US 99 – Union Avenue / Golden State Avenue: Business SR-99 – Bakersfield – Jct US 466 East

Virtual Tour of US 99

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Union Avenue / Golden State Ave: Business SR-99 – Bakersfield – Jct. US 466 East / SR 178

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Bakersfield Inn Pedestrian Overcrossing – Built 1948 and removed in the early 2000’s.

Finally reaching central Bakersfield, US 99 gains a city street feel to it. The highway was widened to six lanes in 1947 to decrease the traffic congestion and number of accidents.

1971 Caltrans map of central Bakersfield. State Highway 58 east of State Route 204 is former US 466. West of 204, it is current State 178 to 99.
Late 1930’s postcard showing central Bakersfield with the 1933 bypass visible at the upper end.
Union Avenue Underpass just north of California Avenue. Built in 1934 as a part of the Bakersfield Bypass.
Union Avenue Underpass just north of California Avenue. Built in 1934 as a part of the Bakersfield Bypass.

The original alignment through Bakersfield turned left near here down 18th St. At Chester Avenue, it turned right. From there, it followed Chester Avenue over the Kern River to Roberts Lane. Following Roberts, it then merged with the current alignment at the Oildale Overhead. In 1934, a bypass was opened around Bakersfield. It was three lanes wide. Only a few bridges and alignments remain of the original bypass.

Looking northbound on Golden State Blvd from the original Sumner St intersection toward the current one.
Postcard view looking north from current Sumner St intersection in the 1950’s

US 466 originally met US 99 in Bakersfield at the intersection of Golden State Blvd and Sumner St. This intersection, however, no longer exists. In 1987, the area was reconfigured when a bridge was constructed over the railroad tracks on Union Avenue. Sumner St was realigned one block north and the original intersection is now a turn lane from southbound Union Avenue onto northbound Golden State Blvd. Traces of the original intersection can be seen in the median of Golden State Blvd where the curbing changes. US 399 also ended here, having joined with US 99 at Greenfield. US 466 would be cosigned with US 99 until Famoso, twenty miles to the north. State 178 crossed here at 24th St until the 178 freeway was built in 1967.

Go North on US 99 / US 466 to Delano

Go South on US 99 / US 399 to Los Angeles

Go East on US 466 to Mojave

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