Monterey and Santa Cruz County Route G12 is a 10.54-mile highway commissioned in 1965. The corridor begins at California State Route 129 in the city of Watsonville and extends south to US Route 101 in Prunedale. Portions of the County Route are comprised of repurposed surface segments of California State Route 1 in Watsonville and Legislative Route Number 22 near Prunedale.
Part 1; the history of County Route G12
The purpose of County Route G12 is to provide a direct connection between Watsonville in Santa Cruz County and US Route 101 in Prunedale of Monterey County. The highway southbound from Watsonville follows Main Street, Porter Drive, Salinas Road, Elkhorn Road, Hall Road and San Miguel Canyon Road to Prunedale.
The town site of Watsonville was laid out on the northern bank of the Pajaro River in 1852. The community's name is intended to honor one of the original founders John Watson. Watsonville would incorporate as a town during March 1868 and later as a city in 1889. Watsonville is located across the river from the Monterey County community of Pajaro. Pajaro was founded as Watsonville Junction when the Southern Pacific Railroad Coast Line was being constructed and originally obtained Postal Service in 1872.
Prunedale 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 agriculture in the area consisted of Plum Trees which failed due to a lack of irrigation.
The roads now comprising County Route G12 can be seen present on the 1917 United States Geological Survey map of San Juan Bautista.
The roads comprising County Route G12 are shown to be sparsely traveled on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Monterey County.
Upon being commissioned County Route G12 terminated at California State Route 1 near Pajaro at Salinas Road. At the time the freeway routing west of the Watsonville area was not yet complete. The May/June 1965 California Highways & Public Works featured the partially completed Watsonville Bypass. At the time of the article grading for the freeway had been completed from the Pajaro River northwest of Watsonville approximately five miles to Main Street. The article references surfacing of the new freeway corridor as being scheduled for 1966.
The Watsonville Bypass appears the new alignment of California State Route 1 on the 1969 Division of Highways map. Relocation of California State Route 1 led to County Route G12 being extended into Santa Cruz County and Watsonville via Salinas Road, Porter Drive and Main Street.
Below the present alignment of County Route G12 can be seen as mapped by cahighways.org.
Part 2; scenes along County Route G12
Within Watsonville the Santa Cruz County portion of County Route G12 begins south of California State Route 129 on Main Street. The highway crosses the Pajaro River Bridge into Monterey County and the community of Pajaro.
Pictured is eastbound California State Route 129 approaching County Route G12 at Main Street.
And westbound California State Route 129 approaching County Route G12 at Main Street.
Below County Route G12 can be seen facing south along Main Street towards the modern Pajaro River Bridge. Upon entering Pajaro the highway transitions onto Porter Drive and intersects Monterey County Route G11 at San Juan Road.
The current four lane Pajaro River Bridge was constructed in 1998. The arch concrete span which was once part of California State Route 1 had been constructed in 1915. The 1915 era structure can be seen below as it was featured in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works.
County Route G12 south through Pajaro follows the former routing of California State Route 1 along Porter Drive and Salinas Road before splitting left onto Elkhorn Road.
County Route G12 is signed as simply "County Route 12" along US Route 101 approaching Exit 337 at San Miguel Canyon Road in Prunedale.
Normal County Route G12 shields are present just off US Route 101 on San Miguel Canyon Road.
County Route G12 north of Prunedale Road to Castroville Boulevard was part of Legislative Route Number 22 from 1933 until 1944. During 1944 the modern expressway now carrying California State Route 156 from Prunedale to Castroville was constructed.
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