When US Route 40 was commissioned in November 1926 the highway did not have an available bridge to cross the Carquinez Strait. The early alignment followed the Martinez-Benicia Ferry from 5th Street in Benicia across the strait to Martinez. West from Martinez the corridor of US Route 40 followed what is now Carquinez Scenic Drive west towards Crockett. By June 1931 the alignment of US Route 40 would be shifted west to the Carquinez Bridge in anticipation of the American Canyon Route being completed. The Martinez-Benicia Ferry would be repurposed as part of California State Route 21 between 1935-1938. Carquinez Scenic Drive would remain as part of Legislative Route Number 14 until it was truncated to Crockett in 1953. Much of Carquinez Scenic Drive fell into a state of disrepair and has been repurposed as part of the George Miller Trail. The state would assume control of Martinez-Benicia Ferry operations also in 1953. Service co...
Because every road has a story.