Virtual Tour of US 99
Union Avenue / Golden State Ave: Business SR-99 – Bakersfield – Jct. US 466 East / SR 178
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.
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.
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
Return to the US 99 Introduction