California 86 North - Heber to Imperial

California 86 follows an expressway alignment between the outskirts of El Centro and Brawley, cutting through the city of Imperial along the way. The expressway culminates at the Brawley city limits, where the state route follows city streets before emerging northwest of the city. Photo taken 05/07/06.

California 86 north
Northbound California 86 (Fourth Street) approaches Interstate 8 in El Centro. Turn right for Interstate 8 east to Yuma, Phoenix, and Tucson. Continue ahead under the bridge to connect to Interstate 8 west to San Diego. Photo taken 04/20/13.
A freeway entrance shield assembly for Interstate 8 is posted from the ramp connecting California 86 (Fourth Street) north to Interstate 8 east. Photo taken 04/20/13.
After the ramp to eastbound Interstate 8, northbound California 86 next approaches the left turn to westbound Interstate 8 to San Diego. This sign was removed between 2006 and 2012. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Business Loop I-8 west & California 86 north
Northbound California 86 and westbound Business Loop I-8 are cosigned along northbound 4th Street and a portion of Adams Avenue through El Centro. Photos taken 04/01/06, 06/12/99, and 08/20/06.
With its designation as Business Loop I-8, motorist amenities abound along California 86, including fast food and motels. The business loop is not as well signed as California 86, but it is easy for motorists to trace their way into El Centro and loop back to the freeway via Imperial Avenue. Photo taken 04/01/06.
The next traffic signal along northbound California 86 and westbound Business Loop I-8 is for Aurora Drive. Photo taken 04/01/06.
The Bureau of Land Management Office for El Centro is located on California 86 and Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Ross Avenue is the next intersection along northbound California 86 and Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 04/01/06.
The El Centro Chamber of Commerce and Stark Field Park are located at the intersection of California 86 (4th Street) and Lenrey Avenue. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Billboards create a skyline above the commercial strip along northbound California 86 and Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 04/01/06.
This reassurance shield for California 86 is posted prior to the Orange Avenue intersection. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Orange Avenue is another east-west city street. Use Orange Avenue west to Central Union High School. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Another reassurance shield for California 86 is posted after the Orange Avenue. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Continuing north along 4th Street, northbound California 86 and westbound Business Loop I-8 meet Imperial County S-80 (Main Street) east to Holtville. Imperial County S-80 west merges with California 86 and Business Loop I-8 en route to downtown El Centro. Main Street is the original alignment of Historic U.S. 80. Follow Main Street west for an earlier alignment of U.S. 80; the realigned U.S. 80 follows California 86 and Imperial County S-80 on 4th Street and Adams Avenue joins California 86 and Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Business Loop I-8 west, California 86 north & Imperial County S-80 west
After the Main Street traffic signal, a reassurance shield is posted for Business Loop I-8 and California 86, but not for Imperial County S-80. Photo taken 04/01/06.
Wrapping around 4th Street and shifting onto Adams Avenue, California 86, Business Loop I-8, and Imperial County S-80 turn from north to west. After seven blocks, the routes divide. The business loop turns left at the traffic signal shown in the photo, which serves Imperial Avenue. Imperial Avenue travels south back to Interstate 8. Unlike many other off-Interstate business routes, there are restrictions that prevent most trucks from using the Imperial Avenue segment of Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 06/12/99.
Continuing east along Adams Avenue, the three routes prepare to divide: California 86, Imperial County S-80, and Business Loop I-8 go their separate ways at the next traffic signal. An advance sign advises that traffic to Interstate 8 should prepare to turn left at the traffic signal (following Imperial Avenue south back to the freeway). California 86 will turn right onto Imperial Avenue north to Imperial and Brawley, while S-80 will continue ahead on Adams Avenue (Evan Hewes Highway) toward Seeley and Plaster City. Photo taken 04/20/13.
A simpler guide sign follows to point the way to San Diego and Brawley. One could continue west on S-80 to San Diego, but the fastest and best route is to take the business loop back to Interstate 8 and use the freeway to San Diego. Photo taken 04/20/13.
