Interstate 5 South - San Joaquin County


Interstate 5 south
After crossing the Mokelumne River, the first interchange along Interstate 5 south in San Joaquin County is Exit 493, San Joaquin County J-11/Walnut Grove Road to Thornton Road. Use San Joaquin County J-11 east to San Joaquin County J-8 (Thornton Road), which connects Franklin Boulevard in Sacramento County with Thornton Road south toward Stockton. Photos taken 04/03/05 and 11/23/06.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 493, San Joaquin County J-11/Walnut Grove Road to San Joaquin County J-8 (Thornton Road). Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 490, San Joaquin County J-12 (Peltier Road). This exit also connects to San Joaquin County J-8 (Thornton Road). Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 490, San Joaquin County J-12 (Peltier Road) to San Joaquin County J-8 (Thornton Road). San Joaquin County J-12 provides farm to market access across northern San Joaquin County, connecting with California 99 at Exit 270 and ending at California 88 in Dogtown. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 487, Turner Road. Turner Road travels east to the city of Lodi and California 99 at Exit 266. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 487, Turner Road. Compare the old and new exit signs. Photos taken 04/03/05 and 11/23/06.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 485, California 12. This major interchange connects Interstate 5 to Rio Vista in the California Delta and the city of Fairfield to the west of the freeway. To the east, California 12 to the city of Lodi, where California 12 follows Kettleman Lane to the junction with California 99 at Exit 264B. Photo taken 11/23/06.
A series of power lines come toward Interstate 5 from the northeast. They will intersect the freeway at the interchange with California 12. Photo taken 11/23/06.
California 12 is a major east-west corridor across northern California. The state route begins in Sebastopol at California 116, extends east through Santa Rosa into the Sonoma Valley (Valley of the Moon), then aims toward the city of Napa at the southern end of world-famous Napa Valley. Leaving Napa, California 12 merges with Interstate 80 prior to entering the city of Fairfield. East of Fairfield, California 12 passes through the California Delta, connecting Rio Vista and Terminous. After crossing Interstate 5 at this interchange, California 12 continues east to Lodi. From Lodi, California 12 passes through Lockeford (along with California 88) before ending at California 49 near San Andreas (California 49). Photo taken 11/23/06.
Power lines cross Interstate 5 as the freeway meets California 12 at Exit 485. From Exit 485 south to Exit 478, Eight Mile Road, Interstate 5 was built in 1975. Segemnts of Interstate 5 within San Joaquin County north of this interchange was built in 1979. Photo taken 04/03/05.
A mileage sign for the city of Stockton (11 miles) and the control city of Los Angeles (356 miles) is posted after the California 12 interchange. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The aforementioned power lines pull again to the southwest, connecting to the massive Path 15 and Path 66 500kV power line system that passes through eastern Contra Costa, western San Joaquin, and eastern Alameda Counties. The city of Stockton plans to install a new interchange (North Gateway Boulevard) about 1.3 miles north of the existing Eight Mile Road interchange, so some of this area may soon be opened up for development.1 Photo taken 11/23/06.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 481, Eight Mile Road. The roadside sign from 2005 was elevated onto an overhead sign bridge by 2006. At this interchange, Interstate 5 again leaves the rural agricultural lands and enters the city of Stockton. Photos taken 04/03/05 and 11/23/06.
