Wheeler Ridge Interchange
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wheeler Ridge Interchange | |
|---|---|
 SR 99, and the interchange, viewed from the south on I-5 near the Tejon Pass. | |
 Interactive map of Wheeler Ridge Interchange | |
| Location | |
| Wheeler Ridge, California | |
| Coordinates | 35°0′50″N 118°57′15″W / 35.01389°N 118.95417°W |
| Roads at junction |  I-5 (Golden State Freeway / Westside Freeway) SR 99 (Golden State Freeway) |
| Construction | |
| Type | Two level stack interchange |
| Spans | 2 |
| Lanes | 8 (I-5 south), 6 (SR 99 north), 4 (I-5 north) |
| Constructed | 1966-1967 |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Maintained by | Caltrans |
The Wheeler Ridge Interchange is a freeway interchange near Wheeler Ridge, California, where State Route 99 (SR 99) merges with Interstate 5 (I-5). Located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Bakersfield, it is the southernmost freeway interchange in the San Joaquin Valley.
Principally, it can be seen as splitting northbound traffic from the Los Angeles area into the San Joaquin Valley's two major north–south routes: the Golden State Freeway (SR 99), which serves the major cities and commerce centers in the San Joaquin Valley, and the Westside Freeway (I-5), which bypasses most cities in the valley as a more direct route to the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.
The interchange comprises three freeway segments or paths of travel:
I-5 south (Golden State Freeway south) – Los Angeles
I-5 north (Westside Freeway) – San Francisco, Sacramento
SR 99 north (Golden State Freeway north) – Bakersfield, Fresno
Because of its location at the southernmost end of the San Joaquin Valley, the interchange is a major hub for traffic between the Los Angeles area and the valley. As the Golden State Freeway, I-5 approaches from the south after descending from the Tejon Pass in the Tehachapi Mountains. At the split, SR 99 heads roughly due north to Bakersfield, Fresno, and the other population centers in the valley. I-5 then continues as the Westside Freeway to the northwest toward the western part of the valley, to serve as a faster route to San Francisco, Sacramento, and other Northern California destinations.
The interchange has been confusing to some northbound drivers because of its design. This is due to the fact that the Westside Freeway is a relatively newer route than the other two directions, both of which used to be part of U.S. Route 99 (US 99). The two right northbound lanes on I-5 "exit" onto the Westside Freeway, while the left northbound mainline lanes continue onto SR 99.
The Wheeler Ridge Interchange includes the only truck bypass in Kern County. There are however no ramps connecting southbound I-5 directly with northbound SR 99; traffic must instead use State Route 166 a few miles north of the interchange.
