The Novato freeway bypass: I commuted from Kentfield to Sonoma State in 1971-72 and the bypass was not open. I'd say '73 at the earliest. Also, I talked to a guy the other day who remembered his mother taking the whole family for a ride over the newly-opened Petaluma River Bridge (the new freeway route) in the later 1950s. It was a real thrill for him, wide-eyed about it 50 years later!
Are we sure the freeway opened through Novato in 1970? I still remember going through downtown Novato in 1971 and seeing the young hippie mothers with babies on their hips thumbing rides at Redwood and Grant.
The last old Marin County gas station map I have is from 1969, and it just shows a dotted line for the Novato bypass marked "proposed," not even "under construction."
bry and Paul, I believe you both, but I find it odd that Petaluma would be 15 years before Novato and Santa Rosa.
Don't think we didn't find it remarkable that, on the way up to see Grandma and Grandpa in Calpella, we still had to run a gauntlet of stop signals in downtown Novato long after you could whiz by Petaluma, Santa Rosa and maybe even Healdsburg on the way.
Are we sure the freeway opened through Novato in 1970? I still remember going through downtown Novato in 1971 and seeing the young hippie mothers with babies on their hips thumbing rides at Redwood and Grant. We moved to Novato in 1971. I seem to remember the freeway opening shortly after that. Well, something else to look up at the California Room.
As to why the Novato bypass took so long, compared to the others, probably had to do with budgeting. After all, they are still working on 101 North, and there are bottlenecks here and there all the way to the Oregon border.
bry and Paul, I believe you both, but I find it odd that Petaluma would be 15 years before Novato and Santa Rosa.
Don't think we didn't find it remarkable that, on the way up to see Grandma and Grandpa in Calpella, we still had to run a gauntlet of stop signals in downtown Novato long after you could whiz by Petaluma, Santa Rosa and maybe even Healdsburg on the way.
In the 1950s, street-level 101 through downtown Santa Rosa was beautiful. It was like a parkway, a four-lane boulevard with lawns and garden plantings in the median and along the sides. I don't know how long that section was, or exactly where, but it was incredible. I'd love to see color pictures of it, but I haven't even come across any black and white. I did see a photo of that stretch being constructed c.1948 in one of the Santa Rosa-themed "Images of America" books.
I guess you mean the Mall is what took away all the old homes I remember.
I haven't been up there in years, but if I remember right, There is still part of downtown on the west side of the freeway that is completely cut off from the rest of Downtown is. (like where Chevy's or The Cantina are/were).
Wouldn't that have been the freeway causing that ? Personally I think that downtown would be a lot more vibrant if Fourth St went through to the other side.
Hi Steve,I see your theory,which made me notice something.Freeway construction started going full throttle in the early 50's.Marin and Sonoma both started south and worked north they went where the traffic was.Marin started at the waldo tunnels,and sonoma at Petaluma.You mentioned S.R ruined downtown.That didnt happen until 1979.There bypass opened in 57.
bry and Paul, I believe you both, but I find it odd that Petaluma would be 15 years before Novato and Santa Rosa.
SR, I can see, because they had to ruin a downtown, which takes effort, but Novato was just like Petaluma, a straight shot through nothing.
My aunt had a ranch in Windsor in the early sixtys and I know from that, that they don't ask, they take, so I would think Novato would be long before, not long after. I wonder.
the petaluma bypass was opened november 16, 1956. construction started,july 1, 1953.The first meeting to discuss the bypass was sept. 1948.For Novato the accuisition of land for the freeway began in 1966.The freeway opened in 1970.Here,s a little tid bit.Driving south on 101 thru Novato between the Delong and Rowland exits,to the right up on a hill,I'm sure youve seen that strange flying saucer looking roundhouse, and the half barrelles spinning ontop of a shack next to the freeway? That roundhouse used to sit where the slow lane is now. It had to be moved to where it is now to put the freeway thru.Theres another house in between the two called the Potato chip house by its builder(Sam Harkle)in 1954.Theres more if your interested, let me know.
I hope Jason doesn't catch me going over the county line but when was the Petaluma bypass built ? I have no recollection there.
I won't tell him if you won't. In one of those "Images of America" photo books (the one with the sepia covers) on Petaluma, it mentions that what had been called "Main St." was changed to "Petaluma Blvd." in 1958, when the bypass opened. Or maybe 1958 was only when the name was changed. Anyway, I remember us bouncing along Stony Point Rd. in our '49 Hudson around 1955ish, on our way to the Russian River and looking up the hill to see the road graders at work on the Cotati bypass. So I think that went in first.
Here's an interesting factoid: in them there days, what's called Highway 116 between Sebastopol and the coast was called Highway 12.
1964 is the year they widened the highway, and also built the overpasses at alameda del prado by jack in the box, and the pacheco overpass down by burger king.And also the highway 37 interchange.Plus 2 more lanes thru marinwood, to connect with the recently completed terre linda project.I have a collection of California Highway and Public Works magazines from 1956 to 1967 that covers all highway and freeway projects.A wealth of information. Before 1963 the frontage road that runs parallel with todays freeway by Franks or Famous deli mart was the main highway. Entrada drive was the only street you could turn onto that took you past alvarado inn, burgies drive inn,and on to the military housing. Ignacio also had its own train station(pictured in the Novato pre 1950's section.It was located next to the older northbound onramp at bel marin keys.There is one palm tree on the right, last one of a row known as The Depot Palms.The station was torn down in 1962 to make way for the widening project.
Interesting bry, So would Hwy 101 be not a freeway in '63 and you could just pull off to Roger Wilco and The Meadows and Alvarado Inn etc. Just guessing.
1964 Shell Oil Marin County street map shows full-freeway status for 101 just up past the Hwy 37 junction. Interchanges in place for Hamilton, Ignacio and 37.
Interesting bry, So would Hwy 101 be not a freeway in '63 and you could just pull off to Roger Wilco and The Meadows and Alvarado Inn etc. Just guessing.
Was Safeway/Pacheco Plaza just an empty field or what was it ?
Steve C. When I worked for Novato in 79 to 81, it was Roger Wilco at Ignacio and up on Novato blvd. I think the name had something to do with the military on the 2 way radio . Roger is like 10-4, and Wilco is 'will comply' Therefore, I think it was Roger Wilco, then Cala, then DeLano's. But then again I could be wrong.