A set of route markers for Interstate 8 and Business Loop I-8 is posted in the median, while another set of signs is posted on the right side of the road for California 86 and Imperial County S-80. Photo taken 04/20/13.
Meanwhile, Imperial County S-80 continues west from here along Adams Avenue, which changes back into the Evan Hewes Highway west of the city limits of El Centro. The route continues to follow Historic U.S. 80. At this same intersection, California 86 turns north along Imperial Avenue toward the cities of Imperial and Brawley. Photo taken 06/12/99.
A mileage sign is posted at the Imperial Avenue and Adams Avenue intersection for San Diego (117 miles via Business loop I-8 and Interstate 8 west), Brawley (14 miles via California 86 north), and Los Angeles (211 miles via California 86 north and Interstate 10 west). Photo taken 04/20/13.
A set of route markers for Interstate 8 and Business Loop I-8 is posted in the median, while another set of signs is posted on the right side of the road for California 86 and Imperial County S-80. Photo taken 04/20/13.
California 86 north
Leaving the intersection with Adams Avenue, northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) proceeds due north once again, this time leading through northern El Centro en route to the cities of Imperial and Brawley. The next traffic signal along California 86 north is with Euclid Avenue. Photo taken 10/14/06.
California 86 (Imperial Avenue) crosses over the Union Pacific Railroad. Photo taken 05/07/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) approaches a traffic signal with Scott Avenue. Photo taken 10/14/06.
After the Scott Avenue intersection, this mileage sign provides the distance to Imperial (three miles), Brawley (14 miles), and Los Angeles (211 miles). Photo taken 10/14/06.
The next signalized intersection along northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) is with Pico Road. A series of shopping malls and commercial enterprises lines California 86 north of downtown El Centro. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The next intersection along California 86 (Imperial Avenue) is with El Dorado Avenue. Not shown is the traffic signal with Bradshaw Road. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) meets Cruickshank Drive at this traffic signal. Photo taken 05/07/06.
California 86 (Imperial Avenue) leaves the city of El Centro and enters the city of Imperial. Sitting at an elevation of -60 feet below sea level, Imperial had a population of 14,758 as of the 2010 Census and was incorporated on July 12, 1904. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) approaches Aten Road. Turn right to follow Aten Road east to Imperial Valley College. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Soon thereafter, northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) meets Aten Road at this traffic signal. Photo taken 05/07/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) approaches Airport Road. Turn left on Airport Road to the Imperial County Airport, which is operated by the County of Imperial. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Meanwhile, on the right side of California 86 (Imperial Avenue) is Imperial Valley Expo, which is home to the California Mid-Winter Fair. Photo taken 10/14/06.
A frontage road (J Street) follows the east side of California 86 (Imperial Avenue), increasing the separation between Imperial Avenue and adjacent development. California 86 retains four lanes while passing through the city of Imperial. Downtown Imperial is just east of here, following a Historic U.S. 99 alignment via a parallel road also designated as Imperial Avenue. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The next signalized intersection along California 86 north is with Imperial County S-28/Barioni Boulevard. Turn right (east) on S-28 to the Imperial Irrigation District (IID). Photo taken 10/14/06.
An Imperial County S-28 route marker and Barioni Boulevard guide sign are posted along California 86 north. Photo taken 06/12/99.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) meets Imperial County S-28/Barioni Boulevard at this traffic signal. A California 86 reassurance shield is posted under the traffic signal. Photo taken 10/14/06.
A California 86 reassurance shield is posted on northbound Imperial Avenue after the Imperial County S-28/Barioni Boulevard intersection. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) meets 12th Street at this intersection. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The next signalized intersection along northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) is with 15th Street. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) passes by a walled-off residential subdivision and approaches Neckel Road (next right). Photo taken 10/14/06.
Another California 86 north reassurance shield is posted along northbound Imperial Avenue. Photo taken 10/14/06.
