California 178 East - Bakersfield

California 178 east
At the interchange with California 99, California 58 exits onto southbound California 99, and California 178 takes over the street heading eastbound. California 178 starts as a city street, passing through downtown Bakersfield before becoming a freeway en route toward the Kern River Canyon. Photo taken 01/21/04.
A California 178 east reassurance shield is posted after the interchange with California 99 and prior to crossing the Kern River. The state route will remain a conventional urban highway as it follows 24th Street into downtown Bakersfield. California 178 begins its eastbound journey within the city limits of Bakersfield. Founded in 1869 and incorporated in 1873, Bakersfield is a regional agricultural hub and located near the major oil fields of Oildale and Taft. The city had a population of 247,057 people as of the 2000 Census and had grown throughout the ensuing decade. The city sits at an elevation of 408 feet above seal level, consists of 140.53 square miles, and is located at the southern end of the Central Valley. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Eastbound California 178 crosses the Kern River. Three lanes carry California 178 in each direction for a total of six lanes. Photo taken 03/15/09.
California 178 approaches the turn off for Oak Street. There is a traffic signal at this intersection, but a brief ramp connects eastbound California 178 with southbound Oak Street. Photo taken 03/15/09.
The left two lanes of California 178 continue east on 24th Sreet, while the right lane turns south onto Oak Street. Photo taken 03/15/09.
A California 178 east reassurance shield is posted after the Oak Street intersection. Photo taken 03/15/09.
A second California 178 east reassurance shield is posted after Pine Street along eastbound 24th Street. Photo taken 03/15/09.
At the intersection with B Street and Bay Street west of downtown Bakersfield, California 178 divides into two one-way streets. Eastbound follows 23rd Street, and westbound follows 24th Street. They rejoin upon reaching the freeway section. Photo taken 03/15/09.
California 178 turns a bit to the southeast, then turns east along 23rd Street. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Another California 178 east reassurance shield is posted along the left side of 23rd Street as traffic merges onto California 178 from the right, adding a third lane. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Entering downtown Bakersfield, California 178 enters a grid pattern. Numbered streets travel east-west, and lettered street run north-south. The next intersection along eastbound 23rd Street is with D Street. Photo taken 03/15/09.
At E Street, this overhead sign advises that turning traffic should use the left or right lanes, while through traffic should use the center lane. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Eastbound California 178 meets F Street at this signalized intersection. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Continuing east, California 178 (23rd Street) meets H Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 03/15/09.
At Eye Street is another reassurance shield for California 178. The next signalized intersection is with Chester Avenue (which is also J Street). Photo taken 03/15/09.
Turn south on Chester Avenue to the Bakersfield Central Business District. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Eastbound California 178 approaches Chester Avenue. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Eastbound California 178 (23rd Street) meets Chester Avenue at this traffic signal. Photo taken 03/15/09.
At K Street is another California 178 east reassurance shield. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Upon reaching L Street, signs appear for the beginning of the freeway. The first exit is Exit 2A, 24th Street east to Q Street and California 204 and California 99 Business (Golden State Avenue). There is one more traffic signal (at M Street), and then the freeway begins. It is possible that the California 178 freeway was intended to continue west to California 99, but it appears that the two freeways will not be connected via downtown Bakersfield. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Stay left to leave 23rd Street and connect to the eastbound California 178 freeway. A planned freeway connecting California 99 with the existing California 178 has not yet been realized. Photo taken 03/15/09.
After the M Street intersection, eastbound California 178 converts into a freeway and immediately meets its first exit: Exit 2A, 24th Street east to Q Street and California 204 and California 99 Business (Golden State Avenue). From this off-ramp, 24th Street travels due east to meet Q Street and Golden State Avenue, which is Old U.S. 99-466. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Thie short California 178 freeway through Bakersfield is known as the Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Eastbound California 178 reaches Exit 2B, Union Avenue. This ramp leads to a set of collector distributor lanes. To California 204 and California 99 Business south, follow Union Avenue south. Use Union Avenue north to Manor Street and Panorama Drive. Photo taken 03/15/09.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next several exits along eastbound: Exit 3, Beale Street; Exit 4, Haley Street; Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue; and Exit 6, Oswell Street. The 2009 picture is taken from the collector distributor lanes that are associated with Exit 2B. Photos taken 01/21/04 and 03/15/09.