Interstate 5 enters the city of Stockton, the seat of San Joaquin County and a major deep-water port as well as a regional agricultural center. The city is located about 40 miles south of Sacramento and about 80 miles east of San Francisco. With its location on Interstate 5 and proximity to the Bay Area and Central Valley job centers, Stockton has grown substantially. The city consists of 62.1 square miles of land (of which 1.02 square miles are water). Stockton had a population of 291,707 as of the 2010 Census and 243,771 as of the 2000 Census. An older city in the northern San Joaquin Valley, Stockton incorporated on July 23, 1850, as a charter city. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next eleven exits all serve the city of Stockton: Exit 478, Hammer Lane; Exit 477, Benjamin Holt Drive; Exit 476, March Lane; Exit 474B, Alpine Avenue and Country Club Boulevard; Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue; Exit 473, Pershing Avenue; Exit 472, California 4/Crosstown Expressway east and Fresno Avenue; Exit 471, California 4 west, Charter Way, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; Exit 470, Eighth Street; Exit 469, Downing Avenue; and Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9, French Camp Road. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next interchange on Interstate 5 south is Exit 478, Hammer Lane. Use Hammer Lane east to north Stockton and the unincorporated community of Lincoln Village. At the intersection between Hammer Lane, San Joaquin County J-8 (Thornton Road), and San Joaquin County J-10 (Sacramento Road), San Joaquin County J-8 turns east onto Hammer Lane. The two travel together to their end at California 99 Exit 258. San Joaquin County J-10 continues south as Pacific Avenue into downtown Stockton. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 478, Hammer Lane. Interstate 5 from Exit 478 south to Exit 472, California 4, was built in 1970, hence why many of the overhead signs are original porcelain enamel. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 477, Benjamin Holt Drive. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Through traffic is advised to use the left two lanes due to the number of exits pending in the next eight miles. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Benjamin Holt Drive connects residential around Lake Lincoln with the Swenson Park Golf Course and Lincoln Village. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 477, Benjamin Holt Drive. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 476, March Lane. Use March Lane east to San Joaquin Delta College. A porcelain enamel, button copy overhead is in place here. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 476, March Lane. The next exit is Exit 474B, Alpine Avenue and Country Club Boulevard. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Use Exit 474B to Alpine Avenue east to the University of the Pacific, which is located along the Calaveras River. In fact, Interstate 5 crosses over the Calaveras River at this point. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 474B, Ryde Avenue. This slip ramp merges onto southbound Ryde Avenue, and the first intersection is with Alpine Avenue (turn east on Alpine Avenue to the University of the Pacific). Continue south about seven or eight blocks to Country Club Boulevard, which parallels Alpine Avenue. The companion frontage road on the east side of Interstate 5 is Plymouth Road. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The tall soundwall here blocks freeway noise from interfering with the neighborhood along Ryde Avenue. A middle school and elementary school are located on the west side of Interstate 5. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Crossing over Country Club Boulevard, southbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue. Use Monte Diablo Avenue east to Victory Park and the Haggin Museum. Use Monte Diablo Avenue west to Louis Park. At Victory Park, Monte Diablo Avenue splits into Argonne Drive and Picardy Drive. Picardy Drive in turn connects to Acacia Street and California State University Stanislaus at Stockton. For the most direct route to the university and to downtown, continue south on Interstate 5 to California 4 (Crosstown Freeway) east. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 474A, Monte Diablo Avenue. The next exit is Exit 473 for Pershing Avenue north, Oak Street east to downtown Stockton, and Fremont Avenue west along the Stockton Deep Water Channel. Photo taken 04/03/05.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along Interstate 5 south: Exit 473, Pershing Avenue north, Oak Street east, and Fremont Avenue west; and Exit 472, California 4 (Crosstown Freeway) east to downtown Stockton and California 99. If Interstate 9 is built as discussed in the California 99 corridor plan, the Exit 472 symmetrical stack interchange between Interstate 5 and California 4 could be a potential northern terminus of that route. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Traffic for downtown Stockton should use California 4 east (Exit 472), then depart on onto the Center/El Dorado Street exit. A tourist information center is located at the intersection of Fremont Street and Madison Street in downtown Stockton. Most downtown attractions are located along Center Street (southbound) and El Dorado Street (northbound), including the Civic Center, Weber Points Events Center, and Magnolia Historic District. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Exit 472 also connects to Fresno Avenue west, which is the primary connection to the Port of Stockton, a massive deep water channel that was dredged from the California Delta to downtown Stockton in the early 1930s and opened for use in 1933. The port occupies 1,440 acres (including warehouse space) and can accommodate multiple large ships. This port is the most inland port of any port in California, as it travels nearly 50 miles northwest to merge into Suisun Bay and the Carquinez Straits. Parts of the dredged channel are also part of the San Joaquin River. Photo taken 04/03/05.
As noted earlier, use Exit 472, California 4 east to Exit 66, Stanislaus Street north to California State University Stanislaus at Stockton. This is faster than using Monte Diablo Avenue and Acacia Street. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 473, Pershing Avenue north, Oak Street east, and Fremont Avenue west. The next exit is Exit 472, California 4 (Crosstown Freeway) east to downtown Stockton and Fresno Avenue west to the Port of Stockton. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Crossing over the Pershing Avenue overpass, the high level bridge carrying Interstate 5 over the Stockton Deep Water Channel comes into view. Photo taken 04/03/05.
