Delano Bicentennial Bridge - U.S. Route 99 - The Pacific Highway on Waymarking.com

Thoughout the San Joaquin Valley Old US 99 is routed along the old Southern (now Union) Pacific Mainline. At several locations the railroad and highway crossed each other either at grade or by bridge. The original highway lanes are usually those closest to the railroad tracks.

The High Street Grade Separation was constructed as part of a 1935 Realignment of US 99 in Delano, CA. What is interesting about the realignment was that it actually diverted traffic into the town rather than away from it and provided a crossing under the RR Tracks. At the time the Division of Highways was removing curved crossings over the railroad rather than building new crossings near them, In additon, even in 1935, there was a trend of bypassing cities rather than increasing traffic into them so this construction was a little out of the ordinary, obviously a vocal lobby at that time to move highway traffic into the city.

The highway at this location was bypassed by the current route to the west in 1955. The original 1915 routing of the highway along Glenwood Avenue is still visible adjacent to this alignment.

In 1976 the community painted the area in a patriotic theme to celebrate the US Bicentennial. The city has dutifully maintained the paint over the years.

State: California Nearest City: Delano, Ca Type: Americana - Motel, diner, roadside attraction, etc.

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Date Logged Log   08/16/2010 fresgo visited it