California 178 has a long collector distributor ramp between Exit 2B and the actual ramp to Union Avenue. This picture shows the signage present on the collector distributor ramp for Exit 2B as seen from the mainline. Stay left to return to the mainline of California 178 east. Photos taken 01/21/04 and 03/15/09.
Upon reaching the end of the off-ramp to Union Avenue, the ramp merges onto eastbound Espee Street, which serves as the southern frontage road. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Eastbound Espee Street meets Union Avenue at this intersection. Photo taken 03/15/09.
Back on the mainline, another mileage sign provides the distance to the next several exits along eastbound California 178: Exit 3, Beale Street; Exit 4, Haley Street; Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue; and Exit 6, Oswell Street. This freeway was built in its entirety in 1967 between Q Street and Oswell Street; it has not been extended in either direction since then. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Beale Street leads northeast to Jefferson Park and southwest through East Bakersfield to Truxtun Avenue. Beale Street changes into Truxtun Avenue once the road turns from southwest to due west. Truxtun Avenue passes through downtown Bakersfield, passing by the Civic Auditorium and Convention Center before passing California 58-99 between Exits 25 and 26. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Eastbound California 178 reaches Exit 3, Beale Street. The next exit is Exit 4, Haley Street, followed by Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue. Photo taken 01/21/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along eastbound: Exit 4, Haley Street; Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue; and Exit 6, Oswell Street. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Eastbound California 178 reaches Exit 4, Haley Street. The next exit is Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue. Photo taken 01/21/04.
This mileage sign along eastbound California 178 provides the distance to the next two exits: Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue and Exit 6, Oswell Street. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Eastbound California 178 reaches Exit 5, Mount Vernon Avenue. Photo taken 01/21/04.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 6, Oswell Street, next right. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Eastbound California 178 reaches Exit 6, Oswell Street. Photo taken 01/21/04.
After the Oswell Street exit, the freeway ends. California 178 squeezes back into a two lane highway, but there is clearly room in the right of way to extend the freeway further east if needed. Photo taken 01/21/04.
The divided highway ends, leaving some vacant land to the south of the highway. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Two lanes merge into one lane along eastbound, and California 178 assumes the identity of a rural, two-lane highway. However, we are still within the city limits of Bakersfield. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Eastbound California 178 meets Fairfax Road here, at the first traffic signal since leaving downtown Bakersfield. The highway changes from a suburban to rural feel after passing this intersection. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Continuing east, California 178 next meets California 184 south at this traffic signal. California 184 heads south to Edison, Lamont, and Weedpatch, while California 178 continues northeast toward Lake Isabella and Ridgecrest via Walker Pass, elevation 5,280 feet. Photo taken 01/21/04.
After the intersection with California 184 is this reassurance shield for California 178 east. Photo taken 10/07/06.
A dynamic message sign is located after the California 184 intersection to warn of any weather, construction, or traffic conditions east through Kern River Canyon and Lake Isabella. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The next major intersection along California 178 east is with Valley Street. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Eastbound California 178 meets Green Hills Drive. Photo taken 10/07/06.
The next traffic signal along California 178/Kern Canyon Road is with Comanche Drive south to Arvin and Alfred P. Harrell Highway north to Kern River Park/Ming Lake and west to Bakersfield. This intersection was realigned so that California 178 has only one signal; it was previously separated into two intersections. Photos taken 10/07/06.
New developments continue to creep eastward as the foothills of the Sierra Nevada come into view. It is likely that these kind of developments will continue to push east until meeting the national forest boundary. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Eastbound California 178 meets Miramonte Drive. Turn south on Miramonte Drive to Rio Bravo Country Club. Photo taken 10/07/06.
Cresting over a hill, California 178 sees a wide valley that constitutes Rio Bravo ranch and several orchards. The state route continues along its two-lane alignment parallel to the Kern River, which will follow California 178 from here east through the Kern River Canyon all the way to Lake Isabella. Photos taken 10/07/06.
California 178 crosses over the Cottonwood Creek. The modern bridge was built in 1993; the old bridge, which is no longer in use, still remains in place to this day. Photos taken 10/07/06.

Continue east to Ridgecrest  Back to California 178 Index  Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated October 23, 2009.

© AARoads