California State Route 255
Encyclopedia
State Route 255 is a state highway
in Humboldt County
, California
, United States
.
and Arcata
, routed via the three bridges over Humboldt Bay and Indian Island
and Woodley Islands, rather than motorists having to circumvent the entire northern section of the bay (known as Arcata Bay) to the road connecting the Arcata area to the Samoa Peninsula. In literature and locally, the portion of the road crossing Humboldt Bay (on three separate bridges) is known collectively as the "Samoa Bridge."
Highway 255 provides road access to industrial operations on the Samoa Peninsula and the communities of Samoa
, Fairhaven
, and Manila
, all also located on the Samoa Peninsula. Before the Samoa Bridge (actually three spans) was completed in 1971, direct access to Samoa from Eureka was by boat or on a fleet of small ferries constructed on the bay or the original circuitous route. The original alternative was a relatively extensive route which took drivers north to Arcata and then around the bay to the northern peninsula before reaching the heavily industrialized area adjacent to Eureka. Completion of the Samoa Bridge and the creation and designation of Highway 255, completed a circle around Arcata Bay by connecting to the New Navy Base Road (a portion now designated as 255), along the peninsula connecting Samoa to the Eureka shore of the bay. This resulted in making the ferry system obsolete. However, one ferry, the Madaket, continues operating as a tour boat on Humboldt Bay.
The entire route is in Humboldt County
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=6|Eureka
|0.00
|Myrtle Avenue
|Continuation beyond US 101
|-
|0.00
|
|
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|Samoa Bridge (south span) over Humboldt Bay
|-
|
|Woodley Island Marina
|Interchange
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|Samoa Bridge (middle span) over Humboldt Bay
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=3 align=center|Samoa Bridge (north span) over Humboldt Bay
|-
|
|-
|
|2.03
|New Navy Base Road – Samoa
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Arcata
|8.80
|
|Interchange
|-
|8.80
|Samoa Boulevard – Sunny Brae
|Continuation beyond US 101
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Route description
It is a western alternate route of U.S. Route 101 between EurekaEureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
and Arcata
Arcata, California
-Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile...
, routed via the three bridges over Humboldt Bay and Indian Island
Indian Island (Humboldt Bay)
Indian Island or Duluwat Island is located on Humboldt Bay within the City of Eureka, California. The village of Tolowot or Tuluwat on Duluwat Island was the site of the spiritual if not political center of the Wiyot people and is where the main thrust of the 1860 Wiyot Massacre by European...
and Woodley Islands, rather than motorists having to circumvent the entire northern section of the bay (known as Arcata Bay) to the road connecting the Arcata area to the Samoa Peninsula. In literature and locally, the portion of the road crossing Humboldt Bay (on three separate bridges) is known collectively as the "Samoa Bridge."
Highway 255 provides road access to industrial operations on the Samoa Peninsula and the communities of Samoa
Samoa, California
Samoa is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located northwest of Eureka, at an elevation of 23 feet . Samoa is located in the northern peninsula of Humboldt Bay and is the site of the Samoa Cookhouse, one of the last remaining original, lumber style cookhouses...
, Fairhaven
Fairhaven, California
Fairhaven is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located west-southwest of downtown Eureka, at an elevation of 10 feet ....
, and Manila
Manila, California
Manila is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located north of downtown Eureka, at an elevation of 13 feet . The ZIP Code is 95521...
, all also located on the Samoa Peninsula. Before the Samoa Bridge (actually three spans) was completed in 1971, direct access to Samoa from Eureka was by boat or on a fleet of small ferries constructed on the bay or the original circuitous route. The original alternative was a relatively extensive route which took drivers north to Arcata and then around the bay to the northern peninsula before reaching the heavily industrialized area adjacent to Eureka. Completion of the Samoa Bridge and the creation and designation of Highway 255, completed a circle around Arcata Bay by connecting to the New Navy Base Road (a portion now designated as 255), along the peninsula connecting Samoa to the Eureka shore of the bay. This resulted in making the ferry system obsolete. However, one ferry, the Madaket, continues operating as a tour boat on Humboldt Bay.
Major intersections
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.
The entire route is in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=6|Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
|0.00
|Myrtle Avenue
|Continuation beyond US 101
|-
|0.00
|
|
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|Samoa Bridge (south span) over Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
|-
|
|Woodley Island Marina
|Interchange
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|Samoa Bridge (middle span) over Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=3 align=center|Samoa Bridge (north span) over Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
|-
|
|-
|
|2.03
|New Navy Base Road – Samoa
Samoa, California
Samoa is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located northwest of Eureka, at an elevation of 23 feet . Samoa is located in the northern peninsula of Humboldt Bay and is the site of the Samoa Cookhouse, one of the last remaining original, lumber style cookhouses...
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Arcata
Arcata, California
-Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile...
|8.80
|
|Interchange
|-
|8.80
|Samoa Boulevard – Sunny Brae
Sunny Brae, California
Sunny Brae is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located southeast of downtown Arcata, at an elevation of 52 feet . This neighborhood, primarily built of tract homes in the 1950's and 1960's is considered part of Arcata....
|Continuation beyond US 101