California State Route 255

File:Highway 255.JPG

File:Highway 255 behind Woodley Island Marina.jpg) in the background.]]

It is a western alternate route of U.S. Route 101 between Eureka and Arcata, routed via the three bridges over Humboldt Bay and Tuluwat 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", the bridge is considered a freeway.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-255.html|title=California @ AARoads - California 255|website=www.aaroads.com}}

Highway 255 provides direct access to industrial operations on the Samoa Peninsula and the communities of Samoa, Fairhaven, and Manila, all of which are located on the Samoa Peninsula, with the entire combined area located within Greater Eureka.

SR 255 is part of the National Highway System,{{FHWA NHS map|region=californianorth|accessdate=September 3, 2017}} a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.{{FHWA NHS}}

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.

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{{CAinttop|county=Humboldt|post_ref=
{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}California Department of Transportation, [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2006all.htm All Traffic Volumes on CSHS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721033203/http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/2006all.htm |date=July 21, 2011 }}, 2006

}}

{{CAint

|location=Eureka

|lspan=6

|postmile=0.00

|pmspan=2

|road=Myrtle Avenue

|notes=Continuation beyond US 101

}}

{{CAint

|type=incomplete

|mile=none

|road={{jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=north|name1=5th Street}}

|notes=One-way street; south end of SR 255

}}

{{CAint

|type=incomplete

|postmile=0.05

|road={{jct|state=CA|US|101|dir1=south|name1=4th Street}}

|notes=One way street

}}

{{CAint|exit

|postmile=none

|place=South end of freeway

}}

{{CAint

|postmile=0.20

|bridge=Samoa Bridge (south span) over the Eureka Channel of Humboldt Bay

}}

{{CAint

|postmile=0.66

|road=Woodley Island Marina

|notes=Interchange

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|postmile=0.67

|bridge=Samoa Bridge (middle span) over the Middle Channel of Humboldt Bay

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|postmile=1.37

|bridge=Samoa Bridge (north span) over the Samoa Channel of Humboldt Bay

}}

{{CAint|exit

|location=none

|postmile=none

|place=North end of freeway

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|postmile=2.03

|road=New Navy Base Road – Samoa

|notes=

}}

{{CAint

|location=Arcata

|lspan=2

|postmile=8.80

|pmspan=2

|road={{jct|state=CA|US|101|name1=Redwood Highway|city1=Crescent City|city2=Eureka}}

|notes=Interchange; north end of SR 255; US 101 exit 713

}}

{{CAint

|mile=none

|road=Samoa Boulevard – Sunny Brae

|notes=Continuation beyond US 101

}}

{{Jctbtm|keys=incomplete}}

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{{commons category}}

{{CASR external links|SR|255}}

• [http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-255.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 255]
• [http://www.cahighways.org/249-256.html#255 California Highways: SR 255]

255

Category:Eureka, California

State Route 255

Category:Arcata, California