California 149

California 149 is a short, four-lane expressway route between California 70 and California 99 in the northern Central Valley. It does not serve any cities directly, but it provides a connection between Oroville and Chico via California 70 and California 99, respectively. It was upgraded to four-lane expressway standards with freeway connectors at either end in late 2008.

California 149 was originally routed along Openshaw Road, which is the northeastern frontage road that parallels modern California 149. Originally, California 149 was called the Oroville-Chico Highway (also known as the Oro-Chico Highway) that also followed the alignment of Table Mountain Boulevard (Old California 70) to the south. An aerial image of the area show that the Wicks Corner Interchange obliterated the 1964 intersection between California 149 and California 70. Look to the east of the 2008 interchange to see an old right of way for the original connection between Oro-Chico Highway and Table Mountain Boulevard.

The Openshaw Road alignment of California 149 was bypassed in 1975 onto its current, two-lane alignment. Around the same time, California 99 was widened from two to four lanes from the California 149 intersection to north of Durham-Dayton Highway (today's Exit 376). This included construction of the Durham interchange. Exit signage for that interchange has changed over the years. Originally, it was signed as "Pentz Road - Durham" (from the 1970s to the 1990s), then it was signed as "Butte College - Durham" and other short lived variations (from the 1990s until 2008). In 2008, with the construction of the California 99 and California 149 interchange, Exit 376 was signed simply as "Durham."

Prior to the 1950s, there was no highway going south from the California 99-149 junction, since Old U.S. 99E was aligned on the Midway to the west. Midway is Old U.S. 99E from Richvale north through Durham to Chico.

All of California 149 was upgraded to four-lane expressway standards with freeway connectors at either end in late 2008. The 1975 alignment is now under the northbound lanes on the northwest portion starting east of the Shippee Road intersection. The remaining portion of the 1975 alignment is under the southbound lanes.

Thanks to Dominic Ielati for assistance with pictures and insight on this short yet very important state route in Northern California.

California 149 north
Prior to the completion of the Wicks Corner Interchange project in 2008, California 149 was a two-lane highway with one lane in each direction. An at-grade intersection connected California 70 with California 149. This two-lane segment was upgraded to four lanes in late 2008. Photo taken 01/15/06.
For the first half of the state route, the new configuration converted the original, two-lane highway into the southbound lanes for California 149, and new lanes were constructed for northbound traffic. This means that the original 1975 alignment is now under the southbound lanes. This will remain the case for the rest of the southeastern portion (between the southern terminus northwest to a point just east of the Shippee Road intersection). The remaining portion of the 1975 alignment (from near the Shippee Road intersection northwest to California 99) is under the northbound lanes. Photo taken 05/24/08.
Leaving the Wicks Corner Interchange, this California 149 north reassurance shield is posted as the four-lane expressway proceeds northwest between California 70 and California 99. California 149 essentially functions as a freeway, with the exception of one at-grade intersection. Photos taken 11/08/08 by Dominic Ielati and 01/15/06.
California 149 passes under a one-lane bridge that connects to Openshaw Road, the frontage road that is the original alignment of California 149. (This configuration, which shows the southbound lanes still under construction, has since been upgraded to four lanes on two separate carriageways.) Photo taken 05/24/08.
Under the old configuration, two-lane California 149 passed through rural, agricultural land. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Under the new configuration, four-lane California 149 has an expressway segment with only one at-grade intersection (hence the "end freeway 1/2 MILE" sign posted here). The 500kV Pacific Gas & Electric power lines, which span most of the state of California, will pass over California 149 ahead near the intersection with Openshaw Road and Shippee Road (which is approximately one-half mile ahead). Photo taken 05/24/08.
An end freeway sign is posted just before the intersection with Openshaw Road and Shippee Road (for local and ranch access as well as a visit to see the old alignment on Openshaw Road). Around this point is where the northbound lanes shift from the new alignment over to the old, 1975 alignment. Photo taken 05/24/08.

