| California 99 south |
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Southbound California 99 meets Exit 234, Hammett Road. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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California 99 leaves the city of Ripon and enters unincorporated Salida (population 13,722 as of 2010 Census) upon crossing the San Joaquin-Stanislaus County Line. The freeway passes under Hammett Road, which travels south from this interchange to skirt the western edge of Salida. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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This California 99 south reassurance shield assembly is posted after the Hammett Road interchange. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 233, California 219 (Kiernan Avenue) east and Broadway Avenue south into Salida. For Historic U.S. 99 explorers, use Broadway Avenue south to Salida Boulevard, which is a disconnected remaining segment of the old expressway that preceded the current freeway. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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Use California 219 east to California 108 east en route to Riverbank and Oakdale. The state route is a connector between California 99 and California 108 that avoids downtown Modesto. Use Broadway Avenue southwest into Salida. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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Through traffic are encouraged to stay in the left two lanes for the next ten miles due to a number of off-ramps and on-ramps as we pass through downtown Modesto ahead. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 233, California 219 (Kiernan Avenue) east to California 108 east and Broadway Avenue west into Salida. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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California 99 is designated as the John G. Veneman Freeway as we approach the city of Modesto. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 232, Pelandale Avenue (one-half mile). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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A California 99 south shield is posted after the on-ramp from Kiernan Avenue and Broadway Avenue in Salida. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next nine exits along California 99 all serve the city of Modesto. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 232, Pelandale Avenue. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 leaves Salida and enters the city of Modesto as we pass under Pelandale Avenue. Modesto, incorporated on August 6, 1884, has a motto of "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health." This motto is inscribed on its downtown arch that spans I Street downtown near California 132 and California 99 Business (Ninth Street). Modesto had a population of 201,165 as of the 2010 Census. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 230, Beckwith Avenue and Standiford Road. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 230, Beckwith Avenue and Standiford Road. Beckwith Avenue travels west into rural agricultural lands, while Standiford Avenue travels east to meet California 108/McHenry Avenue, where it changes into Sylvan Avenue. Photos taken 05/15/11 and 06/21/09. |
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1.5 miles ahead of Exit 229 for Carpenter Road, Briggsmore Avenue and California 99 Business (North Ninth Street) on SR 99 south. Briggsmore Avenue is a major east-west arterial that cuts across northern Modesto, while Carpenter Avenue travels south into West Modesto. This sign was replaced between 2011 and 2015. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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California 99 south approaches Exit 229, Carpenter Road, Briggsmore Avenue, and California 99 Business (North Ninth Street). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 Business follows Ninth Street from Carpenter Road south to California 99 Exit 223. Historical artifacts along the route include an extant segment of expressway alignment and the Modesto Arch at I Street, but few if any old signs remain along the route. The business route is poorly signed in both directions, even along the state-maintained section of the business loop (between D Street and L Street, where it is concurrent with California 132). A bridge over the Tuolumne River was replaced in 2005 with a 2,064-foot span. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 229, Carpenter Road, Briggsmore Avenue, and California 99 Business (North Ninth Street). Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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Upon departing the freeway at Exit 229, turn left for Briggsmore Avenue or right for Carpenter Road. Use Carpenter Road south to a very quick left turn for California 99 Business (Ninth Street) southeast toward downtown Modesto. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 227, Kansas Avenue. This sign was replaced between 2011 and 2015. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 227, Kansas Avenue. The original overhead structure was replaced with reflective signs. The next exit along southbound is Exit 226B, California 108 east and California 132 east/west. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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A California 99 south reassurance shield is posted shortly after the off-ramp. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 approaches California 108 and California 132. The off-ramp connects to Fifth Street, a one-way frontage road that connects to Maze Boulevard west and L Street northeast. Here, California 108 meets its western terminus. From this interchange, California 132 travels west along Maze Boulevard. It crosses the floor of the valley and eventually connects with Interstate 5 and Interstate 580 south of Tracy. California 108 and California 132 both travel northeast along L Street into downtown Modesto. At the intersection with California 99 Business (Ninth Street), California 108 shifts onto a one-way couplet consisting of L Street and K Street, then turns due north along McHenry Avenue and then northeast toward Del Rio, Riverbank, and Oakdale and eventually Sonora. California 132, meanwhile, follows California 99 Business southeast a few blocks, then turns east again along D Street, which connects with Yosemite Boulevard. California 132 leaves town en route to Empire, Waterford, La Grange, and Coulterville. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Use California 132 east to the Modesto City-County Airport. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 226B, Fifth Street south to California 108 east and California 132. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 05/15/11. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 226A, Fifth Street south to I Street to downtown Modesto. Photo taken 03/15/15. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 226A, Fifth Street south to I Street to downtown Modesto. To the historic Modesto Arch, follow I Street east. Photo taken 03/15/15. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 225B, Tuolumne Boulevard (next right). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 225B, Tuolumne Boulevard west and B Street east. Between Tuolumne Boulevard and Crows Landing Road, California 99 will cross over the Tuolumne River. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 05/15/11. |