A second auxiliary sign advises that Exit 472 provides the best connection to the Port of Stockton via the westbound off-ramp, which ends at Fresno Avenue. At the end of the off-ramp, turn north on Fresno Avenue. This stack interchange at Exit 472 was built in 1972. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 472, California 4 east to downtown Stockton and west via Fresno Avenue to the Port of Stockton. California 4 is a freeway between Interstate 5 and California 99, but it is a surface street west of here via Exit 471. This interchange is a symmetrical stack, one of the few in Northern California. Plans call for California 4 to continue west of Interstate 5 as a freeway once funds are available to extend the freeway to the existing highway leading into the delta. This interchange may also function someday as the northern terminus of proposed Interstate 9 if California 99 is ever brought up to Interstate standards. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next three exits along Interstate 5 south are Exit 471, California 4 west, Charter Way, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; Exit 470, Eighth Street; and Exit 469, Downing Avenue. This view is seen when passing through the symmetrical stack interchange on the mainline. Photo taken 11/23/06.
The right lane of Interstate 5 south becomes exit only for Exit 471, California 4 (California Delta Highway) west. To the east, California 4 Business follows Charter Way toward the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Interstate 5 from Exit 471 to the San Joaquin-Stanislaus County Line at Exit 446 was constructed in 1971. Photo taken 11/23/06.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 471, California 4 (California Delta Highway) west and California 4 Business (Charter Way) east. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 470, 8th Street. The is another diamond interchange that serves the communities of south Stockton. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 470, 8th Street. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 469, Downing Avenue. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 469, Downing Avenue. Use Downing Avenue west to Van Buskirk Park and Carolyn Weston Boulevard west to Weston Park. This exit also connects to Manthey Boulevard, a frontage road that will follow Interstate 5 on the west side for the next several miles. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road) south to the unincorporated community of French Camp. Photo taken 04/03/05.
An increasingly rare San Joaquin County J-9 trailblazer is posted prior to Exit 468, French Camp Road. Use San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road) southeast to San Joaquin County J-3 (Airport Way). Turn north on San Joaquin County J-3 (Airport Way) to the Stockton Metropolitan Airport. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 468, San Joaquin County J-9 (French Camp Road) south. This exit also connects to adjacent Manthey Boulevard south to the San Joaquin General Hospital. At this point, Interstate 5 leaves the city of Stockton and again enters unincorporated San Joaquin County. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 467, Mathews Road. This exit also serves the general hospital on the west side of the freeway as well as the unincorporated community of French Camp on the east side of the freeway. Photo taken 04/03/05.
A mileage sign for San Francisco (80 miles) and Los Angeles (334 miles) is posted prior to the Mathews Road interchange. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The buildings of San Joaquin General Hospital comes into view on the west side of the freeway. Use Exit 467 for the San Joaquin County Jail. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 467, Mathews Road. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 465, Roth Road. Use Roth Road east to the Sharpe Army Depot and west to Manthey Road, the parallel frontage road. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Roth Road is a relatively short road, connecting Interstate 5 with San Joaquin County J-3 (Airport Way). At this interchange, Interstate 5 will enter the city of Lathrop. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 465, Roth Road east to the Sharpe Army Depot. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The city of Lathrop is located at the crossroads of Interstate 5, California 120, and Interstate 205. A transportation center and bedroom community, Lathrop has grown in the same manner as neighboring Stockton to the north. The population of the 2000 Census was 10,445 people and consists of 16.7 square miles. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 463, Lathrop Road. Use Lathrop Road east through Lathrop and northern Manteca to California 99 at Exit 244B. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Downtown Lathrop and Woodfield Park are located along eastbound Lathrop Road. Development at this interchange and at the Louise Avenue interchange (Exit 462) will continue to grow in the coming months. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Use Lathrop Road west to Manthey Road north to Dos Reis Road west to Dos Reis County Park. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 463, Lathrop Road. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 462, Louise Avenue. This exit also serves the city of Lathrop. Use Louise Avenue east into the city of Manteca. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Use Louise Avenue west to Manthey Road south to Mossdale Crossing County Park. Some old U.S. 50 (Lincoln Highway) bridges can be seen at this park, so it is well worth a visit for the highway enthusiast. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 462, Louise Avenue. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 461, California 120 freeway east to Manteca, Oakdale, Sonora, and Yosemite National Park. The freeway segment connects Interstate 5 with California 99. East of California 99, California 120 continues as a two to four lane highway as it crosses the Central Valley, partially merged with California 108. This sign is posted on the bridge over Louise Avenue. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Between California 4 and California 120, Interstate 5 skirts the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta Region, a relatively flat area with ample agricultural and open space land. The freeway's next major interchange along southbound is the junction with California 120 in Lathrop, just south of Stockton and west of Manteca. Use California 120 east to reach Yosemite National Park. Photo taken 07/03/04.
