California State Route 68
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| State Route 68 |
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| (CS&HC Section 368) | |||||||||||||
| Length: | 22.02 mi[1] (35.44 km) | ||||||||||||
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| Major junctions: |
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| Asilomar State Beach | MON 0.00 | ||||||||||||
SR-1  |
MON L4.26 | ||||||||||||
| MON R3.95 | |||||||||||||
SR-218  |
MON 6.81 | ||||||||||||
U.S. Route 101  |
MON 22.02 | ||||||||||||
| Major cities: | Monterey Salinas |
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State Route 68 runs from Pacific Grove, California to Salinas, California in the United States. It is about 20 miles long.
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[edit] Highway names
- Asilomar Blvd. - Start to Sunset Drive
- Sunset Drive - For about 1/2 mile up a hill from the coast
- Forest Ave - Goes past multiple businesses, becomes Holman Hwy.
- W.R. Holman Highway - Pacific Grove to junction with State Route 1
- Cabrillo Highway - 68 is synonymous with highway 1 for 2 miles
- Monterey-Salinas Highway - 68 exits highway 1 and continues for 17 miles to Salinas. Goes past Monterey Peninsula Airport, Passadera, Laureles Grade, Corral De Tierra, San Benancio, Toro Park and Spreckles. Freeway for first 1/2 mile and last 3 miles
- South Main St. - Monterey- Salinas becomes South Main at Salinas City Limits and continues to downtown
- John St. - 68 makes a right off of Main and follows John St. to its terminus at U.S. Route 101
[edit] Special designations
The Monterey-Salinas Highway is a California Scenic Route because of its views of the chaparral and springtime lupin for 14 miles between State Route 1 in Monterey to the Salinas River.[2] State Route 68 is part of the Juan De Anza Trail.[3]
[edit] Upgrade Plans
During the 1950s and 1960s, Caltrans had planned to upgrade Highway 68 to a freeway between Salinas and Highway 1 in Monterey, that was to start at US-101 south of the city and proceed west between Salinas and Spreckels, serving as a bypass for Salinas. The freeway was to then follow the existing Highway 68 alignment into Monterey.
The freeway plan died as a result of environmental concerns along the route. The only portions of this freeway that were actually built were a 1-mile section approaching the Highway 1 interchange in Monterey, and a 3-mile segment starting in Spreckels and heading west. At the western terminus of the Spreckels freeway segment, land acquired for the freeway can still be seen.[citation needed]
Despite the congestion and high accident rate on Highway 68, only minor spot improvements at major intersections are planned through the foreseeable future.
[edit] Other facts
- 68 is heavily traveled.[citation needed]
- The Monterey-Salinas Highway is the main connector between Monterey and Salinas[citation needed]
- The Holman Highway is the main connector between Pacific Grove and Carmel[citation needed]
- Traffic backs up in these areas in the morning and afternoon[citation needed]
- Highway 68 and the "68" road symbol have become iconic in Pacific Grove skating culture. This association developed after the opening of the skate shop 68 Skate, and the emergence of the Rancho Bancho Crew and the Mar Crew!The Rancho Bancho Crew rules Pacific Grove!
[edit] State law
Legal Definition of Route 68: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 368
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Route 68 is part of the Freeway and Expressway System, as stated by section 253.1 of the California State Highway Code. |
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Route 68 is part of the Scenic Highway System, as stated by section 263.5 of the California State Highway Code. |
[edit] Sources
[edit] References
- ^ California Log of Bridges on State Highways last retrieved January 1, 2006.
- ^ ROUTE 68 - SCENIC HIGHWAYlast retrieved March 6, 2007.
- ^ Trails and Roads: De Anza Trail last retrieved March 6, 2007.
[edit] External links
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