This mileage sign along northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) provides the distance to Brawley (nine miles), Indio (79 miles), and Los Angeles (207 miles). Los Angeles is likely the northbound control city on these mileage signs due to California 86's original designation of U.S. 99 and its original path that took a turn west at Indio to connect to San Bernardino, Pomona, and Los Angeles via what is now the Interstate 10 corridor. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Imperial Avenue) approaches Larsen Road. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Leaving the city of Imperial and reentering unincorporated Imperial County, northbound California 86 becomes known as the Franke A. Story Memorial Highway. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 approaches South Lydick Road (next left). The expressway feels much more open and rural now that we're north of El Centro and Imperial, but this openness will again narrow once entering Brawley north of here. Photo taken 05/07/06.
An industrial complex for Spreckels Sugar lines the east side of California 86 between Imperial and Brawley. This facility produces sugar from beets. Note the postmile indicating the state route is 15 miles north of the southern terminus and also note the "Sea Level" indicator on the silo toward the center of the complex. Photo taken 10/14/06.
The next major intersection along California 86 north is with Imperial County CR S-27 (Keystone Road). S-27 is a major east-west county route that extends from CR S-30 (Forrester Road) east to CR S-33 (Highline Road), connecting California 86, CR S-31 (Dogwood Road), California 111, and California 115 along the way. Photo taken 10/14/06.
An CR S-27 trailblazer is posted shortly thereafter for the Keystone Road intersection. Photo taken 10/14/06.
A California 86 north reassurance shield is posted after the CR S-27 (Keystone Road) intersection. Photo taken 10/14/06.
California 86 curves toward the northeast for the final distance into Brawley. A bypass was planned to connect here to allow California 86 north traffic to avoid downtown Brawley. The bypass, to be designated as California 228, would have aimed northwest from near here, linking back to California 86 (and California 78) midway between Brawley and Westmorland via a bridge over the New River. Instead of building California 228, a decision was made to construct a northern bypass of Brawley and to advise through traffic to use California 111 rather than California 86 between Calexico, El Centro, and Brawley. California 228 was eliminated as a legislative state route in 1998 and is no longer planned for construction. Photo taken 05/07/06.
Crossing over the Central Main Canal, northbound California 86 next approaches Austin Road south to the western edge of El Centro. Photo taken 05/07/06.
California 86 curves alongside the Central Main Canal. Photo taken 05/07/06.
Northbound California 86 proceeds toward Brawley. Photo taken 05/07/06.
The speed limit along California 86 north reduces to 55 miles per hour. An Imperial Irrigation District power line crosses overhead. Photo taken 05/07/06.
Approaching Downtown Brawley, Calfornia 86 is known as Brawley Avenue. Brawley had a population of 24,953 as of the 2010 Census, sits at an elevation of -113 feet below sea level, and was incorporated on April 6, 1908. California 86 has lost more elevation between Imperial and Brawley; the lowest point is the Salton Sea, which is located north of Brawley and will come into view along California 86 near Salton City. Photo taken 05/07/06.
The expressway ends as northbound California 86 (Brawley Avenue) approaches Legion Road. Photo taken 05/07/06.
Northbound California 86 (Brawley Avenue) next approaches Julia Drive. Photo taken 05/07/06.
The next left from northbound California 86 (Brawley Avenue) is with Cattle Call Drive west. Photo taken 05/07/06.
A traffic signal ahead sign is also posted along northbound California 86 (Brawley Avenue) for Malan Street east. This signal was added sometime between May and October 2006. Photo taken 10/14/06.
A California 86 trailblazer advises of another turn northeast on Brawley Avenue. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Brawley Avenue) approaches Malan Street east and Western Avenue north . Photo taken 10/14/06.
California 86 (Brawley Avenue) north meets Malan Street and Western Avenue. Photo taken 10/14/06.
This traffic signal ahead overhead sign was posted between Malan Street and K Street, but it was removed by October 2006. Photo taken 05/07/06.
A California 86 north trailblazer advises that the state route will again turn due north. The next traffic signal is with K Street and First Street. Photo taken 10/14/06.
Northbound California 86 (Brawley Avenue) meets K Street and First Street. Ahead, California 86 will shift onto First Street northbound. Photo taken 10/14/06.

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Page Updated February 13, 2013.

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