Join the Historic Highway 99 Association of California on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6 pm for a presentation on the history of Chinese cultural history in Red Bluff, CA by Jessica Chew and learn about a recent roadway renaming in honor of that history. You can sign up using the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqdumtpjsrEtGcw9YQiyeR-mP6vgMajYeB
I will be hosting an online meeting next month to discuss Highway 99 in Southern California. It will be open to questions about the highway, its history, the Ridge Route, the Highway 99 Association of California, and depending on time – connecting highways like US 6. If you’d like to submit a question, use our contact form and we’ll do our best to answer them in the meeting. This is your chance to meet the author of this site and learn more about California’s Main Street!
The meeting will be hosted on Zoom on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Registration will be required. Use the link below to register.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvf–rqDIvEtR2MLhNCbOxaLzbHwm24vsG
After doing a bit more research and speaking with other groups, I have decided to move forward with my plan to create a new Highway 99 group. This will be a great opportunity to be more active in helping revive US 99 as well as historic businesses along the route. Some of the goals include historic route signage, events, tours, and public outreach.
I have already submitted the paperwork for incorporating the association as a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation. Once the documents are accepted and certified, I will begin the process to obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS and California FTB. This process may take a while.
A new website has also been created for the association at Historic99.Org. The site will be updated as this progresses. If you want to get involved, please head on over! Keep in mind that, until tax-exempt status is obtained, no monetary donations will be taken. In the interim, all are welcome to subscribe to the website.
This website has a lot of good photos showing various abandoned roadways, railroads, and other structures throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. It is worth a visit.
In October 2008, Lake Shasta was dropping to near historic lows. I took a trip up there to hike many of the exposed alignments. I also got out in the water in my wetsuit when I needed to. The whole trip was a lot of fun. Here are the photos from that trip.
Salt Creek Inlet and Lakehead Area:
Pit River Area:
Prior to 1964, US 101 had two routings down the Peninsula, US 101 and US 101 Bypass. US 101 followed its original path down current State 82. US 101 Bypass followed the Bayshore Freeway. This sign, since replaced, shows a US 101 shield under the 280, reflecting its earlier routing.
There is currently a wildfire in the Sacramento River Canyon between Delta, just north of Lakehead, and Dunsmuir in Shasta County. This fire has I-5 closed in both directions. The area involved, so far, includes Delta, La Moine, and Pollard Flat. So far, the fire has not reached Gibson. In addition to whatever damage the fire has done to buildings and I-5, portions of historic US 99 also run through here. Most of the sections remain as frontage roads or are completely bypassed and relegated to return to nature.
It will be some time before I am able to survey the damage, so if anyone in the area can help assess damage specific to old US 99 regarding wooden railing, bridges, and other roadway appurtenances, your help will be greatly appreciated.
Additionally, as the freeway is closed, detours are limited. For most traffic, use State 44 to State 89 NB and the reverse SB.
More information regarding the fire:
