California 99 South - Madera County

California 99 south
California 99 leaves Merced County and enters Madera County when it crosses the Chowchilla River. Photo taken 03/15/11.
A begin freeway sign is posted along southbound California 99 upon entering Madera County. Photo taken 03/15/11.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 171, Road 15 and Chowchilla Boulevard. From this interchange, Chowhchilla Boulevard follows Old U.S. 99 south into Chowchilla. It would be likely be a signed business route except that a portion at its southern end is removed from service (it currently ends in a gas station parking lot), so getting back to California 99 and California 233 is a bit more involved. Road 15 travels north to the county line, where it becomes Minturn Road and connects to Le Grand Road. Photo taken 03/15/11.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 171, Road 15 and Chowchilla Boulevard. Photo taken 06/21/09.
A colorful, welcoming billboard greets motorists on California 99 as they approach the city of Chowchilla. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The freeway passes under Road 15. Photo taken 06/21/09.

Continuing south, the next exit along California 99 is Exit 170, California 233 (Robertson Boulevard) southwest and Avenue 26 east. Locally known as Robertson Boulevard, California 233 travels southwest through Chowchilla to connect with California 152. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Use Exit 170 to downtown Chowchilla. The state route portion of Robertson Boulevard extends from California 99 to California 152. South of California 152, Robertson Boulevard continues southwest on a diagonal path to provide local farm and ranch access ending at Avenue 18 1/2 near Dairyland. Photo taken 06/21/09.
From this interchange, follow Avenue 26 and Daulton Road east to Hensley Lake and Avenue 26 east to Road 29 north to Eastman Lake. Photo taken 06/21/09.
All motorist services are available at Exit 170. Photo taken 05/15/11.
California 99 enters the city of Chowchilla. Its population was 18,720 as of the 2010 Census. The city incorporated on February 7, 1923. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 meets Exit 170, California 233 (Robertson Boulevard) southwest and Avenue 26 east. Photo taken 06/21/09.
California 99 passes under the bridge that connects California 233 (Robertson Boulevard) and Avenue 26 in Chowchilla. Photo taken 06/21/09.
As colorful oleander lines the median, a high-tension, Pacific Gas and Electric power line crosses over California 99. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The Pacific Gas and Electric power line terminates just west of the freeway. Photo taken 05/15/11.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 168, Avenue 24 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches the right in right out (RIRO) ramp (Exit 168) to Avenue 24 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
A California 99 south reassurance shield assembly is posted after the on-ramp from Exit 168, Avenue 24 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 167, Avenue 24. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 168, Avenue 24. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Preparing to pass under Avenue 24, the next exit along California 99 south is Exit 166, California 152 west to Los Banos, Gilroy, San Jose, and Santa Cruz. Photo taken 05/15/11.
California 152 is a major, east-west state route that bisects the San Joaquin Valley. A four-lane expressway from California 99 west to near Hollister, California 152 links Los Banos with Salinas, Monterey, Gilroy, San Jose, and Santa Cruz. Connecting highways such as California 156 and California 129 help provide the most direct access to key coastal areas around Monterey Bay. Photo taken 053/15/11.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 166, California 152 west to Los Banos, Gilroy, San Jose, and Santa Cruz. This exit receives much more fanfare in the northbound direction, since California 152 is a logical continuation of the key route from population centers such as Fresno to Los Banos and points west, including San Francisco via Interstate 5 north and Interstate 580 west. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Passing through the California 152 interchange, the southbound lanes follow a much higher alignment than the southbound lanes. This is largely due to the grade separations with the railroad just north of here. The southbound lanes travel over the railroad, while the northbound lanes travel under it. Photo taken 06/21/09.
California 99 meets the gore point for Exit 166, California 152 west to Los Banos. Photo taken 06/21/09.
A narrow grade separation structure allows California 99 south traffic to pass under the transition ramp from California 99 north to California 152 west. This ramp emanates from a left exit on northbound California 99, hence why the bridge is not tall. Photo taken 05/15/11.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 164, Avenue 21 1/2 west and Road 20 north to Fairmead. Photo taken 05/15/11.
Gaining traffic from California 152, the freeway expands again to three southbound lanes. The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 164, Avenue 21 1/2 west and Road 20 north to Fairmead. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 164, Avenue 21 1/2 west and Road 20 north to Fairmead. Photo taken 03/15/15.