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A hedge of colorful oleander breaks up the monotony of the median landscape. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 225A, Crows Landing Road north to Seventh Street and south to Crows Landing. A proposed yet unconstructed extension of California 108 southwest would follow Crows Landing Road and Fink Road to meet Interstate 5; however, the county-maintained roadways have not yet been accepted into the state highway system. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 passes under Crows Landing Road and proceeds away from Modesto and toward Ceres. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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A California 99 south reassurance shield is posted shortly after the on-ramp from Crows Landing Road. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next three exits along California 99 will serve the city of Ceres: Exit 223, Hatch Road; Exit 222, Whitmore Avenue; and Exit 220, Mitchell Road. This sign was replaced between 2011 and 2015. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 is Exit 223, Hatch Road to California 99 Business (Ninth Street) north to Modesto. This sign was replaced between 2011 and 2015. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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California 99 south approaches Hatch Road to Ceres. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 223, Hatch Road to California 99 Business (Ninth Street) north. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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Upon exiting, the ramp splits between California 99 Business (Ninth Street) north (stay right) or Hatch Road (stay left). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 passes under Hatch Road. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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Southbound California 99 leaves Modesto and enters the city of Ceres, which had a population of 45,417 as of the 2010 U.S. Census and incorporated on February 25, 1918. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 222, Whitmore Avenue. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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In addition to Ceres, Whitmore Avenue travels east a few miles to serve the city of Hughson. Home to 6,640 people as of the 2010 Census, Hughson was incorporated on December 9, 1972, and its motto is "A Small Community, with a Big Heart!" Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 222, Whitmore Avenue. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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This view looks south along busy California 99 at the interchange with Whitmore Avenue. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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This mileage sign along California 99 south provides the distance to Keyes (three miles), Merced (33 miles), and Los Angeles (309 miles). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 220, Mitchell Road (one-half mile). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 220, Mitchell Road. Photo taken 03/15/15. |
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The left three lanes of California 99 continue south while the right lane departs to Exit 220. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Modesto Irrigation District power lines cross over California 99 at the Whitmore Avenue interchange. These power lines travel west to connect with Path 15 near Interstate 5 (southeast of the Howard Road interchange/Exit 441) and north to a substation located near the intersection of Briggsmore Road and Peta Way east of downtown Modesto. Modesto Irrigation District is notable for offering power and water; it was organized in July 1887. The larger power transmission lines tend to follow irrigation canals across the valley. A significant source of electrical power is from Lake Don Pedro, which is located near La Grange, a small community east of Modesto along California 132. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 218, Stanislaus County J-16 (Keyes Road). A fairly long, east-west county road, CR J-16 begins at Interstate 5 at the interchange with Howard Road and proceeds east across the valley, connecting with California 99 here at this interchange in Keyes. CR J-16 continues east along Keyes Road, leading into Snelling, Hornitos, and Bear Valley (ending at California 49). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 enters the unincorporated community of Keyes. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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To the California State University at Stanislaus, take Exit 215 and follow Monte Vista Avenue east. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 218, Stanislaus County J-16 (Keyes Road). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 217, California 99 Business (Taylor Road). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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A rest area is located six miles ahead, on the south end of Turlock. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 217, Taylor Road. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Upon departing the freeway at Exit 217, a California 99 Business trailblazer sign is posted for eastbound Taylor Road. This instance of California 99 Business follows Taylor Road east briefly to Golden State Boulevard south into the city of Turlock. The business route rejoins the freeway at Exit 209. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 enters the city of Turlock. Sitting at an elevation of just over 100 feet on the floor of the San Joaquin Valley, Turlock is the second largest city in Stanislaus County. It is home to 69,733 people as of the 2010 Census. Turlock was incorporated on February 15, 1908. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 215, Monte Vista Avenue. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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As noted earlier, use Exit 215 Monte Vista Avenue east to California State University at Stanislaus. Located in Turlock, the university was established as Stanislaus State College in 1957, located at its present site in 1965, and renamed as California State University at Stanislaus in 1986. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 215, Monte Vista Avenue. Use Monte Vista Avenue west to Tegner Road south to Atch Pedretti Park and Sports Complex and east to California State University at Stanislaus. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 214, Fulkerth Road. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 214, Fulkerth Road to Turlock. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 213, Stanislaus County J-17 (West Main Street). Use West Main Street east to downtown Turlock. Historic downtown Turlock is located just east of Lander Avenue. At the southeastern corner of the intersection of Main Street and California 99 Business (Golden State Boulevard) is a visitors information center. The center is located within Turlock Central Park. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 99 south approaches Exit 213, Stanislaus County J-17 (West Main Street). In 2009, the advance guide sign pointed the way to "Central Turlock," while the 2015 replacement stated "Downtown Turlock." This may be owing to an effort to recognize and promote Downtown Turlock. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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Stanislaus County J-17 originates to the west at Interstate 5 (Exit 434) near Patterson. The county road concludes to the east at California 59 north of Merced. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 213, Stanislaus County J-17 (West Main Street) east to downtown Turlock and west to Patterson. Photo taken 05/15/11. |
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A California 99 south reassurance shield is posted on the bridge over CR J-17 (West Main Street) in Turlock. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 211, California 165 (Lander Avenue) south to Los Banos and Stanislaus County J-14 (Lander Avenue) north to downtown Turlock. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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California 165 follows Lander Avenue south from Turlock to Hilmar, Stevinson, Great Valley Grasslands State Park, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, and Los Banos. The state route ends at Interstate 5 (Exit 391). Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 211, California 165 (Lander Avenue) south to Los Banos and Stanislaus County J-14 (Lander Avenue) north to downtown Turlock. The sign was replaced between 2011 and 2015 to include the exit number. Photos taken 03/15/15 and 06/21/09. |
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Rain clouds threaten in this scene along California 99 south at the Lander Road overcrossing. Photo taken 03/15/11. |
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A California 99 reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Lander Road. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 210, Rest Area (one-half mile). Photo taken 03/15/11. |
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Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 210, Enoch Christoffersen Rest Area between Turlock and Delhi. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
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After the rest area, California 99 leaves Stanislaus County and enters Merced County. A profusion of postmile paddles are located at the county line to show changes in mileage at the county line. Ahead, the next exit will be Exit 208, Bradbury Road. There is no access along southbound to Exit 209, California 99 Business (Golden State Boulevard) north to Turlock. Photo taken 06/21/09. |
Page Updated March 26, 2015.
