CA-99 North in the San Joaquin Valley: Tulare, Visalia, Kingsburg, Selma, Fowler, & Fresno

[@Ro6entX]

I’ve done lot of going back and forth between Fresno and Bakersfield years ago. I enjoyed it more when on my motorcycle especially in the main two lanes only sections since I could lane split when it was necessary. Had a real close call going South at night but in my little gutless car I had back then in the McFarland area so after that I tried to avoid night time traffic.

[@grizzfan08]

Mariposa County resident here, and don't forget that the majority of the Valley counties were born from the original Mariposa County. The Central Valley is home to not just the farmers but to the mountain people as well, and we all get along great and we look out for each other. Some good news for Tulare: there will be an overpass near the Agri-Center that'll help ease congestion when the Ag Show's in town in the near future. And hopefully the rest of 99 will be upgraded to 3 lanes in that area as well.

[@dfirth224]

Notice the difference between Bakersfield and the rest of the valley regarding freeways? Kern County is in the Southern California Caltrans area. Which means they get lots more money for freeways. CA-99 in Bakersfield is now EIGHT LANES.

[@InterstateKyle]

The best segment of CA-99 is in Bakersfield hands down!

[@BNTheRoadFanatic]

I'll add this, since it doesn't seem like anyone else has mentioned it. I read somewhere that Caltrans plans to eventually widen 99 in Fresno to 8 lanes, though an exact schedule remains to be made, as does a map of the segment that will be widened.

[@mikeschock9225]

I have driven from my home base of Vancouver, BC and really liked 99. On my first trip drove back to LA from Vegas and on the return trip used I-5. With the exception of the Grapevine, this was one of the most boring stretches of highway I have ever driven. I should have taken 101 or used 99 again on that trip. 99 is much more interesting. Nice to see this area again, it’s been quite a while. I may have to take that trip with the intention of closing my final 101 gap!

[@milessampson3942]

I always enjoy this cruise through the agricultural capital of the West Coast. Many people in other states have no idea how important the San Joaquin Valley is to our nation's food security. CA-99 is LONG overdue to be upgraded to Interstate standards. Great footage and commentary. @14:20 Tuscon is served by Interstate 10 and is definitely a city, not a suburb. You might be thinking of Mesa, AZ.

[@Anon54387]

Many people in California don't realize how important the SJV is to the USA's food security. San Franciscans are a prime example of that.

[@dwood78part23]

About CA 99 & US 99- when CalTrans renumbered their highways in 1964, US 99 was truncated at both ends so it no longer left the state. As such it couldn't keep it's US route name- thus why it's a state highway. & don't forget- the states of OR & Washington also followed suit as the I-5 was being finished in their states as well. So in the end, the building of the I-5 marked the beginning of the end of 99 as a US Route (of course all 3 states US 99 previously entered have state highways based on the former route.) That said, it looks like CalTrans is putting in work to widen parts of it. I remember reading that they want CA 99 to be at least a 6 lane freeway between it's southern end & the state capitol.

[@dfirth224]

The two lane sections are in counties with fewer people and less tax money. A lot of work has been done over the last 20 years widening overpasses and bridges. The Cottonwood Creek bridges in Madera county near Ave. 12 were just finished a few months ago. That all has to be done before the paving can begin. There is also a highway 99 in British Columbia that connects to I-5 at the Canadian border. 99 used to go all the way from Calexico, CA to the Canadian border then on BC 99 to Vancouver, BC.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

An interesting side note on Interstate Highways. Ever hear of I-305 in California? Not many people have. Of course, using the route designators common to the interstate system, I-305 is a spur road from I-5, but where? It's also known as US-50 from Sacramento east. The reason for this is that Caltrans gets federal funding for interstates, but not state routes. Maybe that will happen with SR-99.

