As various freeway and expressway segments of California 99 were constructed, the old sections of former U.S. 99 or former California 99 were designated as business routes. While many of these business routes are signed, some have gradually lost their signs due to neglect and lack of sign maintenance. The following is a list of business routes that are or have been signed along California 99:
Bakersfield - consists of Golden State Highway, Union Avenue, and Golden State Highway from Exit 11 to Exit 27. The section between California 58 and California 99 near Oildale is still part of the state highway system and is signed as California 204. This business loop is well-signed for its entire length, both while cosigned with California 204 and while traveling through rural areas south of Bakersfield.
Delano - follows High Street from Exit 54 (Woollomes Avenue) to Exit 58 (County Line Road).
Earlimart - follows Front Street generally between Avenue 56 and Avenue 58, with direct connections along southbound.
Pixley - follows Main Street between Avenue 96 and Orland Avenue, with direct connections along southbound.
Tulare - follows K Street (former Exit 84) north to California 137 West (Inyo Avenue), then shifts to J Street north of Tulare Avenue (California 137 East) to rejoin the freeway at Exit 91. The ramp from northbound California 99 to northbound K Street (left exit) was closed through most of 2004 and 2005.
Kingsburg, Selma, Fowler, Fresno - generally follows Golden State Boulevard. Starting in Kingsburg, the business route follows the old alignment of California 99 beginning at Exit 111 (Mendocino Avenue) near the Tulare-Fresno County Line. Business California 99 then travels north through Kingsburg (Simpson Street/Davis Avenue), Selma (Front Street, with Whitson Avenue as an alternate), Fowler (Golden State Boulevard/8th Street), and Fresno. The northern terminus of Business California 99 in Fresno could be the point where Golden State Boulevard merges onto California 99 (near the California 41 interchange at Exit 132A, Ventura Avenue) or at Exit 136 by following G Street, Divisadero Street, and Thorne Avenue. The business route resumes in Fresno between Exit 138 (Ashlan Avenue) and Exit 143 (Herndon Avenue). This business route pretty much spans all of Fresno County as a result.
Madera - follows Gateway Drive between Exit 153A (Gateway Drive/Olive Avenue) and Exit 156 (Avenue 16)
Merced - follows 16th Street between Exit 186 and Exit 189. A portion of the route is cosigned with California 59.
Atwater - follows Atwater Boulevard between Exit 194 (Atwater Boulevard after Buhach Road) and Exit 196 (Atwater Boulevard near Bert Crane Road).
Turlock - follows Golden State Boulevard from Exit 209 (Golden State Boulevard) to either Exit 217 (Taylor Road) or Exit 218 (Keyes Road)
Modesto - follows Ninth Street from Exit 223 (Hatch Road/Ninth Street) north to Exit 229 (Carpenter Road/Briggsmore Avenue). A portion of the route is signed as California 132 and California 108 through downtown Modesto.
Stockton - follows Mariposa Road (Exit 252A) northwest to Charter Way, then follows Charter Way (former California 4) west to Wilson Way. The business route follows Wilson Way north through downtown Stockton, turns northeast, and merges back onto the freeway at Exit 257A.
Lodi - follows Cherokee Lane from Exit 264A (South Lodi) to Exit 267A (Turner Road).
Chico - starts at Park Avenue interchange (Exit 383), travels west to Park Avenue, follows Park Avenue north into downtown Chico, where the business route splits into the one-way couplet of Main Street and Broadway Street. North of downtown, Business California 99 follows Esplanade Road north, rejoining California 99 at Exit 391, two miles north of Eaton Road interchange (Exit 389).
No business routes were found in McFarland, Tipton, Chowchilla, Livingston, Ripon, Manteca, Galt, Elk Grove, Sacramento, Yuba City, Live Oak, Gridley, or Los Molinos.
Business California 99 in Bakersfield
Northbound Business California 99 shield at the interchange of Union Avenue and California 99 in Bakersfield. Much of this historic U.S. 99 route through Bakersfield is a vintage expressway that predates the modern freeway. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 01/07/02.
Northbound Business California 99 at the Oildale separation in Bakersfield. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 01/07/02.
