A significant east-west corridor across the southern Central Valley and Mojave Desert, California 58 is a two-lane highway through the Coastal Range between U.S. 101 and Interstate 5 and a freeway-expressway connection between Bakersfield and Barstow.
Planned Improvements
Ongoing upgrades to the corridor, including the recently completed Mojave Bypass, bring California 58 closer to freeway standards for the entire Bakersfield to Barstow route. California 58 replaced U.S. 466 between Bakersfield and Barstow during the Great Renumbering of 1964.
Photo Journey
The guide to California 58 is divided into eastbound and westbound directions by county as follows:
The Tehachapi Loop is part of the railroad that parallels California 58, and it is located about halfway up the Tehachapi Pass, near the Keene exit off California 58. The loop allows for the continuation of a consistent 2.2% grade for railroad traffic over 28 miles to the pass itself. Basically, the railroad completes a 360-degree loop (as shown in the first picture), thus allowing the consistent 2.2% grade to continue. Without the loop, the grade would be steeper. Photos taken 01/21/04.
