California State Route 201

The second route I photo clinched on Monday was CA 201 from CA 245 west to CA 99. CA 201 is a 25 mile route which traverses much of central Tulare County and a small part of Fresno County. CA 201 is almost a two-lane roadway aside from a small part in Kingsburg. CA 201 westbound begins in a place known as Elderwood and is somewhat hilly being in the Sierra Foothills for the first couple miles.

CA 201 crosses the Kern-Friant Canal entering San Joaquin Valley.

In Yettem CA 201 junctions with the northern segment of the unsigned County Route J23 at Road 156.

West of Yettem CA 201 turns north and multiplexes CA 63 for two miles before cutting west towards Kingsburg.

The entire 16 miles of CA 201 west of CA 63 are a straight shot towards CA 99.

CA 201 has two major junctions before Kingsburg with County Route J19 on Road 80/Alta Avenue and County Route J31 at Road 56. I want to say J19 is still signed in Fresno County but it doesn't appear that J31 is signed at all.

Slightly before the Fresno County Line CA 201 crosses the Kings River. The Fresno County Line and city limit of Kingsburg are about a mile westward.

Just prior to CA 99 is Simpson Street along the railroad tracks which would have been US 99.

CA 201 ends at CA 99 and actually has appropriate "end" signage.

Prior to 1964 all of what is now CA 201 was part of LRN 131 west of Woodlake. The alignment of CA 201 is almost identical to LRN 131 which can be seen on the 1935 Tulare County Highway Map. CA 201 appears to have remained unsigned until 1969.

1935 Tulare County Highway Map

1964 State Highway Map

1969 State Highway Map

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Paper Highways; California State Route 1 through the Lost Coast

For all the accolades and praise that California State Route 1 gets for being a top notch coastal highway one fact tends to get overlooked; the highway was never finished! In this edition of Paper Highways we look at the failed path of California State Route 1 through the Lost Coast.

Part 1; the history of Legislative Route 56 and California Route 1 through the Lost Coast

The Lost Coast region consists of the undeveloped coastal areas of Humboldt County, Mendocino County, and the King Range. The Lost Coast region roughly spans from near Rockport in Mendocino County north to Ferndale of Humboldt County. The Lost Coast region is known for having rugged terrain which rivals what is seen in Big Sur. The Lost Coast has several small communities such as; Shelter Cove, Whitehorn, and Petrolia.

In 1933 Legislative Route 56 was extended south to LRN 2 (US 101) near Las Cruces and north to Ferndale to LRN 1 (also US 101). Prior to 1933 the legislative description of LRN 56 had it's nort…

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The early originally planned alignment of US Route 99 in Visalia

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