California 99 passes under the overpass that connects Avenue 21 1/2 with Road 20. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 162, Avenue 20 and Avenue 21 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
A California 99 south reassurance shield is posted shortly thereafter. Photo taken 06/21/09.
This mileage sign along California 99 south provides the distance to Madera, Fresno, and Los Angeles. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 162, Avenue 20 and Avenue 21 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
A California 99 south reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Avenue 20 and Avenue 21 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 159, Avenue 18 1/2 and Road 23. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 159, Avenue 18 1/2 and Road 23. A truck stop with gas and food is located at this interchange. Photo taken 06/21/09.
A California 99 south reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Avenue 18 1/2. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 157, Avenue 17. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 157, Avenue 17. This is the first exit to serve the city of Madera, the seat of Madera County. Take Avenue 17 east to residential subdivisions. Photo taken 03/15/11.
California 99 enters the city of Madera "Valley Central". Madera had a population of 61,416 as of the 2010 Census and was incorporated on March 27, 1907. Photo taken 03/15/11.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 156, California 99 Business (Gateway Drive) south, Avenue 16 (Kennedy Street) west, and Ellis Street east. Photo taken 06/21/09.
California 99 Business follows Gateway Drive (Historic U.S. 99) south into downtown Madera. Departing the freeway at Exit 156, the business route rejoins the freeway at Exit 152-153A. Photo taken 06/21/09.
The next four exits along California 99 south serve the city of Madera. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Passing under Ellis Street overpass, southbound California 99 reaches Exit 156, California 99 Business (Gateway Drive) south, Avenue 16 (Kennedy Street) west, and Ellis Street east. Upon exiting, stay left for the connection to California 99 Business south to downtown Madera. Photo taken 05/15/15.
Prior to completion of the Ellis Street overpass, a different sign along southbound California 99 pointed the way to Exit 156, California 99 Business (Gateway Drive) south, Avenue 16 (Kennedy Street) west, and Ellis Street east. Photo taken 06/21/09.
In 2014 and 2015, Caltrans began installing larger than standard exit gore point signs such as this one at Exit 156, especially along California 99 in Madera and Fresno Counties. Photo taken 05/15/15.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 155, Cleveland Avenue. Use Cleveland Avenue east to California 145 east en route to Lake Millerton (near Friant) and Yosemite National Park (via California 145 east to California 41 north). Photo taken 03/15/11.
Cleveland Avenue is a major east-west arterial that cuts across the northern tier of the city of Madera. Photo taken 03/15/11.
California 99 is wide enough here to accommodate three through southbound lanes. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 155, Cleveland Avenue in Madera. Photo taken 03/15/11.
In 2015, the guide sign was replaced and mounted on an overhead sign bridge. Southbound California 99 meets Exit 155, Cleveland Avenue. Photo taken 03/15/11.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 154, Fourth Street. This was previously signed as "Central Madera." Photo taken 03/15/11.
California 99 crosses over the Fresno River, which flows into the San Joaquin River west of here. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 154, Fourth Street (Central Madera). Photo taken 05/15/15.
The previous ground level sign for Exit 154 referenced Fourth Street as Central Madera. Photo taken 03/15/11.
California 99 descends below grade while passing through downtown Madera. Photo taken 05/15/15.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 153, California 145 northeast to Friant and Yosemite National Park and south to Kerman. This sign was gone by 2015. Photo taken 06/21/09.
California 145 follows Madera Avenue south of downtown Madera. This sign was added between 2011 and 2015. Photo taken 05/15/15.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 153, California 145 (Madera Avenue). Photo taken 05/15/15.
The overhead sign shown previously replaced the roadside sign posted along southbound California 99 at the off-ramp to Exit 153, California 145 (Madera Avenue). Photo taken 05/15/15.
The next exit along California 99 south is Exit 152, Almond Avenue. Photo taken 03/15/11.
A second sign for Exit 152, Almond Avenue is posted on this overpass. This sign was added around 2011. Photo taken 05/15/15.
This segment of California 99 is signed as the 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Highway. Photo taken 06/21/09.
Exit 152, Almond Avenue is the next exit along California 99 south in Madera. Photo taken 05/15/15.
Southbound California 99 reaches Exit 152, Almond Avenue. Photo taken 05/15/15.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Fresno (20 miles), Bakersfield (128 miles), and Los Angeles (240 miles). Photo taken 06/21/09.

Continue south on California 99 to Fresno  Go to California 99 Index  Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated October 18, 2015.

© AARoads