In addition to serving Yosemite National Park, California 120 (Exit 461, about 11 miles south of California 4) also provides a freeway connection east to California 99 south, which can be used to reach the Central Valley cities of Modesto, Madera, and Fresno. California 120 continues east of Manteca and California 99 to serve Oakdale and Yosemite, with a connection to Jamestown, Sonora, and Columbia via north California 49 (Gold Country Highway) and east California 108. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 461, California 120 east to Manteca, Sonora, and Modesto. The freeway was a Super Two freeway until the late 1990s, when a second carriageway was constructed. Today the freeway features four through lanes (two in each direction) and is at Interstate standards between Interstate 5 and California 99. Photo taken 07/03/04.
A second gore point sign is posted along southbound Interstate 5 for Exit 461, California 120 east to Yosemite National Park. In this photo, note that the ramp to California 120 is fairly tight with a loop ramp. Additionally, a set of old U.S. 50 (Lincoln Highway) bridges that cross the San Joaquin River comes into view. These bridges are still in use, with the former eastbound bridge now serving as the connection from westbound California 120 onto southbound Interstate 5/westbound Interstate 205 and the former westbound bridge now serving as a frontage road that connects to Mossdale Crossing Park. Photo taken 07/03/04.
The aforementioned U.S. 50 (Lincoln Highway) bridges over the San Joaquin River come into view on the west side of Interstate 5. The former eastbound U.S. 50 bridge now functions as part of the transition ramp from California 120 west to Interstate 5 south. The other bridge (former westbound U.S. 50 bridge) now functions as the Manthey Road crossing. Both bridges are through steel truss bridges painted green. A nearby railroad bridge functions as a lift bridge and is also near Mossdale Crossing County Park. Photos taken 11/23/06.
Interstate 5 south next crosses the San Joaquin River on its own bridge independent from the historical U.S. 50 (Lincoln Highway) bridges. After this point, Interstate 5 leaves the city of Lathrop and reenters unincorporated San Joaquin County. Between Exit 461, California 120 east and Exit 458B, Interstate 205 west, there is only one exit: Exit 460, Manthey Road, right after the freeway crosses the river. Manthey Road remains on the west bank of the San Joaquin River, and it provides access to the railroad and to the Lincoln Highway bridges at Mossdale Crossing. Photo taken 07/03/04.
After Manthey Road, the next interchange along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 458B, Interstate 205 west to Interstate 580 west, one mile. For travelers heading to the San Francisco Bay Area, this is the exit to use. Although a fairly long highway, Interstate 205 acts as a connector from southbound Interstate 5 to westbound Interstate 580. To illustrate, in the northbound direction of Interstate 5, there is no connection to Interstate 205 west. One could say that the entire freeway complex of Interstate 5, Interstate 205, and Interstate 580 constitute one large interchange with movements in all directions. But each individual interchange has limited movements. Photos taken 07/03/04, 04/03/05, and 09/05/10.
