U.S. 395 is a major north-south route that traces the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains for its journey through California and Nevada. Originally starting at the intersection of Market Street and 12th Avenue in downtown San Diego, U.S. 395 was decommissioned in San Diego and Riverside Counties in the 1980s. U.S. 395 now begins at its interchange with Interstate 15 in Hesperia (Exit 141). Much of U.S. 395 is only two lanes wide, but increasing traffic demands have resulted in expansion of U.S. 395 to four lanes in many areas, especially north of the California 14 merge near Ridgecrest.
Only one business loop exists along U.S. 395, and it is found in the vicinity of Ridgecrest and Inyokern. It follows South China Lake Boulevard north into Ridgecrest, then turns west along with California 178 to return to U.S. 395 near Inyokern. AASHTO approved the designation of Business U.S. 395 from an application by the state of Indiana on June 7, 1989.
Northbound Business U.S. 395 at Junction California 178 in Ridgecrest. U.S. 395 avoids Ridgecrest, but Business U.S. 395 connects to the city via a county route from U.S. 395 north to California 178 and via California 178 from downtown Ridgecrest west to U.S. 395. This business route was shown on Rand McNally maps in the late 1990s, but it has disappeared from those maps even though the signage remains. There are at least two erroneous Business California 395 shield assemblies along the county-maintained (north-south) portion of the highway. Photo taken 01/20/02.
Scenes pertaining to U.S. Highway 395 north
Northbound U.S. 395 freeway entrance shield assembly from northbound California 70 at Hallelujah Junction. In California, this might be the only freeway entrance shield assembly in the entire state, since most of U.S. 395 is two-lane highway or multi-lane divided expressway. The cut-out U.S. 395 shield is commonly used in California for signing U.S. 395 instead of the white on black rectangular shield used elsewhere. Photos taken 09/09/05.
U.S. 395 ends at the junction with Interstate 15 in the city of Hesperia. The southbound direction of the highway defaults onto Interstate 15 southbound via a partial "Y" interchange. A half-diamond interchange with Joshua Street facilitates movements onto Interstate 15 north from U.S. 395 south and Interstate 15 south onto U.S. 395 north. Joshua Street intersects U.S. 395 just north of its departure from Interstate 15 northbound. Pictured here is Joshua Street westbound at junction U.S. 395 and it's associated signage. Photos taken 09/09/05.
Joshua Street eastbound at junction U.S. 395. To the right is the southbound on-ramp to Interstate 15 toward San Bernardino. Straight ahead is the U.S. 395 northbound connection to Interstate 15 via the Joshua Street half-diamond interchange. Photo taken 09/09/05.
Motorists continuing east on Joshua Street cross over Interstate 15 ahead of the northbound on-ramp to Victorville and Barstow. Photo taken 09/09/05.
