U.S. Route 399
Encyclopedia
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.
in Ventura, California
, the route continues along State Route 33 up to Ojai
, temporarily joining State Route 150. Leaving Ojai, it continued into the Los Padres National Forest
along the Maricopa Highway, with its summit at Pine Mountain. Descending into the Cuyama River
Valley, it met State Route 166 and travelled east towards Maricopa
past what is now the Carrizo Plain National Monument and crossing the axis of the San Andreas Fault
into the southern San Joaquin Valley
. In Maricopa, it continued north again with State Route 33 into the southern Midway-Sunset Oil Field
and intersecting modern State Route 119 in Taft
. From Taft, U.S. 399 followed State Route 119 out of town through Valley Acres
and past the modern Buena Vista Recreation Area (the old Buena Vista Lake) towards U.S. Route 99
(now State Route 99) in Pumpkin Center
and Greenfield
, then with the old alignment of U.S. Route 99 (Union Avenue, SR 99 Bus.) north into Bakersfield
where it terminated. This ending, being a useless concurrency, was later truncated to U.S. Route 99 until U.S. Route 399 was decommissioned.
The route was subsequently realigned several times, most notably the original Ojai Freeway in southern Ventura which is now the modern State Route 33 freeway, and the expressway bypass of eastern Taft which is now the modern State Route 119 expressway.
By 1964, California’s highway system was very cumbersome. Several routes were cosigned with two or even three route numbers. As a result, all of the state’s highways were renumbered to simplify the system. During the renumbering, it was decided to decommission many of the US routes in California in favor of interstates and state routes. The parent route, US 99, was also decommissioned, which contributed to the removal of this route. US 399 became one of the US routes to be completely decommissioned. It became part of SR 33 (West Side Highway), SR 166 (Maricopa Highway), and all of SR 119 (Taft Highway).
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
to Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. 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
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
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.
Route description
From its original junction at U.S. Route 101U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, the route continues along State Route 33 up to Ojai
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
, temporarily joining State Route 150. Leaving Ojai, it continued into the Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland...
along the Maricopa Highway, with its summit at Pine Mountain. Descending into the Cuyama River
Cuyama River
The Cuyama River is a river in southern San Luis Obispo County, northern Santa Barbara County, and northern Ventura County, in the U.S. state of California. It joins the Sisquoc River forming the Santa Maria River...
Valley, it met State Route 166 and travelled east towards Maricopa
Maricopa, California
Maricopa is a city in Kern County, California, United States. Maricopa is located south-southeast of Taft, at an elevation of 883 feet . The population was 1,154 at the 2010 census, up from 1,111 at the 2000 census. Maricopa lies at the junction of Route 166 and Route 33...
past what is now the Carrizo Plain National Monument and crossing the axis of the San Andreas Fault
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
into the southern San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
. In Maricopa, it continued north again with State Route 33 into the southern Midway-Sunset Oil Field
Midway-Sunset Oil Field
The Midway-Sunset Oil Field is a large oil field in Kern County, San Joaquin Valley, California in the United States. Discovered in 1894, and having a cumulative production of close to of oil at the end of 2006, it is the largest oil field in California and the third largest in the United States....
and intersecting modern State Route 119 in Taft
Taft, California
Taft is a city in the foothills at the extreme southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, in Kern County, California. Taft is located west-southwest of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 955 feet . The population was 9,327 at the 2010 census...
. From Taft, U.S. 399 followed State Route 119 out of town through Valley Acres
Valley Acres, California
Valley Acres is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States. Valley Acres is located north-northeast of Taft, at an elevation of 420 feet...
and past the modern Buena Vista Recreation Area (the old Buena Vista Lake) towards U.S. Route 99
U.S. Route 99
U.S. Route 99 was the main north–south highway on the West Coast of the United States until 1964, running from Calexico, California, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Blaine, Washington, on the U.S.-Canada border. It was a route of the United States Numbered Highways, assigned in 1926 and existing...
(now State Route 99) in Pumpkin Center
Pumpkin Center, Kern County, California
Pumpkin Center is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It is located south-southwest of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 351 feet .A post office opened in Pumpkin Center in 1945....
and Greenfield
Greenfield, Kern County, California
Greenfield is a census-designated place in Kern County, California. It is located south of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 351 feet . The population was 3,991 at the 2010 census.The Delkern post office was opened in 1949...
, then with the old alignment of U.S. Route 99 (Union Avenue, SR 99 Bus.) north into Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
where it terminated. This ending, being a useless concurrency, was later truncated to U.S. Route 99 until U.S. Route 399 was decommissioned.
The route was subsequently realigned several times, most notably the original Ojai Freeway in southern Ventura which is now the modern State Route 33 freeway, and the expressway bypass of eastern Taft which is now the modern State Route 119 expressway.
History
The origins to US 399 can be traced back to 1913. That year, the state decided to fund a survey party to determine a highway route between Legislative Route 4 (later became US 99 and today is known as SR 99) and Ventura. This highway was named the Bakersfield, Maricopa, and Ventura Road. At that time, several county roads which would become part of the route were already under construction. In the 1920’s, the legislative definition would truncate the route as between Ventura and the Cuyama Valley. However, in 1934, the route would reemerge as a spur to US 99, called US 399.By 1964, California’s highway system was very cumbersome. Several routes were cosigned with two or even three route numbers. As a result, all of the state’s highways were renumbered to simplify the system. During the renumbering, it was decided to decommission many of the US routes in California in favor of interstates and state routes. The parent route, US 99, was also decommissioned, which contributed to the removal of this route. US 399 became one of the US routes to be completely decommissioned. It became part of SR 33 (West Side Highway), SR 166 (Maricopa Highway), and all of SR 119 (Taft Highway).