For about a mile, Interstate 5 follows the path of Old U.S. 50, from the California 120 on-ramp south to the Business 205 exit. The right lanes of southbound Interstate 5 will exit onto Exit 458B, Interstate 205 west to Interstate 580. Although the control city is San Francisco, this exit is the best route to most South Bay and East Bay communities. Interstate 205 is a rather short route connecting Interstate 5 and Interstate 580, bypassing Tracy, and it may have been numbered with an even first digit because it would have connected Interstate 5 with Interstate 5W. Now that Interstate 5W is Interstate 580, an odd first digit may have been more appropriate. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Interstate 205 bypasses Tracy and connects to Interstate 580 west en route to Hayward and Oakland. A connection to San Jose is afforded via Interstate 580 west to Interstate 680 south. Interstate 205-580-680 is the best route to San Jose ... the only other way to San Jose from southbound is not until Exit 403, California 152, and that route will require substantial backtracking north. Of course, one could use Exit 434, Del Puerto Canyon Road west, but that is a fairly windy and treacherous route (including the California 130 section west of Mount Hamilton). To San Francisco, use Interstate 205 west to Interstate 580 west to Interstate 80/Bay Bridge west. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Exit 458B connects to the Interstate 205 freeway, while Exit 458A is for Business Loop I-205 (Eleventh Street) west to Tracy. This is an older standard sign that is seldom found on California's freeways today. The original alignment of U.S. 50, which passes through downtown Tracy, is designated as Business Loop I-205. This route is fully signed as a business loop, and it is signed from Interstate 5. The eastern terminus of Business Loop I-205 is at Interstate 5, as it does not return to its parent route. Business Loop I-205 is one of the few three-digit Interstate business loops in the country, and it is the only one in California. For nearly its entire length, Interstate 205 is paralleled by its business loop (Old U.S. 50 / Lincoln Highway) through Tracy. This Route 205 business/freeway sign was gone by April 2005. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 458B, Interstate 205 west to Interstate 580. Since Interstate 5 is basically traveling southwest at this point, this series of signs is difficult to photograph. The last picture shows the most recent sign installation at this location, which now features reflectorized sheeting. Photos taken 07/03/04, 04/03/05, 11/23/06, and 09/05/10.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 458A, Business Loop I-205 and U.S. 50/Eleventh Street west to Tracy. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 458A, Business Loop I-205 and U.S. 50/Eleventh Street west to Tracy. Although the next exit is for San Joaquin County J-4 (Kasson Road), the business route exit is the best way to San Joaquin County J-4 (Grant Line Road) west to Tracy. Use Exit 457 for San Joaquin County J-4 (Kasson Road) southeast. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 457, San Joaquin County J-4 (Kasson Road) west to Banta and Tracy and southeast to San Joaquin County J-3 (Airport Way). This is the last exit that travels west toward Tracy. Interstate 5 does not actually enter the city of Tracy, and most development is concentrated along the Interstate 205 and Business Loop I-205/U.S. 50 corridors. Photo taken 04/03/05.
About five miles south is the next exit, California 33 south to Vernalis. This interchange marks the northern terminus of one of the longer state routes in California. Beginning at Exit 452 southeast of Tracy, California 33 will generally follow Interstate 5 through the Central Valley, providing access to many westside communities (including Vernalis, Los Banos, Coalinga, and Taft). South of Taft, California 33 departs for Los Padres National Forest to leave the Central Valley and end in Ventura County, passing through Ojai before ending at U.S. 101 in Ventura. The southernmost portion of California 33, from Taft to Ventura, was formerly designated as U.S. 399 until 1964. Photo taken 04/03/05.
An exit number sign is posted for the California 33 interchange on southbound Interstate 5. Prior to the completion of the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 freeways, California 33 used to continue north from this interchange to meet Old U.S. 50 in Tracy. The route was retracted to this point under the assumption that the new freeway system would supplant the two-lane highway route. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 452, California 33. For through traffic en route to Los Banos, Coalinga, Ojai, or Ventura, this is not the exit to take unless you intend to clinch California 33. Instead, take the specific Los Banos exit (California 152), Coalinga exit (California 33 and 165), or the Buttonwillow Road exit (Exit 263 for connections to Taft and California 33 south via California 58 west). Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next interchange along Interstate 5 south is Exits 449B-A, California 132 west to Interstate 580 en route to San Francisco and east to Modesto. This is a cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The right lane of Interstate 5 south becomes exit only for Exits 449B-A, California 132 west to Interstate 580 en route to San Francisco and east to Modesto. The first ramp connects to California 132 west to Interstate 580, and the second ramp (loop ramp) links to California 132 east to Modesto. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 449B, California 132 west to Interstate 580 en route to San Francisco. The next ramp connects to California 132 east to Modesto (Exit 449A). California 132 originates at the Interstate 580 interchange as a freeway, downgrades to an expressway, then converts back to a freeway at Interstate 5. This is the only connection to Interstate 580 west, as there is no access at Exit 446. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Shortly thereafter, southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 449A, California 132 east to Modesto. However, traveling east of here, California 132 becomes a crowded two-lane highway on its way toward Modesto. Plans call for the highway to be upgraded to expressway or possibly freeway standards east to California 99. Photo taken 04/03/05.
