Sign County Route J18 and pre-1937 Legislative Route 122

The fourth route I took this past Monday was Sign County Route J18.

Sign County Route J18 ("J18") is a 26.5 mile route spanning San Joaquin Valley from I-5 east to CA 99. From I-5 J18 starts at exit 423 along Stuhr Road.

Sturh Road looking east towards Newman across San Joaquin Valley.

J18 crosses CA 33 just north of the city limits of Newman.

East of Newman Sturh Road ends and J18 east takes a left turn on Hills Ferry Road. Hills Ferry Road quickly crosses the San Joaquin River into Merced County becoming Kelley Road.

J18 turns right on River Road over the Merced River. The 1910 Merced River Bridge is located next to the modern bridge on River Road. The 1910 bridge is heavily vandalized and obviously not very well cared for with holes in the asphalt surface.

River Road east of the Merced River is in terrible shape and can't really practically be drive at speeds higher than 45 MPH comfortably. River Road has several 90 degree turns and generally follows the path of the Merced River.

Interestingly J18 jumps onto CA 165/Lander Avenue briefly before continuing east on Westside Boulevard. This would be a rare example of a State Highway multiplexing a Sign County Route.

Westside Boulevard is flat and straight with very few indications you are still on J18 aside from this weird looking shield.

After 11 miles on Westside Boulevard J18 terminates at CA 99 near Atwater.

According to CAhighways.org J18 has been signed since 1960.

CAhighways.org on Sign County Route J18

Interestingly J18 was the precursor route to California State Route 140 west of Merced. The 1935
Division of Highways maps for Stanislaus and Merced Counties show Legislative Route 122 running from CA 33 in Newman east to US 99 in Livingston. The route of this highway is exactly the same as CR J18 aside from using Main Street north from Westside Boulevard to reach US 99 in Livingston and utilizing Hills Ferry Road to CA 33 in Newman. Legislative Route 122 was adopted during 1933 according to CAhighways.org.

1935 Division of Highways Map of Merced County

1935 Division of Highways Map Stanislaus County

Legislative Route 122 was shifted off of River Road south to a new alignment between Merced and Gustine which can be seen on the 1938 Division of Highways State Map. CA 140 can also be seen for the first time west of Merced on the 1938 Division of Highways State Map.

1938 Division of Highways State Map

Comments

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...

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...