Historical Tour of US 99 – The Golden State Highway
Introduction
US 99 was one of major N-S highways in the US highway system. It went from Canada at Blaine, Washington to Mexico at Calexico, California, in the Imperial Valley. From Sacramento to Los Angeles, it was known as State Legislative Route 4. This was how the state referred to the highway and was always signed as US 99. US 99 was first commissioned as a US route in 1926. The highway still existed as a numbered route in California until the Legislative Route Renumbering on July 1, 1964. It was then that US 99 became CA 99 in the San Joaquin Valley and I-5 in Northern and Southern California. Many parts of the old highway still exist. Long sections of little used or abandoned highway exist and this tour uses all those sections.
The first route to carry US 99 shields in the Santa Clarita area was the Ridge Route. It was constructed in 1915 and was paved in 1919. The first highway to be built as US 99 was built through the mountains above Los Angeles between 1930 and 1936. That highway consisted of three lanes. It was upgraded to a four-lane expressway from 1947 to 1951. This highway was largely bypassed in the mid to late 1960′s by a more modern eight-lane I-5.
Why is it called “The Grapevine”?
I-5 is commonly referred to as “The Grapevine” by locals and traffic reporters. Most assume the name derives from the twisty nature of the original roadway – the Ridge Route. That road was indeed very twisty, much like a grapevine. However, that is still not the reason. The name Grapevine actually comes from Grapevine Canyon, where old US 99 and I-5 come down from the mountains and into the San Joaquin Valley. The canyon is called such as wild grapes grow along the canyon walls. It was formerly known as Canada De Las Uvas which is Spanish for Canyon of the Grapes. The name Tejon Pass is also a “new” addition to the area. The current Tejon Pass was known as Grapevine Pass or Badger Pass until the 1850′s. Old Tejon Pass, much farther to the east, was a very treacherous route. That pass was eventually abandoned in favor of the current Tejon Pass. The name was just shifted to the new route.
After the 1933 bypass of the original road to as late as the 1970′s, the roadway over the mountains was still referred to as “The Ridge Route”. It wasn’t until the 1980′s that the name “The Grapevine” was extended to the entire roadway. So, if you want to call it proper – call it Tejon Pass. While you’re passing through Grapevine Canyon, be sure to spot the wild grapevines that still grow in the canyon.
Page note – Address has changed to http://www.scvresources.com/highways/us_99/
Please make a note of it.
Tour Extension to central Los Angeles is coming soon!
Routing of the highway through California
US 99 ran down the heart of California. It entered the state from Oregon near Siskyou Summit and left the state (and country) at Calexico. In between, it ran on the following course :
Yreka, Weed, Mt. Shasta City, Dunsmuir, Redding, Red Bluff
At Red Bluff, US 99 split into US 99E and US 99W.
- US 99E’s route (Following current CA 99, CA 65):
- Los Molinos, Chico, Yuba City, Marysville, Lincoln, Roseville, Sacramento
- US 99W’s route (Following current I-5, CA 113, I-80):
- Corning, Maxwell, Arbuckle, Woodland, Davis, Sacramento
The routes rejoined in downtown Sacramento. From there, US 99 followed this routing :
Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Delano, Bakersfield, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, Former US 99 leaves I-5, joins I-10, and goes through :
El Monte, Pomona, Colton, Redlands, Beaumont, Indio
In Indio, former US 99 leaves I-10 to follow CA 86 :
Valerie Jean, Oasis, Salton City, Kane Springs, Brawley, Heber, Calexico.
At Calexico, US 99 left the United States and went into Mexico.
Thus is the routing of US 99 through the State of California.
Signs along US 99
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| This sign can be found along old alignments of US 99 in the Los Angeles city limits. These signs state when the alignment was in use. Similar signs can be found along alignments of US 66. | This milepost was found near Whitaker Summit on old US 99. US 99 was gone legislatively in 1964 so I-5 took over the numbering here. That is why it shows the mileage for I-5. |
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This sign to the left was found at Calexico, CA just one block from the Mexico border. The US highway shield is a modern style and was used for a few years on US 99. |
History of the highway from Los Angeles to Bakersfield
Originally commissioned in 1926, it wouldn’t be signed in California until 1928. The first highway along the routing of what was to become US 99 was the Ridge Route. It was completed from Newhall Pass to Castaic in 1910 and over Tejon Pass in 1915. This twisty, narrow two lane road only lasted 18 years before being bypassed by US 99 in 1933.
Map of the Proposed Newhall Alternate in 1928.
In 1930, a three lane highway, the Newhall Alternate, was built through Weldon and Gavin Canyons bypassing Newhall and Saugus entirely. This new route was shorter and less steep. It also avoided the Newhall Tunnel. Early in 1931, construction began on a three lane highway over the Liebre Mountains which lie just north of Castaic. This was to bypass the treacherous curves and grades over the Ridge Route. Finally on October 29, 1933, US 99 was opened over the Liebre Mountains with three lanes. It was known as the Ridge Route Alternate. By 1936, all of the Ridge Route had been replaced over the mountains.
Traffic increased so much over the highway that in 1940 plans were made to widen the highway to four lanes. These plans were delayed until 1947 because of WWII. Below there is a list of most of the changes made to the highway. List runs from S to N. Most of this widening work was completed by 1953.
| Section: | Length: | Cost: | Date Completed: |
| Pico Road to Saugus Road | 3.3 miles | $450,000 | 4-8-1949 |
| Santa Clara River to Castaic Creek | 2.6 miles | $489,000 | 5-13-49 |
| Palominos Creek to Violin Summit | 2.6 miles | $795,000 | 6-9-48 |
| Violin Summit to Whitaker Summit | 4.4 miles | $1,392,000 | 2-24-49 |
| Whitaker Summit to Piru Creek | 3.8 miles | $1,420,000 | 10-8-48 |
| Los Alamos Creek to 2.3 miles S of SR-138 (at the Gorman Post Road / I-5 junction) | 6.7 miles | $967,000 | 12-8-49 |
In 1954, the first portion of US 99 north of Los Angeles became a freeway. It ran from the CA 7, US 6, and US 99 interchange (now I-5 / I-210) to just beyond the US 6 / US 99 junction (now CA 14 / I-5). A three level interchange was built at the US 6 / US 99 interchange. This routing is now used by the truck routes of I-5.
Slowly, section by section US 99 was being replaced by I-5. In remained a signed US route until 1967. By 1970, almost all of US 99 had been replaced by I-5 in California.
US 99 Museums and Books
I am currently working on a book on US 99. It will be a tour and history of the highway, its routing, and the history of the towns along its route. The book will cover US 99 from Los Angeles to just north of Bakersfield.
Bruce Clark’s Auto / Truck Stop and US 99 Museum in Indio, California. Definitely worth a visit.
Links to other US 99 sites:
- Historic Pacific Highway in Washington
- Ridgeroute.com
- Finding US 99 by Casey Cooper
- Bygone Byways
- Ends of US 99 and other US Highways
- Oregon Highways – OR 99
Tour is open from Sepulveda Blvd. in Sylmar to the Kern River in Bakersfield
Copyright 1995-2013 by Michael Ballard
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