About midway between California 132 and Interstate 580 is the first appearance of the Governor Edmund "Pat" G. Brown California Aqueduct, the centerpiece of the California State Water Project. Originating at the Clifton Court Forebay along the Old River just east of Discovery Bay within the California Delta, the aqueduct extends 444 miles south to Pyramid Lake and Castaic Lake near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County (west branch) and to Lake Perris in Riverside County (east branch). The state water project brings water from the California Delta to Southern California, where water resources are scarce. A significant portion of the state's power is used to pump the water south, as the water must be pushed uphill over the Tehachapi Mountains and other obstacles along its path. The California Aqueduct will come into view several times as Interstate 5 traverses the west side of the Central Valley, and some of the massive pumps can be seen in Kern County as Interstate 5 approaches the Grapevine grade. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exit 445, Rest Area (two miles). There is no access to Exit 446, which connects Interstate 5 to Interstate 580. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The southbound lanes of Interstate 5 rise to pass over Interstate 580. As the highway gains elevation, the green hills of the Diablo Range and Mount Oso dominate the view. Since these hills are covered in seasonal grasses, the hills inevitably change from green to brown between winter and summer. With the coming of the fall rains, the hills again turn green. In addition, the Path 15 power lines again come into view. The last time Interstate 5 saw the Path 15 lines was in Zamora (near northern terminus of Interstate 505) and at the west end of the Elkhorn Causeway over Yolo Bypass. Now they will remain close to Interstate 5 for much of the journey south through the rest of the Central Valley. Infrastructure (highway, power lines, aqueduct) all parallel each other for the next 350 miles. Unlike the section of Interstate 5 through San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties, the upcoming journey is much less populated, especially as the land becomes less and less suitable for farming. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Now looking southeast, Interstate 5 traffic will merge onto Interstate 580 from the right. This is a bit odd, considering that Interstate 5 is the through route. However, Interstate 580 carries a great deal of traffic, including most traffic bound from the San Francisco Bay Area toward greater Los Angeles. Traffic counts on Interstate 5 increase significantly after this merge, yet Interstate 5 will retain only four through lanes (two in each direction) from here all the way south to the California 99 merge at Wheeler Ridge. At Wheeler Ridge, Interstate 5 and California 99 combine to form eight lanes to ascend the Grapevine in southern Kern County. Photo taken 04/03/05.
After Interstate 5 merges onto Interstate 580, the right lane will become exit only for the rest area, which can be seen on top of the hill visible in the distance in this photo. This section of Interstate 5 is a designated scenic route, since it generally stays close to the foothills above the Central Valley and can offer commanding views of the valley to the east. Photo taken 04/03/05.
The right lane will end before Interstate 5 merges onto Interstate 580. So in this case, the mainline route will reduce to only one through lane. Watch for traffic delays here, especially before and after long holiday weekends. Photo taken 04/03/05.
At the merge point between Interstate 5 and Interstate 580, the freeway leaves San Joaquin County and enters Stanislaus County. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Interstate 5 scenes
These Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 shields are located along Manthry Road (Exit 460 southbound) within the city of Lathrop. Photos taken 08/22/01 by Joel Windmiller.

Sources:

  1. Interstate 5 Improvement Project in Stockton, which states: "Project components may include widening I-5 for new carpool lanes, converting an existing segment of I-5 mixed-flow lanes to carpool use, constructing auxiliary lanes between interchanges, modifying two existing interchanges (Hammer Lane and Eight Mile Road), constructing two new interchanges (Otto Drive and [North] Gateway Boulevard), and constructing freeway noise barriers where warranted within the project limits." Initial hearings for this project began in January 2008. Construction was underway by 2011.

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Page Updated September 17, 2012.

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