Naming – California Highways: Route by Route

CA RxR 4.09: Route 12: Crossing the WetlandsCA RxR 4.09: Route 12: Crossing the Wetlands

March 31, 2026| Daniel| 0 Comment| 8:51 am

Episode 4.09 continues our exploration of Route 12 through an exploration of the middle section of the route: From Fairfield/Cordelia through the “Drive to Stay Alive” corridor, on through the wetlands of Rio Vista, and into the central valley and Lodi. We explore the big change in routing that happened in Rio Vista. We also look at some major projects within this segment, as well as some of the interesting names. We also review LRN 12, which we visited before in our episodes on Route 8, for LRN 12 became I-8 between San Diego and El Centro. Our exploration of Route 12 will conclude in Episode 4.10, which will cover Route 12 from Route 99 to the Sierra Foothill and San Andreas, where it meets Route 49.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CA RxR 4.08: Route 12: Sonoma and NapaCA RxR 4.08: Route 12: Sonoma and Napa

March 11, 2026| Daniel| 0 Comment| 6:45 am

Episode 4.08 is the first of three episodes focusing on Route 12. We start by exploring LRN 12, which we visited before in our episodes on Route 8, for LRN 12 became I-8 between San Diego and El Centro. We then look at Sign Route 12 and Route 12, which are mostly the same route… except, of course, in the first segment where they differ in routing between Route 1 and US 101. Episode 4.08 focuses on the first two segments of Route 12, which covers the portions between Route 1 near Valley Ford or Jenner through Sebastapol, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Napa, and into Cordelia. Episode 4.09 will cover Route 12 from I-80 near Suisan City through the Sacramento Wetlands to Lodi and Route 99. Lastly, Episode 4.10 will cover Route 12 from Route 99 to the Sierra Foothill and San Andreas, where it meets Route 49. As usual, we’ll cover historical routings, projects, and names along the route.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CA RxR 3.10: I-5: Gateway to OregonCA RxR 3.10: I-5: Gateway to Oregon

April 28, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 5:09 pm

Episode 3.10 completes our exploration of I-5, looking at the segment that was former US 99, LRN 3, between Red Bluff and the Oregon Border. Along the way, we visit Red Bluff, Anderson and Redding, the Lake Shasta Area, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, Weed, Yreka, and run into a California Agricultural Inspector who was trapped in a bottle by a witch. Our next episode will move us to the next highway, looking at US 6 and all things Route 6 in California.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CA RxR 3.09: I-5: Former US 99WCA RxR 3.09: I-5: Former US 99W

April 6, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 12:25 pm

Episode 3.09 continues our exploration of I-5 with the segment from Sacramento to Red Bluff, which primarily incorporates the former LRN 7 / US 99W routing between Woodland and Red Bluff, and a new routing that roughly followed LRN 238, then LRN 50 and LRN 232 between Sacramento and Woodland (near former Sign Route 16 and Sign Route 24). We talk about this history of this segment, as well as some discussion of historical routings in Natomas, Woodland, Williams, Willows, Corning, and Red Bluff. Our exploration of I-5 finishes in Episode 3.10, where we explore the former LRN 3/US 99 segment between Red Bluff and the Oregon Border.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CA RxR 3.06p2: I-5: Whatever Became of the Ridge Route? (Part 2)CA RxR 3.06p2: I-5: Whatever Became of the Ridge Route? (Part 2)

January 26, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 1:00 am

Our I-5 exploration continues, with a focus on the segment of I-5 from the US 101 split in Downtown Los Angeles to the Route 99 split in Wheeler Ridge. This episode, Part 2 of 3.06, completes the history from Part 1 with a detailed dive into the history of the Ridge Route. After that, we discuss major projects in this segment of I-5, as well as historical and memorial names. This includes our second deep dive into the history of the “Grapevine” name. Our special guest this episode is Sydney Croasmun of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization. Sydney brings her expertise our Ridge Route discussion, and also discusses the goals and activities of the RRPO. Subsequent episodes will be looking at (3.07) the Westerly Routing; (3.08) the planned I-5W; (3.09) the former US 99W portion from Sacramento to Redding; and (3.09) the portion from Redding to the Oregon Border.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators (Spotify changed names yet again):

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CA RxR 2.09: Route 1: The Redwood ForestCA RxR 2.09: Route 1: The Redwood Forest

February 25, 2024| Daniel| 0 Comment| 5:55 pm

Episode 2.09 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1, as we complete discussing present-day Route 1 in Medocino County from Gualala to Leggett and current Route 1’s end at US 101. Along the way, we’ll discuss the communities of Gualala, Point Arena, Albion, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Westport and Rockport, and Leggett. As always, we’ll cover the history of the route, and some current projects along the route. Our next episode will be the last on Route 1, this time covering what was Sign Route 1, and now covers Route 208 and Route 211 in the Lost Coast.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 2.03: Route 1 – Ventura and Santa Barbara CountiesCARxR 2.03: Route 1 – Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties

November 18, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 2:10 pm

In Episode 2.03 of California Highways: Route by Route, we continue our exploration of Route 1 by exploring everything about the segment in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, from Solromar / Malibu at the edge of Ventura County to near Guadalupe in Santa Barbara County. We’ll go over the history of this segment of the route, the history of the route through various communities including Malibu, Oxnard, Ventura, Lompoc/Vandenberg and Orcutt. We’ll go over the freeway plans, discuss relinquishments, names, and some current plans. Looking forward, episode 2.04 will continue our exploration of Route 1 with the portions in San Luis Obispo from the 5 Cities through the northern edge of Big Sur in Monterey County.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 1.11: Highway NamingCARxR 1.11: Highway Naming

May 28, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 4:27 pm

In our penultimate episode of the season, we explore highways and their names. Tom and Daniel discuss how highways got their names in the past, as well as how highways are named today through the legislature. You’ll see a discussion of historical names, destination-based names, and memorial names. We’ll also explore auto trail names, as well as some of the more notorious names that highways have been given. Lastly, listen until after the end credits for a discussion about an aspect of naming that people often forget.

Our last episode in the season will explore the organizations related to the state highways. We’ll then have a short hiatus while we write season two, and then we’ll start exploring the California state highway system, route by route.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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