Northbound California 149 meets Openshaw Road and Shippee Road. This is the only intersection along California 149 between the two endpoint interchanges. The location of this intersection was moved as a result of the expressway widening project in 2008. The old intersection was further north than the current location; you can confirm this by noting the location of the 500kV power lines and the communications antennae. Photos taken 05/24/08 and 01/15/06.
This view shows California 149 north after the intersection with Openshaw Road and Shippee Road. Again notice how this intersection was relocated based on the location of the power lines. One of the 500kV towers had to be demolished and replaced as a result of the expressway expansion. Photos taken 05/24/08 and 01/15/06.
As noted earlier, the eastern tower of the 500kV power lines had to be removed and relocated in order to accommodate the wider expressway. These major lines extend south to the Table Mountain substation, where electricity generated at Oroville Dam joins the statewide electrical grid. To the north, they lead to the Round Mountain substation east of Redding and Malin substation in Oregon. Photos taken 05/24/08.
The final interchange along California 149 north is Exits 5A-B, California 99 north to Chico and Red Bluff and south to Gridley and Yuba City (one mile). This sign was added when the state route was widened to expressway standards. Photo taken 05/24/08.
California 149 crosses over Clear Creek as the highway passes under the 500kV power lines on a 1975 bridge. The southbound lanes are on a new bridge, built in 2008. Photos taken 05/24/08 and 01/15/06.
The 500kV power lines cruise toward the north, en route to various hydroelectric and other power generating facilities in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West (via a 500kV line that leads east into Idaho). These lines include Path 15, a very busy power corridor that extends through Central California to connect power grids in the northern and southern parts of the state. Photos taken 05/24/08 and 01/15/06.
Looking south, these 500kV power lines will travel together to the Table Mountain substation, then proceed south until separating at Sutter Buttes. One line will travel southwest toward the Vaca-Dixon substation off Interstate 80, then proceed south to the Tesla substation. The other will skirt Sacramento and Davis, connecting to the grid again at the Tracy and Tesla substations. South of Tesla substation, the 500kV power lines will continue along Path 15 to the Los Banos, Gates, and Midway substations. Photo taken 05/24/08.
California 149 finishes as a freeway as it approaches the California 99 interchange. Stay left for Exit 5A, California 99 south to Yuba City, or stay left for Exit 5B, California 99 north to Chico and Red Bluff. Photos taken 05/24/08.
Northbound California 149 reaches Exit 5A, California 99 south to Yuba City. The left two lanes will default onto Exit 5B, California 99 north to Chico and Red Bluff. Photos taken 05/24/08.
This series of pictures follows the transition ramp from northbound California 149 to California 99 south to Yuba City (Exit 5A). This high, sweeping ramp provides a high-speed, seamless connection between the two routes. Photos taken 05/24/08.
The sweeping ramp from California 149 north to California 99 south eventually merges together, now traveling south toward Gridley and Yuba City. Photos taken 05/24/08.
Back on the mainline, traffic from California 99 north merges with California 149 from the right, giving the impression that California 149 is the superior route. Photo taken 11/08/08 by Dominic Ielati.
California 149 north: Old Configuration of Intersection with California 99
This brief series of pictures shows how California 149 used to end at California 99 before the freeway interchange was constructed and opened to traffic in 2008. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Turn left for California 99 south to Gridley and Yuba City, or turn right for California 99 north to Chico and Red Bluff. California 149 will end at this interchange (formerly an intersection). Photo taken 01/15/06.
At the end (prior to construction of the new freeway interchange), northbound California 149 splits into two ramps, one for northbound California 99 and the other for southbound. There is a ramp for a direct transition from northbound California 149 to northbound California 99, while a left turn is required for connecting from northbound California 149 onto southbound California 99. Photo taken 01/15/06.
An end shield was posted on northbound California 149 on the transition ramp from northbound California 149 onto northbound California 99. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Traffic from California 149 north used to merge onto California 99 north from the right. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 149 south
Separating from southbound California 99, two lanes carry California 149 southeast toward Oroville. The highway will carry a freeway configuration except for an at-grade intersection with Openshaw Road and Shippee Road. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
Southbound California 149 passes under the transition ramp from California 149 north to California 99 south. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
The lanes of southbound California 149 merge with the transition ramp from California 99 north to California 149 south. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
A California 149 south reassurance shield is posted shortly thereafter. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
This mileage sign along California 149 south provides the distance to Oroville (ten miles) and Marysville (37 miles). Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
Looking back to 2003 before the expressway was completed, California 149 passed under the Pacific Gas & Electric 500kV power transmission facilities as seen on this picture along southbound. The power tower on the left was dismantled and replaced to make way for the southbound lanes when the expressway was built in 2008. Photo taken 01/20/03.
Returning to the expressway configuration, southbound California 149 meets Openshaw Road and Shippee Road at this at-grade intersection. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
A California 149 south reassurance shield is posted after the Openshaw Road and Shippee Road intersection. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
Southbound California 149 next approaches Exits 1B-A, California 70 east to Quincy and California 191 and south to Oroville and Marysville. This is the Wicks Corner Interchange, built in 2008 (replacing an at-grade intersection). Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
California 149 passes under Openshaw Road. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 1B, California 70 east to Quincy and California 191 north to Paradise. The left two lanes will default onto California 70 south to Oroville via Exit 1A. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
Southbound California 149 meets Exit 1B, California 70 east to Quincy and California 191 north to Paradise. The left two lanes default onto California 70 south to Oroville via Exit 1A. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
California 149 reaches its southern terminus at the California 70/Wicks Corner Interchange. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
Southbound California 149 passes under the transition ramp from California 70 west to California 70 south. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
Traffic from California 70 west merges with California 149 south; together they form California 70 south en route to Oroville. Photo taken by Dominic Ielati (01/03/09).
California 149 south: Old Configuration of Intersection with California 70
Under the old configuration, southbound California 149 used to meet California 70 at an at-grade intersection northwest of Oroville. This has since been replaced with the Wicks Corner Interchange. Photo taken 01/20/03.
At its junction with California 70, southbound California 149 comes to an end. California 70 leads south to Oroville and Marysville. This intersection has since been upgraded to a full freeway interchange. Photo taken 01/20/03.
The transition from southbound California 149 onto southbound California 149 is as smooth as the transition from northbound California 149 onto northbound California 99. Note the use of freeway entrance signs; California 70 is a freeway from this point south to Oroville. Photo taken 01/20/03.
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Page Updated January 9, 2012.

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