Skip to main content

Interstate 505; a trace of Interstate 5W

By
While on a recent Bay Area trip I primarily focused on routes I hadn't previously taken or didn't really research much in the past.  One such route was Interstate 505 which as originally conceived was meant to be part of Interstate 5W.


I-505 is a fairly unassuming 33 mile three digit Interstate connecting I-80 near Vacaville in Solano County north to I-5 near Dunnigan in Yolo County.  I-505's most significant claim to fame was that it was approved to be part of I-5W.

The entire route of I-505W was part of Legislative Route Number 90 before the 1964 State Highway renumbering.   LRN 90 was approved by the State Legislature in 1933 according to CAhighways.org.

CAhighways.org on LRN 90

LRN 90 was not a signed highway before the 1964 State Highway renumbering.  The alignment of LRN 90 was far from the straight north/south shot that I-505 is today.  The route of LRN 90 between US 40 near Vacaville and US 99W near Zamora/Dunnigan can be seen on the 1938 State Highway Map.

1938 State Highway Map

The 1935 California Division of Highways Maps of Solano County and Yolo County provided more in depth detail on the original alignment of LRN 90.

1935 Solano County Highway Map

1935 Yolo County Highway Map

By 1946 LRN 90 was straightened to reach US 99W closer to Dunnigan at it's north terminus.

1946 State Highway Map

LRN 90 became far more important during the first proposed Interstate Highway System in 1947.  LRN 90 was selected to become part of I-5W but the 1947 Interstate plans didn't come to fruition.  The next stage in progress regarding LRN 90 came by 1948 when the southern segment connecting to US 40 was straightened.

1948 State Highway Map

The present Interstate Highway system was approved by 1958.  I-5 was run through Central California with the I-5E spur following the corridor of US 99 and I-5W following the corridor below:

-  Modern CA 132 west to I-580.
-  Modern I-580 west to I-80.
-  Modern I-80 east to I-505.
-  Modern I-505 to I-505.

Segments of what is now I-580 were actually signed in field along US 50 as I-5W.  Interestingly what ultimately killed I-5W and I-5E was the 1964 California State Highway Renumbering.  The 1964 Renumbering had several major aims but two of the larger goals were to eliminate long multiplexes and suffixed routes.  LRN 505 appears on the 1964 State Highway Map on what was LRN 90.

1964 State Highway Map

CAhighways has more substantial background on I-5W which can be found below.

CAhighways.org on I-5 and I-5W

According to CAhighways.org I-505 had a temporary signed routing on the path of LRN 90 before 1972.  The entirety of I-505 was completed to freeway standards by 1977.

I-505 can be seen partially complete on the 1975 State Highway Map.  Only the segment of I-505 north from I-80 to CA 128 in Winters was built to full freeway standards. 

1975 State Highway Map 

By the 1977 State Highway Map I-505 is shown completed to freeway standards north to Madison.

1977 State Highway Map

On the 1981 State Highway Map the full route of I-505 is shown at freeway standards.

1981 State Highway Map

With all the above in mind my drive on I-505 wasn't a full one but rather only to CA 128 northbound from I-80 west.   I-505 has a somewhat bland looking junction from I-80.



I-505 is a fairly fast stretch of freeway which opens up immediately to 70 MPH.


Winters is signed as 11 miles to the north on I-505.


North of Putah Creek Road I-505 enters Yolo County.  CA 128/Signed County Route E6 is located off Exit 11 in Winters.






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 1915-era Teilman Bridge (the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge in California)

By
The Teilman Bridge is a semi-abandoned structure over Fresno Slough west of Burrell siding near the intersection of Elkhorn Avenue and Elkhorn Grade.  This structure is the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge constructed in California and was designed by Ingvart Teilman.  Teilman's Bridge would open in late 1915 when the Elkhorn Grade was the primary road between Fresno and Coalinga.  The structure would be replaced in 1991 but was left standing as it carries pipelines over Fresno Slough.  Part 1; the history of the Teilman Bridge In the early Twentieth Century the most direct highway between Fresno and Coalinga followed the Elkhorn Grade.  The Elkhorn Grade began at Fresno Slough a short distance west of Burrell siding.  From Fresno Slough the Elkhorn Grade followed a generally southwestern course through San Joaquin Valley into the Kettleman Hills towards Coalinga.   The Elkhorn Grade can be seen on the  1914 C.F. Weber map of Fresno Coun...
1 comment
Read more

The Dummy Lights of New York

By
  A relic of the early days of motoring, dummy lights were traffic lights  that  were  placed  in the middle of a street intersection. In those early days, traffic shuffled through busy intersections with the help of a police officer who stood on top of a pedestal. As technology improved and electric traffic signals became commonplace, they were also  originally  positioned on a platform at the center of the intersection. Those traffic signals became known as  " dummy lights "  and were common until  traffic lights were moved  onto wires and poles that crossed above the intersection.  In New York State, only a handful of these dummy lights exist. The dummy lights  are found  in the Hudson Valley towns of Beacon and Croton-on-Hudson, plus there is an ongoing tug of war in Canajoharie in the Mohawk Valley, where their dummy light has been knocked down and replaced a few times. The dummy light in Canajoharie is currently...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prunedale Road (Monterey County)

By
Prunedale Road is a short 2.6-mile-long frontage corridor of US Route 101 in the namesake Monterey County community of Prunedale.  Prior to 1932 US Route 101 bypassed Prunedale in favor of the San Juan Grade to the east.  Prunedale Road along with nearby Moro Road served as an alternative connecting highway between Salinas and San Juan Bautista.  Following the realignment of US Route 101 onto the Prunedale Cutoff the former through route along Prunedale Road would be rendered as a western frontage.   Part 1; the history of Prunedale Road Prunedale Road is located in and is named after the Monterey County community of Prunedale.  Said community was founded near the junction of San Migeul Canyon, Langley Canyon and Echo Valley.  Watsonville settler Charles Langley (namesake of Langley Canyon) was one of the prominent early community settlers.  The Prunedale Post Office would open for the first time in 1894 but would close by 1908.  Early agricu...
Post a Comment
Read more