LRN 5 – California Highways: Route by Route

CA RxR 4.04: Route 9: Pre-1964 – Milpitas to Castro ValleyCA RxR 4.04: Route 9: Pre-1964 – Milpitas to Castro Valley

December 19, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 7:02 am

Episode 4.04 is our second episode exploring Route 9, which in its post-1964 version runs from Santa Cruz to Saratoga and Los Gatos. Before 1964, Route 9 continued N up to the Mountain View area, and then across to Milpitas, and up to the Castro Valley. The previous episode covered post-1964 Route 9 (and the first segment of pre-1964 Sign Route 9) from Santa Cruz to Saratoga and then into Los Gatos, as well as all the 9^th State Route and LRN 9. This episode (4.04) covers the pre-1964 Route 9 portions N of Saratoga: Sign Route 9 through Mountain View, Milpitas, and up through Hayward and the Castro Valley. This portion of Sign Route 9 became Route 85, Route 237, Route 17/I-880/I-680 (in portions) and Route 238. The next pair of episodes will be covering I-10, with episode 4.05 covering the Santa Monica Freeway portion, and episode 4.06 covering the San Bernardino Freeway portion.

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 3.08: I-5: Whatever Happened to I-5WCA RxR 3.08: I-5: Whatever Happened to I-5W

March 13, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 2:49 pm

Episode 3.08 continues our exploration of I-5 with a slight digression: A discussion about I-5W. In the late 1950s, I-5W was proposed as a spur route from I-5 running along what is today Route 132, I-580 (both the Tracy Diagonal and the former US 50 portion between the I-205/I-580 junction and Oakland/Berkeley), I-80 between Berkeley and near Vacaville, and I-505 between Vacaville and I-5. This short episode explores these pieces and their history. In Episode 3.09, we return to I-5 proper when we explore the former US 99W section of I-5 between Woodland and Red Bluff.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CA RxR 3.07: I-5: The Central ValleyCA RxR 3.07: I-5: The Central Valley

February 9, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 11:00 am

Next up in our exploration of I-5: the segment between the I-5 / Route 99 split and where I-5 meets former US 99W (now Route 113) in Woodland. Generally known as the “Westside Highway”, this was mostly a completely new routing for I-5 along LRN 238, although some portions paralleled former US 50 between Stockton and Sacramento, and Sign Route 16 between Sacramento and near Route 113 in Woodland/Yolo. As usual, we cover the history of the route, naming, and projects. Subsequent episodes will be looking at (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:

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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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