[@mattwiser8406]

Good video as usual, Kyle. I'm very familiar with 99 and I'm darned glad that the money's being spent to upgrade the freeway. FYI Bakersfield is in Caltrans District 6, same as Fresno. But one could say that BF's legislators are more effective in getting highway funds than Fresno's are. And if 99 does become an Interstate? I've heard it would be I-7 or I-9.

[@InterstateKyle]

Thank you Matt!

[@KoryBrooks]

IDK if you have done a 198 video yet, but if you plan to make one, avoid the 7-8am rush, and the 4-6pm rush in Visalia. Lots of accidents happen around Plaza drive and just past Mooney going east because the on ramps dont have a long stretch merge lane like Demaree to Mooney does, and we all drive frantically because of it. Fun fact, Visalia is 20 years older than Bakersfield, and one of the founders of Visalia was kicked out, moved south and founded Bakersfield.

[@italianviking80]

I live in Visalia and know this stretch of CA-99 well. I've heard talk about upgrading it to Interstate Highway standards, but I doubt it will ever happen.

[@InterstateKyle]

I don't think it will either.

[@rdmacyo]

Tucson is served by two Interstate Highways, I 10 and I 19. It is over 100 miles from Phoenix, so I would hardly call it a suburb.

[@InterstateKyle]

It was a big typo on my part, I meant to say Mesa, Arizona, not Tucson. My apologies!

[@rdmacyo]

@@InterstateKyle Don't worry about it. Love your videos

[@jeffreygreer]

about the only good thing about that valley and towns is the proximity to the sierra, the central coast and the vast mojave desert basin, all within a 3 hour drive

[@InterstateKyle]

Pretty much the only good thing lol

[@Anon54387]

@@InterstateKyle Snotty *%*$%, both of you Jeffrey and Kyle. The SJV is an important agricultural region. You guys eat, right?

[@ubaldoyaventuras]

👍👍👍

[@RoadsofEuropeverreme]

Governments disregarding agriculture is an issue in many parts of the world. Over the past five years there's been massive farmer protests in the EU and India. Extremely ironic how our most vital industries are overlooked by politicians.

[@MarkSmith-xc2jh]

Tucson is most definitely NOT a suburb-and it’s served by I-10 & I-19. Unless you were thinking of Mesa, which IS a huge suburb…

[@InterstateKyle]

I meant to say Mesa

[@Yanbrymenocu]

I like Highway 99 because it's more have Gasoline and Diesel stations compared to Highway 5 which is the west side of the central valley I hope they repaved the whole Highway 99 and add 1 more lane specially in Merced county.

[@gregsonnleitner6250]

So. before 15:40, you were going North. And then after, you were suddenly going South. Why no explanation?

[@robertwilliam9558]

Kyle, did you experience any dust while driving the 99? The dust from the AG machines really got me last time. Do you live in Tracy, CA now?

[@InterstateKyle]

yes

[@gbr1960]

A few low-wage agriculture jobs abound if that's your thing; think Grapes of Wrath. Otherwise it's rather an impoverished region. Locals (with money) like it that way given the labor pool. Progress has been truncated over the centuries but High Speed Rail will cut into the landscape so help is on its way (note the arches on both ends of Fresno).. Hot as Hell in summer (but it's a dry heat😋).

[@rebeccagraham2030]

What day and time was this recorded? Is 99 3 lanes all the way to Sacramento as opposed to the 5 that only has 2 lanes

[@rjmcallister1888-l3p]

Caltrans' 1964 decision to decommission several Federal routes, including US 99, and make them state routes, was not very good. Before there was I-5, US 99 was the major route from Canada to Mexico (US 101 covers much, but not all, and is two lanes much of the way). You do get Federal money for non-Interstate routes, but usually it's more for a Federal route than a state one. More work needs to be done, and some waivers may be needed in a few spots, but CA 99 deserves an Interstate designation (I-7/9) from I-5 to Sacramento, as does CA 58 as I-40 from I-15 to I-5 at Bakersfield when complete.