Skip to main content

Fulton Street in Fresno reconstruction project

Fulton Street was once one of the primary downtown streets in Fresno until it was sectioned off into the pedestrian Fulton Mall in 1964.  At the time US 99 would have just moved to a full freeway bypass of downtown Fresno both California State Routes 41 and 180 were realigned on more modernized surface routes.  Apparently northward growth through the city of Fresno progressed northward into the 1980s which led to a decline of the Fulton Mall.  The city of Fresno through the previous year has been gradually been reconstructing Fulton Street this past year and it is set to open completely on the 21st of October.

With all that said, I found myself with some spare time this afternoon and went to downtown Fresno to see the Fulton Street for myself.  Surprisingly much of the former pedestrian mall has already been opened to traffic.  I started my walk through the Fulton Street project at Inyo Street and made my way northward.



Fulton Street is lined with new and renovated art structures.


This view down Kern Street towards Chukchanski Park would have previously been US 99 on Broadway over half a century ago.



Personally I think the best view from Fulton Street is looking north from Kern.


More art between Kern Street and Tulare Street.

Fulton Street between Tulare and Fresno Street is still closed but the roadway is essentially close to complete.  It seems that signs still need to be hung, the pavement markings need to be placed, and a couple sewage line holes need to be filled.









Fulton north from Fresno Street to Tuolumne has been already opened to traffic.







The Fulton Street project is certainly an interesting one, I guess time will only tell if it helps revitalize downtown Fresno.  There were other curious onlookers walking Fulton but there still was a lot of vagrants and closed shops.  The Art Deco motif is kind of cool and I'm looking forward to seeing what the opening event is like on the 21st.  Below I included some links about the Fulton Street project:

Fulton Street construction time lapse

Fulton Street construction overview

Fulton Street opening timeline

Edit 3/6/19:  This past week I was testing out a new camera in my car.  That being the case I head north on Fulton Street from Ventura Avenue to Divisadero and took pictures along the way.
















Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...