Special routes of U.S. Route 101

A total of fifteen special routes of U.S. Route 101 exist.

Special routes of U.S. Route 101
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided

Los Angeles alternate route

Main article: U.S. Route 101 Alternate (Los Angeles, California)

U.S. Route 101 Alternate
Location	Los Angeles, California
Existed	Mid-1930s–1964

Present SR 1 in the Los Angeles area was U.S. Route 101 Alternate from the mid-1930s to 1964.

Los Angeles bypass route

Main article: U.S. Route 101 Bypass (Los Angeles, California)

U.S. Route 101 Bypass
Location	Los Angeles – Anaheim, California
Existed	Early-1940s–Mid-1950s

The precursor to the Santa Ana Freeway between Los Angeles and Anaheim was U.S. Route 101 Bypass from the early 1940s to the mid-1950s, when it became part of US 101. Old US 101 there is now partially SR 72.

Ventura business loop

U.S. Route 101 Business
Location	Ventura, California

US 101 Business in Ventura, California is a business loop that follows the former U.S. 101 alignment before the construction of the Ventura Freeway. The route runs along the entirety of Thompson Boulevard and portions of Main Street and Garden Street.

San Francisco bypass route

Main article: U.S. Route 101 Bypass (San Francisco, California)

U.S. Route 101 Bypass
Location	El Camino Real, California
Existed	1938–1964

The Bayshore Highway between San Jose and San Francisco was designated as part of US 101 in 1936, replacing El Camino Real (which became US 101 Alternate).^[1][2] At the urging of local businesses and groups, a proposal was submitted to AASHO to move US 101 back to El Camino Real, which was approved in 1938 alongside the creation of US 101 Bypass for the Bayshore Highway.^[3][4] Other proposals included signing El Camino Real as US 101 Scenic.^[5]

The Bayshore Freeway was constructed to replace the original highway between 1947 and 1962.^[6] US 101 was later rerouted onto the Bayshore Freeway during the 1964 renumbering and replaced US 101 Bypass entirely. Until then, US 101 used SR 82 (El Camino Real) and I-280.

Rio Dell business loop

Main article: U.S. Route 101 Business (Rio Dell, California)

U.S. Route 101 Business
Location	Rio Dell

US 101 Business, called Wildwood Avenue, is a business loop of US 101 through Rio Dell. Its southernmost section between US 101 near Scotia to the north end of the Eel River Bridge is legally defined as an unsigned California State Route 283.

Fortuna business loop

U.S. Route 101 Business
Location	Fortuna

US 101 Business, called Main Street and Fortuna Blvd in its entirety, is a business loop of US 101 through Fortuna.

McKinleyville business loop

U.S. Route 101 Business
Location	McKinleyville

US 101 Business, called Central Ave its entirety, is a business loop of US 101 through McKinleyville.

Astoria business loop

U.S. Highway 101 Business
Location	Astoria–Warrenton, Oregon
Length	7.40 mi[7][8] (11.91 km)
Existed	1965–present

U.S. Route 101 Business is a business loop of US 101 that travels from Astoria to Warrenton. It is a former alignment of US 101, bypassed in 1964 when a new bridge opened across Youngs Bay; the business designation for the old route was approved by AASHO in 1965.^[9] The Oregon State Highway Commission originally requested the designation of U.S. Route 101 Alternate, which was rejected.^[10]

Major intersections
The entire route is in Clatsop County.

Location	mi[7][8]	km	Destinations	Notes
Warrenton	1.27	2.04	US 101 – Astoria, Seaside
Lewis and Clark River	4.67– 4.83	7.52– 7.77	Lewis and Clark River Bridge
Youngs Bay	6.75– 7.08	10.86– 11.39	Old Youngs Bay Bridge
Astoria	7.25 1.42	11.67 2.29	OR 202 east – Jewell, Vernonia	South end of OR 202 overlap
	0.18	0.29	US 101 to US 30 – Warrenton, Seaside, Astoria, Portland	North end of OR 202 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Ilwaco alternate route

Main article: U.S. Route 101 Alternate (Washington)

U.S. Route 101 Alternate
Location	Long Beach, Washington
Existed	1931–present

U.S. Route 101 Alternate is an alternate route of U.S. Route 101 that bypasses the towns of Long Beach and Ilwaco in southwestern Washington.

References

1. Road Map of the State of California, 1938 (Map). 1:1,463,040. California Department of Public Works. 1938. S.F. Bay Region inset. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via David Rumsey Map Collection.
2. "Alternate Sign Markers Urged for El Camino". San Mateo Times. August 14, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Executive Committee (May 28, 1938). "Addendum to Minutes of Executive Committee" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway Officials. p. 12. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
4. "El Camino Real Is Designated As U.S. Highway No. 101". The Fresno Bee. Associated Press. July 20, 1938. p. 6A. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Smith Raps Opposition to Movement to Restore Camino Real; Many Oppose Moving Signs". San Mateo Times. January 29, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Remington, W. G. (March 1962). "Bayshore Freeway: San Jose to San Francisco Is Now All Full Freeway". California Highways and Public Works. Vol. 41, no. 3–4. California Department of Public Works. pp. 5–8. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via California Department of Transportation Library Digital Collections.
7. "Warrenton-Astoria Highway No. 105 Straightline Chart" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
8. "Nehalem No. 102 Straightline Chart" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
9. U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee (October 2, 1965). "U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee Agenda Showing Action Taken by Executive Committee Taken" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway Officials. p. 6. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Wikimedia Commons.
10. Johnson, A. E. (October 26, 1965). "U.S. Route 101 (Alternate)". Letter to Forest Cooper. American Association of State Highway Officials. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via AASHTO Route Numbering Archive.