After the County Line Road interchange (Exit 559), Interstate 5 north enters Colusa County. A mileage sign provides the distance to Arbuckle (6 miles) and Redding (117 miles). The next exit is six miles ahead, in Arbuckle. Old U.S. 99W and the railroad come into view on the east (right) side of the freeway. Due east of here are the Sutter Buttes, which can be seen from Interstate 5 in the distance. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 566, Junction Business Loop I-5 to Arbuckle and Grimes-Arbuckle Road east to College City. This warning sign apparently lights up from time to time, but it was turned off when this photo was taken. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The last remaining "Route 5 Business/Freeway" sign is located just prior to the Arbuckle interchange. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 566, Junction Business Loop I-5 north to unincorporated Arbuckle and Grimes-Arbuckle Road east to the unincorporated community of College City. Through Arbuckle, Business Loop I-5 follows Old U.S. 99W through the downtown area, then rejoins Interstate 5 at Exit 567. The Arbuckle community limits sign in the distance shows a population of 837 and an elevation of 137 feet above sea level. However, the 2000 Census population figure for Arbuckle is much larger (2,332 people). Photo taken 03/31/05.
Making the exit onto Business Loop I-5 into Arbuckle, the mainline sign for Exit 567, Putnam Lateral (signed as "Frontage Road" back in 2005) can be seen. At the end of the ramp, the business route immediately begins its northbound journey through downtown Arbuckle. Turn right at the stop sign to follow Grimes-Arbuckle Road east to College City. Photo taken 03/31/05.
There are no photos of Exit 567, the north end of Business Loop I-5 at Putnam Lateral (formerly Frontage Road exit). If you have any photos of this interchange to share, please contact us.
After the Putnam Lateral/Business 5 interchange (Exit 567), this mileage sign along Interstate 5 north provides the distance to Williams (10 miles) and Redding (110 miles). Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 569, Hahn Road to the unincorporated community of Grimes. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 569, Hahn Road to Grimes. This road travels west to Cortina School Road and east to California 45 at the town of Grimes along the Sacramento River. At this point Old U.S. 99W remains on the east side of the freeway along with the railroad. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 is Exit 575, Junction Business Loop I-5 north to Williams. The business connection is made via east-west Husted Road; just exit Husted Road east to Old U.S. 99W, and then follow the former U.S. highway into downtown Williams via the familiar green signs. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Business Loop I-5 in Williams is signed with a green shield from the Interstate 5 mainline, which is a rarity. Although the Williams business loop at Exit 575 is only eight miles north of the Arbuckle business loop, the two business loops are considered two separate business loops rather than combined into one route. However, it is possible to drive Old U.S. 99W between the two extant business loops on the east side of the freeway. After this exit, the business loop and old U.S. 99W will pass under Interstate 5 and stay on the west side of the freeway through Williams and Maxwell. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 575, Husted Road to Junction Business Loop I-5 and Old U.S. 99W north to Williams. The city of Williams is home to 3,670 people as of the 2000 census and features all motorist services and is a regional agricultural center. The downtown area is served by Business Loop I-5 (Old U.S. 99W), and a historic arch is located there. Photo taken 03/31/05.
After the Husted Road (Business Loop 5) interchange, an Interstate 5 north reassurance shield can be found. The freeway will soon pass over Business Loop I-5/Old U.S. 99W and the railroad in order to bypass the city of Williams. The billboard behind the reassurance shield refers to Granzella's restaurant, which is a popular attraction with its locally famous olives. Although the restaurant burned down in October 2007, it is planned to reopen in Spring 2008. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 north is Exit 577, Junction Business California 20/E Street west to Williams and east to Williams Airport. This is the main services exit for Williams, including gas, food, and lodging. Business California 20 leads west to meet Business Loop I-5 in downtown Williams, then reconnects with California 20 west of town. To the east of the freeway, Business California 20 passes a few more motorist services, turns north on Husted Road near Williams Airport, then merges back onto mainline California 20 near Freshwater Road. California 20 then continues east en route to Colusa. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 577, Junction Business California 20/E Street west to Williams and east to Williams Airport. For the main California 20 interchange, continue north to Exit 578, Junction California 20. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 is Exit 578, Junction California 20. California 20 west leads to Clear Lake and Lake County, including connections to the communities of Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Nice, Lucerne, and Upper Lake. Ultimately, California 20 ends at the coast, where it meets California 1 near Fort Bragg. California 20 east leads to California 45 in Colusa, then crosses the Sacramento River at Meridian, en route to Marysville/Yuba City and Grass Valley/Nevada City. At its eastern end, California 20 merges onto Interstate 80 at Emigrant Gap; this is a good route for through traffic to Lake Tahoe and beyond (rather than going south to Sacramento). Photo taken 03/31/05.
The next exit along Interstate 5 is Exit 578, Junction California 20. California 20 west leads to Clear Lake and Lake County, including connections to the communities of Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Nice, Lucerne, and Upper Lake. Ultimately, California 20 ends at the coast, where it meets California 1 near Fort Bragg. California 20 east leads to California 45 in Colusa, then crosses the Sacramento River at Meridian, en route to Marysville/Yuba City and Grass Valley/Nevada City. At its eastern end, California 20 merges onto Interstate 80 at Emigrant Gap; this is a good route for through traffic to Lake Tahoe and beyond (rather than going south to Sacramento). Photo taken 03/31/05.
After passing the rest area at Exit 583, the next exit along Interstate 5 is Exit 586, Maxwell Road. Use Maxwell Road west to Business Loop I-5 and Old U.S. 99W in downtown Maxwell. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Use Maxwell Road east to the Delevan National Wildlife and California 45 near the Colusa Casino Resort at Cachil Dehe Rancheria. To the west, Maxwell Road leads into downtown Maxwell, an unincorporated community of Colusa County. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The proposed yet unconstructed Sites Reservoir site is located west of Maxwell near the small town of Sites. This reservoir would be part of an enhanced water storage system in Northern California to store water during dry months and dry years. According to the Northern California Water Association (NCWA), "The proposed location of the Sites off-stream storage project is approximately 10 miles west of Maxwell in Antelope Valley. The reservoir would have a storage capacity of 1.9 million acre-feet (possibly larger) and would enhance water management flexibility throughout the state." It is not clear how this project is related to the East Park Reservoir described on this sign. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 586, Maxwell Road west to Maxwell and Sites and east to Delevan National Wildlife Refuge. This is no access to Exit 588, so this is the only exit from Interstate 5 north to the town of Maxwell. Exit 588 is a half-diamond, and Old U.S. 99W and Business Loop 5 pass under Interstate 5 at that interchange. The business loop continues north from Exit 588 toward Delevan and has additional connections with Interstate 5 at Exit 601 near Willows in Glenn County. Photo taken 03/31/05.
The final interchange in Colusa County on Interstate 5 north is Exit 591, Delevan Road to the town of Delevan. The town sits east of Interstate 5 on Business Loop I-5/old U.S. 99W. The business loop from Williams to Corning is a contender for the longest Interstate business loop in the country. Photo taken 03/31/05.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 591, Delevan Road to the town of Delevan. Photo taken 03/31/05.
This mileage sign (located after the Delevan Road interchange) provides the distance to Willows (11 miles) and Redding (85 miles). Photo taken 03/31/05.
Interstate 5 leaves Colusa County and enters Glenn County. Photo taken 03/31/05.
