| California 111 North
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| After the California 78 intersection, California 111 and California 78 are cosigned as they travel west via Main Street into Brawley. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| Shortly after the new expressway intersection, California 78 and California 111 approach the junction with Old Highway 111 and Best Road. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| At this intersection is the first gas station located directly along California 111 since leaving Calexico. This is a temporary feature, since the completion of the California 111 bypass will keep the state highway off the city streets of Brawley. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| California 78 and California 111 are signed on these reassurance shields after the Old Highway 111/Best Road intersection. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| The next intersection is for Eastern Avenue. The City of Brawley was founded in 1908 in the Lower Colorado Desert. With a population of 22,000 (2005 estimate), Brawley is situated along the Union Pacific Railroad, which generally follows California 111 north toward Indio, Coachella Valley, and Interstate 10. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| Recreational vehicles such as this one are a common sight in Brawley before and after weekends as "desert rats" vacate the coastal cities and spend long weekends enjoying off-road vehicles on the Algodones (Imperial) Sand Dunes. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| Owing to its origins as a farming town, labor leader Cesar E. Chavez is honored with a street in his name in eastern Brawley. This was formerly 10th Street. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| Approaching the railroad tracks, California 111 prepares to turn north along 8th Street. California 78 will continues west along Main Street, as it crosses downtown and connects with California 86 only a few blocks to the west. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| This mileage sign advises that it is an incredible 198 miles from Brawley to Los Angeles. For me, it is hard to believe how far it is downtown Brawley to the City of Angels. North on California 111 is the city of Calipatria. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| Continue straight ahead on California 78 to California 86. To the north, 8th Street (for now) serves as California 111, while to the south, 8th Street carries Imperial County Route S-31 south to H Street. The county route turns west on H Street briefly, then turns south on Imperial Avenue, which changes into Dogwood Road. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| The traffic signal for westbound traffic is mounted into the Ciudad Plaza building. Sidewalks are covered in this downtown desert city, because it offers lunchtime relief from direct sunlight for those walking through town. Calexico's downtown is similiarly arranged. Photo taken 03/26/06.
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| Now traveling north on 8th Street, California 111 meets B Street. This route will likely be decommissioned from the state highway system once the new expressway is constructed. At that time, this will either become Business California 111 or an extension of Imperial County Route S-31. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Passing by packing sheds and agricultural facilities, California 111 continues north out of Brawley. Near Shank Road (not photographed), California 111 will intersect the future Brawley Bypass, which is scheduled for completion by 2008. An interchange will be constructed at the point where existing California 111 meets this bypass route. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to Calipatria (10 miles), Niland (18 miles), and Indio (74 miles). California 111 follows the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| This is a sample of the kind of landscape seen along California 111. While the farmed lands are still irrigated, the non-agricultural lands remain comparably dusty and dry. Such is farming in the desert. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Continuing north, California 111 approaches Imperial County Route S-26 (Rutherford Road) and crosses over the New River, the single most polluted river in the United States (due to untreated runoff originating in Mexico, then flowing north through the river past American farms to the Salton Sea). Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Follow Imperial County Route S-26 east to Rockwood and Wiest Lake. Wiest Lake lies at a lowly -166 foot elevation. Imperial County Route S-26 ends at the intersection with Imperial County Route S-32 (Butters Road) west of the Highline Canal. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| This reassurance shield is posted after the Imperial County Route S-26 intersection. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Near Ramer Lake, a large dairy farm is located on the east side of the highway. Ramer Lake is formed along the Alamo River, which like its cousin the New River, has significant pollution problems. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Calipatria comes into view in the distance as California 111 approaches east-west Albright Road, another farm-to-market road. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| California 111 widens out as it enters the city of Calipatria. Located about 150 miles east of San Diego and 100 miles southeast of Palm Springs, Calipatria is based on the agricultural resources of north-central Imperial County. The city was founded on February 28, 1918, and it is known for a flagpole that extends some 184 feet above the town ... the same height as sea level! Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| In downtown Calipatria, California 111 will meet California 115 and Imperial County Route S-30. Use California 115 east to farm and ranch access. The highway turns south, intersects California 78 east of Brawley, then passes through the city of Holtville via Old U.S. 80 before ending at Interstate 8 southeast of Holtville near the hot springs. Photo taken 08/27/04.
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| Calipatria is home to 7,289 people as of the 2000 Census. For single women, Calipatria might be an excellent place to meet men, as the population is 78% male and 22% female per the 2000 Census. Northbound California 111 reaches the downtown intersection with California 115 and Imperial County Route S-30. Follow Imperial County Route S-30 (Main Street, which changes into Eddins Road) west to the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. There is a hiking trail available at the southeastern shore of the sea that offers ample views of the lake and its environs. Farms and geothermal power plants line the southern shores of the Salton Sea. After the turnoff to the wildlife refuge, Imperial County Route S-30 then turns south off Eddins Road, then follows Gentry Road then Forrester Road south through Westmorland, where the county route meets California 78 and California 86. Imperial County Route S-30 then continues south toward Imperial, El Centro, and Heber before ending at California 98. Photos taken 08/27/04.
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| Northbound California 111 meets California 115 and Imperial County Route S-30 in downtown Calipatria. California 115 travels east and then south to California 78 and Holtville. Imperial County Route S-30 leads west to the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. California 111 continues north toward Niland, then hugs the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea as the state highway travels northwest toward the Coachella Valley. Much of the route from here to Indio is two lanes wide. Photo taken 07/21/01.
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| California 111 follows the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea. This mileage sign is approximately 27 miles southeast of Mecca along northbound. Photo taken 07/21/01.
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Page Updated April 29, 2006.
