This is Highway 99's five lane wide section in Tulare County, in
March 1997 (headed
northbound past Goshen.)
This route is formerly US99, and also
formerly US466 between JCT 46 and 58 in Bakersfield. Interstate 5 was
built as a new route because it was cheaper to build a new freeway on
the west side of the
valley rather than convert US99 into I5. Of course, most of 99 South of
US50 is a freeway, and the remainder should be upgraded to freeway
standards (70 MPH rural speed limit) soon. There are no at grade
intersections south of Avenue 20 1/2, near Madera. The section from 120
to 152 has some intersections that look a little dicey, and some really
old stretches. There was a traffic light in Livingston on 99 until
about 1996! Governor Schwarzenegger proposed Proposition 1B around 2006
to improve much of 99, and it passed.
Unlike I5 from 99 to Sacramento, 99 has a lot of places to stop. In
fact, every ten miles or so there usually is a town, especially between
Fresno and 58. I5 on the other hand has exits with gas stations and
motels, but the only towns south of Stockton extremely close to I5 are
Kettleman City and Los Baños / Santa Nella. Also, 99 is
landscaped with oleander and a lot of Eucalyptus trees (especially in
Tulare County.)
There are some odd interchanges on 99, especially on the stretch from
120 to 152.
The present day route of 99 is not scenic by any means. It used to
extend to El Centro and the Mexican border before 1964. I guess you
would have to say 99 looks its best when it is not foggy or smoggy. On
a really clear day you do see the Sierras, especially south of Fresno.
Bakersfield is probably the least attractive sight on 99, but south of
it 99 is probably the least boring because the hills are close by, and
the smog is usually thinner down that way. Fresno can definitely have
some rush hour traffic, and you will run into heavy traffic on 99 in
the Sacramento area at rush hour.
Kern County
Tulare County
Fresno County
Madera County (includes Fairmead - Berenda construction photos from
2008)
Stanislaus County
San Joaquin County
Highway 99 Exits
![[99 North]](99_n_california_tulare_2.jpg)