Legend of Symbols

Additional Information

Status

Status refers to the state of existance for that route. The route may be unconstructed (the route has not been built and there is no parallel road that has been adopted into the state highway system) or unsigned (a parallel road has been built or adopted, but there are no route shields indicating it). This section also indicates the shield that the route carries, whether it is an Interstate highway (a route that is part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways, a system of fully grade-separated superhighways created in 1956, designated by an edged shield with a blue and red chief setup) or a U.S. highway (a route that is part of the Federal Highway System, which caters important rural routes and are designated by a white-and-black badge shield). If there is no status information, then it is assumed that the route has been built and that it is signed as a California state highway, that is, with a green-on-white miner's spade shield.

History

This section reveals many historical facts about the legislative definition of the route, and covers information about past use of the respective route number. This section usually refers to changes made after the Great Renumbering of 1964. However, on occasion there will be information on designated historical routings, pre-freeway alignments, and pre-1964 U.S. Routes. This information is brought to you with kind permission from Daniel Faigin's California State Highways page.

Freeway and Expressway System

Section 250 of the California Streets and Highways Code reads:

It is hereby declared to be essential to the future development of the State of California to establish and construct a statewide system of freeways and expressways and connections thereto without regard to present jurisdiction over the highways, roads, and streets that might be included. It is the intent, further, that the California Freeway and Expressway System be completed with provision for control of access to the extent necessary to preserve the value and utility of the facilities to be constructed.

Freeway

Section 257 of the California Streets and Highways Code reads:

"For the purpose of this article only, and to distinguish between the terms 'freeway' and 'expressway,' the word 'freeway' shall mean a divided arterial highway for through traffic with full control of access and with grade separations at intersections, while the word 'expressway' shall mean an arterial highway for through traffic which may have partial control of access, but which may or may not be divided or have grade separations at intersections."

Section 23.5 of the California Streets and Highways Code reads:

"'Freeway' means a highway in respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right or easement of access to or from their abutting lands or in respect to which such owners have only limited or restricted right or easement of access. If, in the judgment of the commission or the director, the public interest would be advanced thereby, a freeway, as defined herein, may be denominated a 'controlled access highway'. In all other respects, the 'controlled access highway' shall be subject to all provisions of this code pertaining to freeways."

Scenic Highways

Section 620 of the California Streets and Highways Code reads:

It is the intent of the Legislature in designating certain portions of the state highway system as state scenic highways to establish the State's responsibility for the protection and enhancement of California's natural scenic beauty by identifying those portions of the state highway system which, together with the adjacent scenic corridors, require special scenic conservation treatment. It is further declared to be the intent of the Legislature in designating such scenic highways to assign responsibility for the development of such scenic highways and for the establishment and application of specific planning and design standards and procedures appropriate thereto and to indicate, in broad statement terms, the location and extent of routes and areas requiring continuing and careful co-ordination of planning, design, construction, and regulation of land use and development, by state and local agencies as appropriate, to protect the social and economic values provided by the State's scenic resources.

In short, scenic highways are highways that the state recognizes as beautiful.

Points of Interest

You can find some interesting spots along a particular highway here, such as county, state, national, amusement, water, and animal parks for instance. Here, you can also find other historic sights or scenic places for you to visit.

HOV Lanes

These are lanes for vehicles with 2 (or in the case of Route 10, 3) people riding inside. Buses also use these lanes. Some lanes are open during rush hours only, but the majority are open all day.

Truck Routes and Terminal Access

Here, you will find truck route classifications in California. Its purpose is to enhance communication between Caltrans, the trucking industry and local governments regarding legal truck size. Here is a glossary of designations taken from the Truck Route Classifications:

National Network: In 1982, the federal government passed the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA). This act required states to allow larger trucks on the 'National Network,' which is comprised of the Interstate system plus the non-Interstate Federal-aid Primary System. "Larger trucks" includes (1) doubles with 28.5-foot trailers, (2) singles with 48-foot semi-trailers and unlimited kingpin-to-rear axle (KPRA) distance, (3) unlimited length for both vehicle combinations, and (3) widths up to 102 inches. The National Network is primarily comprised of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, for example I-10, I-5, and I-80. STAA trucks are allowed on the National Network. The National Network is a Federal designation.

Terminal Access: In 1983, California passed Assembly Bill (AB) 866 to implement the STAA provisions. AB 866 also increased the 'California Legal' vehicle length from 60 to 65 feet and its width from 8.0 to 8.5 feet. Caltrans then evaluated State highways, and classified as 'Terminal Access' those State highways with geometric standards high enough to accommodate STAA trucks. Terminal Access is a State designation.

California Legal: These routes are State routes that allow California Legal-size trucks. STAA trucks are not allowed on these routes because of limiting geometrics, such as sharp curves and/or lack of turn-around space.

Advisory x: California law allows regulatory prohibition of a 38-foot KPRA or greater where posted in black-on-white. However, many California Legal routes cannot safely accommodate California Legal-size trucks with a KPRA less then 38 feet, due to limiting geometrics such as sharp turns and highway width. Although California Legal trucks may travel on these segments, the driver is still legally responsible for unsafe offtracking, such as crossing the centerline or driving on shoulders, curbs and sidewalks. The x next to Advisory refers to the KPRA distance of the vehicle in feet.

The KPRA advised for the route is less than 30 feet: The advisory sign in the field says "30", but the actual KPRA advised is smaller.

Restriction: Some route segments have restrictions on certain trucks or loads, such as gross weight, number of axles or hauling of flammable materials or explosives. Restrictions on federal or State routes are listed on the Caltrans Truck Route List and the California Truck Map . For vehicles complying with the restrictions (for example, vehicles not carrying explosives), the route classification, in most cases, reverts back to that of the adjacent route segments.

Route Notes and Trivia

These are important footnotes not mentioned anywhere else on the respective route page. Here, you will find information about special restrictions, certain road hazards, business routes, and traversable roads for that particular route. You can also find useless facts about the route itself that might otherwise fascinate you.

Highway Photos

To compliment my favorite hobby, I have taken photographs of certain routes and scanned them for your viewing enjoyment. If you hold the mouse point over a photograph long enough, a comment describing the scene and the location will appear.

Additional Information

Sections of the Streets and Highways Code that were once in the code but are currently non-existant, are written in italics and are followed by the year of the volume of the S&HC where the code was found.

The Big Highways Page