| California 37 east |
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The off-ramp from U.S. 101 (Redwood Highway) south carries southbound traffic to the exit for eastbound California 37 and northbound South Novato Boulevard. Signs were replaced between 2004 and 2013, and in the process, another set of original porcelain-enamel overhead signs was removed. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Use California 37 east to Vallejo (Interstate 80) and Napa (via California 29 north). The ramp widens to two lanes. All through traffic for California 37 east to Vallejo and Napa should merge into the left lane; the right lane will become exit only for U.S. 101 north to Santa Rosa and Eureka. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The off-ramp again splits here, with the left lane connecting to California 37 east and the right lane connecting to U.S. 101 north to Santa Rosa and Eureka. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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After merging with traffic from U.S. 101 north and from South Novato Boulevard, eastbound California 37 briefly has three lanes. The first exit along eastbound is Exit 1, Marsh Boulevard. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The first standalone California 37 east reassurance shield is posted immediately after the Marsh Boulevard interchange. Photo taken 07/06/13. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to Sonoma (18 miles via California 121 north and California 12 west), Vallejo (19 miles via California 37 east), and Napa (26 miles via California 121 north). Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Segments of old bridge guardrail can be found along California 37's many bridges and grade separations, especially at the Marin County end of the route. Photos taken 07/06/13. |
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A 230kV Pacific Gas and Electric power line follows the first few miles of California 37, then turns north to connect up with the rest of the Pacific Gas & Electric power grid as well as lines coming south from the Geysers geothermal power generation facility. Photos taken 07/06/13. |
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The next exit along California 37 east is Exit 2, Atherton Avenue northwest to Green Point and Novato. This exit also serves Harbor Drive east to Black Point and Renaissance Road south to Stonetree Golf Club. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Eastbound California 37 reaches Exit 2, Atherton Avenue to Green Point and Harbor Drive to Black Point. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The gore point exit number marker for Exit 2 is unnumbered. Photo taken 07/06/13. |
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This California 37 east reassurance shield assembly is posted after the Harbor Drive/Black Point interchange. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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California 37 crosses the Petaluma River via this bridge. The highway leaves Marin County and enters Sonoma County. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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This view shows the low country traversed by California 37 as seen from the top of the Petaluma River bridge. California 37 downgrades from a freeway configuration to expressway standards from this point east to Vallejo. Photos taken 11/26/04 and 07/06/13. |
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The first at-grade intersection along California 37 east is with a frontage road that travels west to the Port Sonoma Marina. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Another 230kV pacific Gas and Electric power line parallels California 37; it will follow the state highway from here east to Vallejo. Photo taken 07/06/13. |
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The next intersection is governed by a traffic signal, and thus may slow down traffic. Turn left to follow Lakeville Highway north to California 116, which connects with U.S. 101 in Petaluma. Turn right to Reclamation Road south to points along the north shore of San Pablo Bay. Photos taken 11/26/04 and 07/06/13. |
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Eastbound California 37 meets Lakeville Highway north and Reclamation Road south. The highway remains four lanes at this point. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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A California 37 east reassurance shield assembly is posted shortly after Lakeville Highway. A weigh station for trucks is ahead. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The next major intersection along California 37 east is with California 121. Use the left lane for the connection to California 121 (Carneros Highway). Stay right for the continuation of California 37 east to Vallejo. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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California 121 travels north along the Carneros Highway past Roche Winery and the Sonoma Mountains into southern Sonoma Valley. Once in the valley, California 121 meets California 12 near Schellville south of the city of Sonoma. California 121 turns east along with California 12 toward Napa, while California 12 travels northwest through Sonoma Valley into the city of Sonoma and eventually enters the city of Santa Rosa. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The intersection with California 121 is located at Sears Point, which is home to Infineon Raceway. Traffic counts increase substantially through here on race days. Stay left for California 121 north to Sonoma and Napa; the right lane only connects to California 37 east to Vallejo. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Eastbound California 37 approaches California 121 near Sears Point. Although California 37 is an expressway, this major junction is an intersection, not an interchange. An El Camino Real route marker with mission bell was added, since the northernmost mission on El Camino Real is in Sonoma. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The intersection between California 37 and California 121 comes into view after cresting the southern tip of the Sonoma Mountains. This will mark the southern terminus of California 121. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The southern end of the wide Sonoma Valley comes into view as eastbound California 37 approaches California 121. East of here, California 37 will only carry one eastbound lane with occasional passing lanes until reaching Mare Island close to Vallejo. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Eastbound California 37 meets California 121 north at this signalized intersection. Plans call for an eventual interchange at this location, but it is unfunded. Watch for stopped or slowed traffic through this area. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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California 37 reduces to two lanes shortly thereafter and crosses a railroad at grade. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Between California 121 and the Sonoma Creek bridge, California 37 hugs the north edge of San Pablo Bay and skirts the national wildlife refuge. With only two lanes, passing opportunities are limited, and the highway carries a heavy volume of traffic. Watch for slow or stopped vehicles along the way. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Soon thereafter, California 37 approaches a Vista Point and the Richard "Fresh Air" Janson Bridge over Sonoma Creek. Two sets of power lines straddle the state route. The bridge is two lanes, with one lane in each direction. More Pacific Gas and Electric power lines converge and follow California 37 for the next several miles. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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California 37 crosses the Richard "Fresh Air" Janson Bridge over Sonoma Creek, leaves Sonoma County, and enters Solano County. