California State Route 149

While traveling through Sacramento Valley earlier this month I drove the entirety of California State Route 149.

CA 149 is a short 5 mile expressway completely located within Butte County. CA 149 starts at CA 99 near Chico and travels southeast towards CA 70 near Oroville. CA 149 was part of Legislative Route Number 87 which was created by the State Legislature in 1933 according to CAhighways.org.

CAhighways.org on CA 149

A state maintained LRN 87 appears on the 1934 State Highway Map between Chico and Oroville.

1934 State Highway Map

During the 1964 State Highway Renumbering LRN 87 between Chico and Oroville (technically Wicks Corner) was assigned CA 149. CA 149 does not appear to have been signed in 1964.

1963 State Highway Map

1964 State Highway Map

CA 149 first appears on the 1969 State Highway Map as a signed route.

1969 State Highway Map

CA 149 was part of what was known as the "East Valley Corridor." The East Valley Corridor consisted of CA 99, CA 70, CA 149 and CA 149 north of Sacramento which was meant to be a full corridor alternate of I-5 consisting of freeways/expressways. Much of the East Valley Corridor was built but some notable segments like a bypass of Marysville and a segments north of Chico were never constructed to CAhighways.org.

My path on CA 149 southward towards CA 70 from CA 99 near Chico. CA 149 maintains a flat grade with a left exit at the junction with CA 99 and begins to head southeast towards the Sierra Foothills. Despite appearances in the photos CA 149 isn't a full freeway and includes several at-grade intersections.

CA 149 is signed as the "Lt. Larry Estes Deputy Bill Hunter Memorial Highway."

Oroville is signed as being 10 miles to the south along CA 149.

CA 149 ends at CA 70. The ramp for CA 70 east is signed showing the highway connects to CA 191.

The junction of CA 149 and CA 70 is signed as "Wicks Corner Interchange."

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...

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

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...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog