California State Route 223

State Route 223
	Bear Mountain Boulevard
	SR 223 highlighted in red
Route information
	Defined by Streets and Highways Code § 523
	Maintained by Caltrans
Length	31.92 mi [1] (51.37 km)
Major junctions
West end	I-5 near Taft
	SR 99 near Greenfield ; SR 184 near Weedpatch ;
East end	SR 58 near Arvin
Location
Counties	Kern
Highway system

Last updated March 17, 2019

State Route 223 (SR 223) is a state route in Kern County, California, and is locally known as Bear Mountain Boulevard. It is a truck route, connecting the agricultural land south of Bakersfield and east of SR 99/I-5, and the city of Arvin, to three major transportation corridors without having to drive through Bakersfield. It connects to I-5 (Westside Freeway) for goods traveling north and east of Sacramento. It connects to SR 99 for goods traveling to major San Joaquin Valley communities. It also connects to SR 58, for goods traveling to all points southeast, except for Los Angeles. For goods traveling south, trucks use SR 99 while cars can use Wheeler Ridge Road, which is a north-south county road that connects to I-5 south of SR 99.

Kern County, California County in California, United States

Kern County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 839,631. Its county seat is Bakersfield.

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The City and County of San Francisco is both the country's second-most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth-most densely populated county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs.

Bakersfield, California City in California, United States of America

Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. It covers about 142 sq mi (370 km²) near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population is around 380,000, making it the 9th-most populous city in California and the 52nd-most populous city in the nation. The Bakersfield–Delano Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Kern County, had a 2010 census population of 839,631, making it the 62nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States. The more built-up urban area that includes Bakersfield and areas immediately around the city, such as East Bakersfield, Oildale, and Rosedale, has a population of over 520,000. Bakersfield is a charter city.

Route description

State Route 223 begins at Interstate 5. From there it travels east through relatively flat agricultural land. It crosses SR 99 and Union Avenue (SR 99 Business). It then crosses Weedpatch Highway (SR 184)/Wheeler Ridge Road, which is the local north-south highway serving the region. Continuing east, it crosses through the only city served by the route, the agricultural community of Arvin. It continues through agricultural land, before reaching the eastern end of the San Joaquin Valley. The terrain changes to rolling hills, as the road climbs the Tehachapi Mountains. The highway terminates at SR 58.^[2]

A portion of SR 223 near SR 99 is part of the National Highway System,^[3] a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.^[4]

The National Highway System (NHS) is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities. Altogether, it constitutes the largest highway system in the world.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program. Its role had previously been performed by the Office of Road Inquiry, Office of Public Roads and the Bureau of Public Roads.

History

Bear Mountain Boulevard was constructed in 1915, as the bypass to White Wolf Road to the south; the road still exists, but is on private property. It is not known when White Wolf Road was constructed. The road was a part of the Midway Route, which was the most direct route between the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles via Tehachapi Pass and the Mojave Desert. After the Ridge Route was constructed in 1915, the Midway Route was still important as the primary bypass to the newly constructed highway. Bear Mountain Boulevard served as part of the Midway Route until 1933, when Bena Road was constructed to provide a more direct connection to Bakersfield.^[5] Today, the Midway Route is served by SR 58 and SR 14.

The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies south of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the San Joaquin River. It comprises seven counties of Northern and one of Southern California, including, in the north, all of San Joaquin and Kings counties, most of Stanislaus, Merced, and Fresno counties, and parts of Madera and Tulare counties, along with a majority of Kern County, in Southern California. Although a majority of the valley is rural, it does contain cities such as Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto, Turlock, Porterville, Visalia, Merced, and Hanford.

Los Angeles, officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in California and the second most populous city in the United States, after New York City. With an estimated population of four million, Los Angeles is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. The city is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and its sprawling metropolis.

Tehachapi Pass is a mountain pass crossing the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, California in the United States. Traditionally, the pass marks the northeast end of the Tehachapis and the south end of the Sierra Nevada range.

In 1933, Bear Mountain Boulevard was adopted as an unsigned state highway. It was a part of Legislative Route 140, which ran from Taft to US 99 (locally known as Taft Highway), and from US 99 to US 466. The Taft Highway portion was signed as US 399, but the Bear Mountain Boulevard section was unsigned.^[6] It was dropped from the route in 1959, and became Legislative Route 264.^[7] In 1964, with the renumbering of California’s state routes, Bear Mountain Boulevard became a signed route as SR 223, and was extended west to I-5.^[8]

In United States, a legislative route (LR) or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems. Legislative routes may be composed of several such roads, and conversely, state, U.S., and Interstate highways may be made up of several legislative routes. Minnesota also had highways defined in an amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution in 1920, and those roads are known as constitutional routes.

Taft, California City in California, United States

Taft is a city in the foothills at the extreme southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, in Kern County, California. Taft is located 32 miles (51 km) west-southwest of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 955 feet (291 m). The population was 9,327 at the 2010 census. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39.1 km²).

