California State Route 33

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Route 33
Length:	290 mi (464 km)
Formed:
Major cities:	Ventura Ojai Maricopa Taft Avenal Coalinga Mendota Firebaugh Dos Palos Los Banos Gustine Newman Patterson
Direction:	North-South
JUNCTION POSTMILE US-101 VEN 0.00 SR-150 VEN 11.20 VEN 11.21 SR-166 SLO 2.78 KER 11.53 SR-119 KER 17.89 SR-58 KER 33.45 KER 34.29 SR-46 KER 60.09 SR-41 KIN 7.80 SR-269 KIN 17.09 SR-198 FRE 15.71 FRE 24.32 SR-145 FRE R28.99 I-5 FRE R28.99 FRE R39.85 SR-180 FRE 62.25 SR-152 MER L5.64 MER R13.24 I-5 MER 16.64 SR-140 MER 26.47 MER 27.11 SR-132 STA 60.09 I-5 SJ 5.00 California State Routes Unconstructed - Deleted - Scenic < Route 32 Route 34 >

State Route 33 is a north-south state highway that connects the central and southern areas of the U.S. State of California. CA-33 replaced part of U.S. Highway 399 in 1964 during the "great renumbering" of routes. It is known as the Westside Highway.

[edit] Route summary

Beginning in Ventura as a short freeway (the "Ojai Freeway"), it continues north as an undivided surface road through Ojai, crosses the Santa Ynez Mountains, and then continues across the western side of the San Joaquin Valley. Between Taft and Avenal it roughly parallels Interstate 5. Northwest of Avenal, it turns due west to enter Coalinga, then turns northeast and soon becomes concurrent with I-5 for 13 miles. Thereafter, it departs due north near Cantua Creek, turns northwest at Mendota, and meets California State Highway 152 in Dos Palos, with which it runs concurrently for approximately ten miles. It departs again to the northwest near Los Banos, turns north at Santa Nella (where it has an interchange with I-5), and roughly parallels I-5 and the San Joaquin River until its final terminus at I-5 near Vernalis.

When passing through the Avenal/Coalinga area travelers pass near a series of prisons and government facilities. They include: Avenal State Prison, Pleasent valley State Prison, and the new Coalinga Mental Hospital.

In the Kern County portions of its route, CA-33 passes through one of the United States' largest petroleum extraction fields, with hundreds of nodding oil pumps along the highway.

Most of CA-33's route is through sparsely populated, relatively desolate portions of the San Joaquin Valley. Travelers along it should use caution, since emergency services are typically dozens of miles away. Carrying extra water and coolant is especially advised, since temperatures in the area routinely surpass 100°F (39°C).

Before the decommissioning of US-399 in 1964, CA-33 also followed CA-166 east from Maricopa to US-99 at Wheeler Ridge, and followed the old US highway from Taft to Maricopa. Today, only CA-166 remains on that roadway.

[edit] State law

Legal Definition of Route 33: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 333

Route 33 is part of the Freeway and Expressway System, as stated by section 253.3 of the California State Highway Code.

Route 33 is part of the Scenic Highway System, as stated by section 263.3 of the California State Highway Code.

[edit] External links

• Highway 33 on Pashnit.com
• WestCoast Roads- California 33
• Caltrans: Route 33 highway conditions
• California Highways: CA-33
• Western Exit Guide - California 33