California State Route 17

From its southern terminus with SR 1 in Santa Cruz, Route 17 begins as a five-lane freeway (narrows to four lanes after Pasatiempo Drive).At the north end of Scotts Valley, it becomes a four-lane divided highway, with access at various points without interchanges, and begins a winding ascent of the Santa Cruz Mountains.The road crosses the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz county line through the Patchen Pass, commonly referred to as "The Summit", at an elevation of 1,800 feet (549 m), where there is an interchange with SR 35.Just north of the summit, a winding descent of the mountains begins, again with access at various points, mostly without grade separations, as far as Los Gatos.In addition, barbed wired fencing and retaining walls were added after the route suffered landslides in the Loma Prieta Earthquake.[citation needed] Gillian Cichowski Memorial Overcrossing Bridge, over SR 17 near Los Gatos at Lexington Reservoir, was named by California Senate Concurrent Resolution 32, Chapt.The overpass was in response to a campaign by friends of Gillian Cichowski to make the intersection (with Bear Creek Road) safer.SR 17 in Santa Cruz County is named after California Highway Patrol Lieutenant Michael Walker.[11] Partly in response to this accident near the Glenwood Road intersection, Caltrans began work in 2008 to widen the shoulder to eight feet.When the reservoir was built, the highway was rerouted to higher ground, and the two towns along its path (Alma and Lexington) were abandoned.[19] When the reservoir levels are extremely low, the old highway pavement is visible as well as some stone and concrete foundations of buildings.Both routes continued on 8th to Cypress Street which became an elevated viaduct entering the Bay Bridge Distribution Structure ("The Maze").Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.
Looking downhill from the Summit Road overpass; brake lights can be seen as cars slow down before the curve known as "Valley Surprise".
Gillian Cichowski Memorial Overcrossing.
California's 17th congressional districtEcuador Highway 5CaltransSanta CruzLos GatosSR 85San JoseUnited StatesCaliforniaSanta ClaraState highways in CaliforniaInterstateScenicHistoryPre‑1964UnconstructedDeletedFreewaysSR 16SR 18state highwayU.S. stateState Route 1freewayexpresswaySanta Cruz MountainsPatchen PassSan Francisco Bay AreaScotts ValleyU.S. 50SacramentoInterstate 280Interstate 880California Freeway and Expressway SystemNational Highway SystemFederal Highway AdministrationState Scenic Highway SystemCalifornia Department of TransportationSanta Cruz CountySanta Clara CountyCalifornia Highway PatrolLoma Prieta EarthquakeLexington ReservoirCharlie McKiernanGlenwoodghost townSan Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge"The Maze"Cypress StructureChester W. NimitzRichmond-San Rafael BridgeEastshore FreewaypostmilesHalf Moon BayWatsonvilleMontereyPasatiempoLexington HillsSR 35Redwood EstatesCR G10SaratogaMountain ViewGilroyCampbellSan Tomas ExpresswaySinclair FreewayDowntown San JoseJunipero Serra FreewaySan FranciscoOaklandWayback MachineCalifornia Numbered Exit Uniform System