U.S. Route 99 (US 99) was the main north–south United States Numbered Highway on the West Coast of the United States until 1964, running from Calexico, California, on the Mexican border to Blaine, Washington, on the Canadian border. Known also as the "Golden State Highway" and "The Main Street of California", US 99 was an important route in California throughout much of the 1930s as a route for Dust Bowl immigrant farm workers to traverse the state. It was assigned in 1926 and existed until it was replaced for the most part by Interstate 5 (I-5). A large section in the Central Valley is now State Route 99 (SR 99).

Major intersections

Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary (for a full list of prefixes, see the list of postmile definitions).^[9] Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The entire route is in Kern County.

California uses a postmile highway location marker system on all of its state highways, including U.S. Routes and Interstate Highways. The postmile markers indicate the distance a route travels through individual counties, as opposed to milestones that indicate the distance traveled through a state. The postmile system is the only route reference system used by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

In 1963 and 1964, the California Division of Highways implemented a major renumbering of its state highways. The majority of sign routes—those marked for the public—kept their numbers; the main changes were to the legislative routes, which had their numbers changed to match the sign routes. A large number of formerly unsigned routes received sign numbers corresponding to their new legislative numbers. A smaller change was the removal and truncating of many U.S. Routes in favor of the Interstate Highways, and the renumbering of State Routes that conflicted with Interstate numbers. Some U.S. Routes that were officially removed continued to be signed until the replacement Interstates were completed.

Location	Postmile ^[9]^[1]^[10]	Destinations	Notes
	1.85	Bear Mountain Boulevard	Continuation beyond I-5
	1.85	I-5 (Westside Freeway) – Sacramento, Los Angeles	Interchange; west end of SR 223
	4.86	Old River Road – Old River
	8.89	Wible Road – Pumpkin Center
	R10.54	SR 99 – Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Sacramento	Interchange
	10.94	SR 99 Bus. (Union Avenue) – Los Angeles, Greenfield, Bakersfield	Former US 99
	R16.01	SR 184 north (Weedpatch Highway) / Wheeler Ridge Road – Lamont
Arvin	20.15	Comanche Drive
	31.92	SR 58 – Mojave, Bakersfield	East end of SR 223
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Related Research Articles

The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California, United States, running from the Santa Barbara/Ventura county line to Pasadena in Los Angeles County. It is the principal east-west route through Ventura County and in the southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. From the Santa Barbara County line to its intersection with the Hollywood Freeway in the southeastern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, it is signed as U.S. Route 101, which was built in the late 1950s and opened on April 5, 1960. East of the Hollywood Freeway intersection, it is signed as State Route 134 which was built by 1971. The entire Ventura Freeway is not built to freeway standards, however; the segment that runs through the coastal communities of La Conchita and Mussel Shoals in western Ventura County still remains an expressway.

State Route 58 is an east-west highway across the California Coast Ranges, the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains, which border the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. It runs between its western terminus near Santa Margarita and its eastern terminus in Barstow. It has junctions with Interstate 5 near Buttonwillow, State Route 99 in Bakersfield, State Route 202 in Tehachapi, State Route 14 in Mojave, and U.S. Route 395 at Kramer Junction. SR 58 gives good access to Edwards Air Force Base. At various points it is known as the Calf Canyon Highway, Carrisa Highway, Bakersfield-McKittrick Highway, Rosa Parks Highway, Rosedale Highway, Barstow-Bakersfield Highway, Kern County Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, and Mojave-Barstow Highway.

State Route 99 (SR 99), commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99, is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley. From its southern end at Interstate 5 (I-5) near Wheeler Ridge to its northern end at SR 36 near Red Bluff, SR 99 goes through the densely populated eastern parts of the valley. Cities served include Bakersfield, Delano, Tulare, Visalia, Kingsburg, Selma, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Turlock, Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, Yuba City, and Chico.

State Route 12 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels in an east–west direction from Sebastopol in Sonoma County to State Route 49 just north of San Andreas in Calaveras County. It is constructed to freeway standards from the Fulton Road/South Wright Road stoplight in Santa Rosa, to its partial interchange with Farmers Lane.

State Route 33 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs north from Ventura through the Transverse Ranges and the western side of the San Joaquin Valley to a point east of Tracy. SR 33 replaced part of U.S. Route 399 in 1964 during the "great renumbering" of routes. In the unincorporated sections of Kern County it is known as the West Side Highway. In addition, the California Legislature designated the entire Kern County portion as the Petroleum Highway in 2004. The southernmost portion in Ventura is a freeway known as the Ojai Freeway, while it is known as the Maricopa Highway from Ojai to Maricopa.

U.S. Route 399 was a U.S. Highway that ran from Ventura, California to Bakersfield, California. It was established in 1934 and deleted in 1964, as it was only 137 miles (219 km) long, less than the minimum 300 miles (480 km) that AASHTO set as the threshold for U.S. Highways. It has been replaced with a segment of State Route 33, all of State Route 119, and a segment of State Route 99.

State Route 119 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs in an east–west direction from State Route 33 in Taft to State Route 99 just south of Bakersfield. SR 119 is part of the former U.S. Route 399, which ran along SR 33 and State Route 166 before ending at SR 99. Today, it serves as the main connector between the extreme southwestern corner of the San Joaquin Valley and Bakersfield.