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Vast tracts of wetlands, islands, and meandering waterways come into view as California 37 descends from the Fresh Air Bridge. The state route remains two lanes despite the heavy traffic volume. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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The two directions of California 37 are separated by a concrete barrier, which is intended to prevent vehicles from crossing lanes and causing head-on collisions. Accidents of this nature resulted in a nickname of "Blood Alley" for the two-lane section of California 37. Funds were identified in the mid-1990s to install the concrete barrier, but four lanes with median separation and full shoulders are really needed to make this section safer. Wetlands comes close to the state route, as seen off the south shoulder of the Sears Point Highway. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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The next intersection along California 37 east is with Skaggs Island cutoff north into a U.S. Naval Reservation. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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A flashing beacon is the only traffic control device in action at the intersection with the cutoff road to Skaggs Island. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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This section of California 37 (Sears Point Highway) is designated as the Special Agent William "Randy" Bolt Memorial Highway. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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California 37 east next approaches Exit 17, Railroad Avenue south to Mare Island Naval Reservation (closed, and poised for eventual redevelopment). At this point, California 37 enters the city of Vallejo, which is home to 116,760 people as of the 2000 Census and is home to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park, which was formerly Marine World Africa USA. The city was incorporated in 1867 and consists of 48.8 square miles (including approximately 18 square miles of water). Use Railroad Avenue south through the former naval reservation. A connection is offered to Wichels Causeway, which crosses the Napa River east to near the Vallejo Municipal Marina. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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A trailblazer sign points the way to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (former Marine World); continue east on California 37 for four miles to the amusement park. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The California 37 bridge over the Napa River comes into view, as well as the skyline of the city of Vallejo. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Looking to the southeast, the towers of the Wichels Causeway come into view, as well as some of the buildings within the defunct naval reservation. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Eastbound California 37 reaches Exit 17, Walnut Avenue and Railroad Avenue south to Mare Island Naval Reservation. Continue straight ahead for connections into the city of Vallejo. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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The next exit along California 37 east is Exit 18, Wilson Avenue and Sacramento Street. After crossing the Napa River bridge, the exit ramp connects to Wilson Avenue south to Vallejo Heights, the River Park, and downtown Vallejo. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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After the Walnut Avenue and Railroad Avenue interchange, eastbound California 37 again widens out to two through lanes and prepares to cross the Napa River. The next interchange along eastbound is Exit 18, Wilson Avenue and Sacramento Street. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Ascending the Napa River bridge, eastbound California 37 approaches Exit 18, Wilson Avenue and Sacramento Street. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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The exit ramp from California 37 east to Exit 18, Wilson Avenue and Sacramento Street comes into view as the bridge begins to descend back to land. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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Eastbound California 37 reaches Exit 18, Wilson Avenue and Sacramento Street. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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This mileage sign along California 37 provides the distance to the next two exits: Exit 19, California 29 (Sonoma Boulevard) and Exit 20, Fairgrounds Drive. Photo taken 07/06/13. |
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At the time this photo was taken, the California 37 freeway interchange with California 29 was incomplete, but it was done by 2005. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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The next exit along California 37 east is Exit 19, California 29 (Sonoma Boulevard) north to the cities of American Canyon and Napa. California 29 also travels south to downtown Vallejo. Photo taken 07/06/13. |
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Eastbound California 37 reaches Exit 19, California 29 (Sonoma Boulevard). All traffic had to exit at the time this photo was taken since the freeway was not yet complete. However, the freeway is now done. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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This section of highway used to function as the mainline; today, it is the exit ramp from California 37 east to California 29 (Sonoma Boulevard). Turn left to follow California 29 north to American Canyon, Napa, and all points north in Napa Valley. Turn right to follow California 29 south to downtown Vallejo and eventually Interstate 80 west at the foot of the Alfred Zampa Bridge. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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However, to keep through traffic out of downtown Vallejo, through traffic to Interstate 80 east to Sacramento or west to San Francisco and Oakland are encouraged to use California 37 east. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
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The next exit along California 37 east is Exit 20, Fairgrounds Drive south to the Solano County Fairgrounds and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Marine World). Fairgrounds Drive also leads north to American Canyon. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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Eastbound California 37 reaches Exit 20, Fairgrounds Drive to the Solano County Fairgrounds and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Marine World). The next exit is Exits 21A-B, Interstate 80 and Columbus Parkway. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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The next two exits are Exit 21A, Interstate 80 west to Oakland and San Francisco and Exit 21B, Columbus Parkway. All remaining traffic is defaulted onto Interstate 80 east to Sacramento. Photo taken 07/06/13. |
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Immediately thereafter, eastbound California 37 reaches Exit 21A, Interstate 80 west to Oakland and San Francisco. The left two lanes transition directly onto Interstate 80 east to Fairfield and Sacramento. The next exit is Exit 21B, Columbus Parkway to eastern Vallejo. Photos taken 07/06/13 and 11/26/04. |
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This view of the signage for Exit 21B to Columbus Parkway is seen from the transition ramp from California 37 east to Interstate 80 west. Photo taken 11/26/04. |
Page Updated September 21, 2013.
