CA 17 North, Santa Cruz To San Jose

[jennapinkham]

I shouldn't have watched this right before bed. I'm going to have nightmares about summer traffic on that stupid highway.

A friend and I were driving back from Santa Cruz this past summer while they were doing some construction. They were working on two lane, so they erected a makeshift barrier that basically squished you into a lane just barely wide enough to fit your car. Then you had to drive down 17 at night with a bunch of a-hole drivers.

We called it the 'maze of death.' So terrifying.

[gemini6179]

I've driven this highway a few times and there's three things I hate about this highway:

1. It's freaking curvy

2. Those notorious at-grade intersections

3. There's hardly any shoulder lanes

[hmmmmm12]

sexy

[FortitudeOfHeaven]

On the hill pass just between Santa Cruz and Campbell, watch out for cops. They love to camp there with their radar guns, especially on the summit and sometimes at the turnouts.

And be careful at that winding road too, there's always accidents there.

[HoltCalifornia]

This looks really bad, CalTrans should put more lights, otherwise it would be hell at night.

[2550505]

@HoltCalifornia

But it's exciting....

[deangmoxon]

some day the will be a website with ALL the roads and highways on it

[MingGuoLi]

Great vid. Do you know the history for the intersection with Idlywood Drive?

[Coastergeekperson04]

Oh, and the speed limit never drops below 55, only trucks and trailers are cut to 50.

[itsalleternal]

@Coastergeekperson04 - That must have been changed? I thought it was 50 for cars, 35 for trucks?

Really, they need to spend BILLIONS (considering it is a highly earthquake-prone area) to replace 17 with a full freeway to 70 mph standards. It would need to be mostly elevated.

[Coastergeekperson04]

@itsalleternal It wouldn't need to be elevated, they could just build overpasses. They could eliminate every other intersection because there are already alternate ways to get there using side roads (which could be fixed up too).

[itsalleternal]

@Coastergeekperson04 - Although not the most effective solution, one possibility is to close the barriers with some overpasses but keep right turns permitted (left turns via overpasses and turning around) - if you look at Highway 11 in central Ontario, you'd know what I am talking about.

[Coastergeekperson04]

Welcome to my daily life.

[FreewayBrent]

@Coastergeekperson04: Actually, the speed limit is 50 MPH for automobiles, and 35 MPH for trucks and all vehicles with 3 or more axles.

[kitme]

I love travelling the 17 when I am in town even though it can be a little unnerving. Nice vid as usual.

[Hstylezx408]

nice video,i live in San Jose and i was surprised that the city has now a population of over 1.06 million people, last time i checked SJ had around 950,000 in '07,

[FreewayBrent]

Yeah, that surprised me a bit, too. I figured it would be another 2 or 3 years before San Jose would crack the million mark.

[bmbsage]

@Hstylezx408 How does it feel living in san Jose, I might be moving there due to work (Cisco systems) if I made 120,000 yearly could I live comfortably with a family of 5...

[rickkuhn]

@bmbsage Not comfortably. Houses are still over half a million. It will be tight, but this area is pretty sweet. Good luck!

[ervin2]

Great vid.

[uptownbronze]

Brent, that was a very thrilling ride. I liked the forests. UB

[PanzerVIZeke]

Finally you did a video on this road! I was waiting for this!

[FreewayBrent]

Yeah, it took *forever* to film this; every time I wanted to and had the time to film, it was always foggy on the coastal side of Highway 17, but the weather finally cooperated with me last week, long at last.

[aswchris]

That is one crazy highway!

Is it possible that you made a southbound video of CA 17 before? I remember it...

[FreewayBrent]

I actually did film a low-quality one going north, but starting in Los Gatos. Never did film the entire route, "over the hill."

Some have compared it to the PA Turnpike, except the Turnpike doesn't really have both the combination of such tight turns, steep grades AND a lack of adequate shoulder space. Throw in the much heavier traffic volumes during peak times, and you have a pretty harrowing driving experience!

[Bryant5493]

This roadway reminds me of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway, very narrow with tight curves.

Ah, the Los Gatos from the song "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)."

Nice video, Brent.

[FreewayBrent]

Ahhh yes, didn't FreewayJim post a video of the GSM Expressway?

[Bryant5493]

@FreewayBrent

I know he did one of I-40 through Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina.

[19crash84]

@Bryant5493 The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway was what came to my mind when I saw this video

[19crash84]

@Bryant5493 The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway was what came to my mind when I saw this video

[booklover691]

I have been on this road a couple ot times; and it is one hectic roller-coaster of a drive, not really pleasant at all unless your some kind of masochist.:P

[FreewayBrent]

Haha, your comment made me laugh out loud. I think as long as you drive within 2 or 3 MPH of the posted advisory speeds around the curves, it's quite a thrilling (and safe) mountain drive. Rare to see a curvy, divided highway with 4 travel lanes like CA 17, with the number of tight curves. No spectacular scenery, but the lush forests make it quite enjoyable.

[booklover691]

Yeah; I'm not used to such curvy roads with soo much traffic. LOL It is thrilling; if kinda scary; at least for me. I-76 thru Philadelphia is almost as bad for curves; but not as hilly.

[FreewayBrent]

Yeah, I-76 thru Philly just needs a makeover, in general. I've still yet to analyze the footage I filmed of that freeway from early September, but of course, FreewayJim has a video of that freeway.

[Freewayjim]

Fun ride!

Reminds me of Central and Western PA in parts.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

tha was a very interesting curved out freeway , ur right ive never seen so many turns