State Route 43 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. State of California, routed along the southern San Joaquin Valley connecting the towns of Shafter, Wasco, Corcoran, Hanford, and Selma, running roughly parallel to SR 99.

State Route 184 is a state route in Kern County, California, locally known as “Weedpatch Highway.” It is mainly a 2-lane conventional highway, expanding to four lanes in Bakersfield, and Lamont. It connects the local agricultural land south of Bakersfield, and east of SR 99/I-5, to a major east/west freeway, SR 58. The freeway connects the San Joaquin Valley to all points southeast. It also connects to SR 178, a highway which runs from Bakersfield to the Kern Valley region, and SR 223, which connects I-5 to SR 58 on a route south of Bakersfield. SR 184 southern terminus is with Wheeler Ridge Rd, a county road. Although not a truck route, it is the only north/south road south of Bakersfield that directly connects to I-5, which runs east of SR 99. Its connection is with the Golden State Freeway section south of SR 99.

State Route 204 is a short state highway in the Bakersfield, California, United States, area. It connects SR 99 and SR 58 with downtown. It also connects Bakersfield's three major freeways together. Only the northern 1.4 miles (2.3 km) has been built to freeway standards; the rest is a six-lane arterial road.

State Route 65, also known as Highway 65, is a north-south state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is composed of two segments. The southern segment begins at SR 99, near Bakersfield and terminates at SR 198 near Exeter. It also serves the communities of Oildale, Ducor, Terra Bella, Porterville, Strathmore, and Lindsay. The northern segment begins at Interstate 80 in Roseville and terminates at SR 70 at Olivehurst. It also serves Lincoln and Wheatland.

State Route 136 is a short state highway in California, USA, running from Lone Pine to State Route 190 along the northern edge of Owens Lake.

State Route 229 is a short state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from State Route 58 to State Route 41. It connects the small town of Creston with the rural state routes. Also, in conjunction with SR 58 and SR 41, it provides a slower, more scenic route between the Central Coast and the San Joaquin Valley.

State Route 178 is a route that exists in two constructed segments. The gap in between segments is connected by various local roads and State Route 190 through Death Valley National Park.

State Route 155 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California connecting State Route 99 and State Route 178, going through the southern part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This highway runs from west to east. Its west terminus is in Delano and its east terminus is in the small town of Lake Isabella. Locally it is known as the Garces Highway.

State Route 202 is a state highway in California, United States. It connects the California Correctional Institution to Route 58 in Tehachapi.

Interstate 5 (I-5) is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico–United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan area. It is the more important and most used of the two major north-south routes on the Pacific Coast, the other being U.S. Route 101, which is primarily coastal.

Bakersfield National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located at 30338 East Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, California, in Kern County. It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) east of Bakersfield. It is isolated from urban development by oak studded rolling hills in the Tehachapi Mountains. Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the cemetery has space to accommodate caskets and cremated remains on 500 acres of land.

Kern County’s transportation system was quoted as the “unseen industry.” Located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, the county is at a prime location to ship goods west to the central coast, south to ports in Los Angeles, and east to corridors that connect to the rest of the country. It is also on major corridors that link to all northern points.

The Wheeler Ridge Interchange is a freeway interchange near Wheeler Ridge, California, where State Route 99 (SR 99) merges with Interstate 5 (I-5). Located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Bakersfield, it is the southernmost freeway interchange in the San Joaquin Valley.

References

1 2 California Department of Transportation (July 2007). "Log of Bridges on State Highways". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation.
↑ Google (2012-04-13). "State Route 223" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
↑ Federal Highway Administration (March 25, 2015). National Highway System: California (South) (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
↑ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
↑ McAllister, Melvin. The 'old roads' to Bakersfield. Tehachapi News. Accessed: 11-05-2009.
↑ Route 137-144. CAHighway.org. Accessed: 11-05-2009.
↑ Route 257-264. CAHighway.org. Accessed: 11-05-2009.
↑ Route 217-224. CAHighway.org. Accessed: 11-05-2009.
1 2 California Department of Transportation. "State Truck Route List". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (XLS file) on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
↑ California Department of Transportation, All Traffic Volumes on CSHS, 2007

External links

Route map: Google

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[bridgelog-1] 1 2 California Department of Transportation (July 2007). "Log of Bridges on State Highways". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation.

[gmaps-2] Google (2012-04-13). "State Route 223" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 2012-04-13.

[fhwa-nhs-3] Federal Highway Administration (March 25, 2015). National Highway System: California (South) (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 9, 2017.

[NHS-FHWA-4] Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.

[5] McAllister, Melvin. The 'old roads' to Bakersfield. Tehachapi News. Accessed: 11-05-2009.

[6] Route 137-144. CAHighway.org. Accessed: 11-05-2009.

[7] Route 257-264. CAHighway.org. Accessed: 11-05-2009.

[8] Route 217-224. CAHighway.org. Accessed: 11-05-2009.

[trucklist-9] 1 2 California Department of Transportation. "State Truck Route List". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (XLS file) on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.

[10] California Department of Transportation, All Traffic Volumes on CSHS, 2007