed on Charter Way in Stockton. El Dorado Street south of Charter Way is shown to be relinquished from the State Highway System. Charter Way would remain part of CA 4 into the early 1990s when it was finally relinquished due to the Crosstown Freeway being completed between CA 99 and I-5.
Part 2; a drive on former US Route 99 and US Route 50 in Stockton
From current CA 99 northbound former US 99 can be accessed via Exit 252A onto Mariposa Road. Notably the current CA 99 freeway is aligned over what had been Hogan Road.
Former US 99 on Mariposa Road turns northwest and ends at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (formerly Charter Way). Prior to the opening of the Stockton Bypass in 1950 former US 99 on Mariposa Road would have multiplexed CA 4.
Former US 99/US 50 northbound on Wilson Way intersects CA 4 and the Crosstown Freeway at Lafayette Street.
Former US 99/US 50 on Wilson Way continues northbound and intersects former CA 8 at Fremont Street (formerly Linden Road).
Former US 99/US 50 continues north on Wilson Way where it intersects Waterloo Road. Waterloo Road is where US 99 would have originally split towards Cherokee Road. Prior to the Stockton Bypass opening in 1950 US 99/US 50 would have intersected CA 88 at Waterloo Road.
North of Harding Way former US 99/US 50 begins to curve northeast towards Stockton Diverting Canal.
Former US 99/US 50 northbound on Wilson Way clambers over Stockton Diverting Canal.
Former US 99/US 50 on Wilson Way continues northward and merges in with the CA 99 freeway near the Calaveras River.
Further Reading
Continuing north on US Route 99 through Lodi, Galt and Elk Grove?
Continuing south on the original alignment of US Route 99 through French Camp to Mantaca?
Continuing south via the East/West split on US Route 99 towards Modesta via Manteca?
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