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County Route J17 (Stanislaus County and Merced County)

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County Route J17 is a 39.20 mile long Letter County Route serving Stanislaus County and Merced County.  The highway as presently configured begins at Interstate 5 along Sperry Avenue in Patterson.  East of Patterson the highway passes through Turlock and enters Merced County where it terminates via Turlock Road at California State Route 59 near Snelling.  County Route J17 was commissioned in 1960 following the completion of the Las Palmas Avenue Bridge over the San Joaquin River. 

The below maps of County Route J17 were prepared by the cahighways.org website.  




Part 1; the history of County Route J17

The impedes for the designation of County Route J17 was construction of the San Joaquin River Bridge east of Patterson on Las Palmas Avenue.  Said structure was built in 1959 as a replacement for an earlier span.  The 1959-era structure more directly linked Las Palmas Avenue to Main Avenue.  

The original San Joaquin River Bridge (blue pin) can be seen below on the 1941 United States Geological Survey map of Crestimba.  The earlier structure is located a short distance north of the 1959 span and the approach roadway is now Old Las Palmas Avenue.  


County Route J17 was added to the Letter County Route program in 1960.  As originally configured the highway began at the intersection of California State Route 33 and Las Palmas Avenue in Patterson of Stanislaus County.  From Patterson the highway travel east into Turlock via Main Avenue and Main Street.  In Turlock the highway followed Lander Avenue, Olive Avenue, Golden State Boulevard and East Avenue.  Departing Turlock, the highway was designated along East Avenue, Oakdale Road and Turlock Road to California State Route 59 near Snelling of Merced County.  

Following the completion of Interstate 5 in the Patterson area in the late 1960s County Route J17 would be extended west to meet it.  This extension was plotted west of California State Route 33 along Sperry Avenue to the Interstate.  As presently configured County Route J17 is 39.20 miles.  The highway can be seen below as mapped by the cahighways.org website.  




Part 2; a drive County Route J17

Eastbound County Route J17 begins in Patterson at Interstate 5 Exit 434 at Sperry Avenue. 


Eastbound County Route J17 follows Sperry Avenue to California State Route 33 in downtown Patterson.  The County Route multiplexes California State Route 33 a short distance northward before departing towards the San Joaquin River via Las Palmas Avenue. 


County Route J17 eastbound follows Main Avenue and Main Street into downtown Turlock where it intersects County Route J14 at Lander Avenue.  Both highways briefly multiplex on Lander Avenue and Olive Avenue to Golden State Boulevard (former US Route 99).  County Route J17 branches east on Golden State Boulevard and departs the city via East Avenue. 



County Route J17 follows East Avenue into Merced County and makes a right-hand turn on Oakdale Road.  


Eastbound County Route J17 briefly follows Oakdale Road to Turlock Road where it turns left. 




County Route J17 follows Turlock Road east to a terminus at California State Route 59 near Snelling.  Along Turlock Road the highway passes through the small community of Hopeton.  





















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