State Route 146 (SR 146) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Monterey and San Benito Counties. The route serves as an entryway to Pinnacles National Park, located in the Gabilan Mountains, from both U.S. Route 101 in the Salinas Valley on the west and State Route 25 near Paicines on the east. The route is broken into two sections and cannot be used to completely pass through Pinnacles National Park.
Route description Route 146 is divided into two sections and does not provide a continuous vehicular route through Pinnacles National Park. This is reflected in the route's definition in section 446, subdivision (a), of the California Streets and Highways Code:
Route 145 is from: (1) Route 101 near Soledad to Pinnacles National Monument. (2) Pinnacles National Monument to Route 25 in Bear Valley.
The definition has not yet been corrected to reflect Pinnacles being re-designated as a national park in 2013. In addition, subdivision (b) permits the state to relinquish control of the highway to local jurisdictions.
The western part of Route 146 passes from U.S. Route 101 near Soledad along Metz Road and Shirttail Canyon Road to the west area of Pinnacles. The eastern portion runs into the east area of Pinnacles from State Route 25 along Pinnacles Road. Inside the park, the route is federally maintained and is not included in the state route logs.
SR 146 is not part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. SR 146 is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System, but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation.
History According to the National Park Service, Pinnacles has been administered as a wilderness area as long as that unit has been under their jurisdiction, and NPS sources contacted during research cannot recall any time when Route 146 proceeded through the park unbroken.
Major intersections
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References
External links
California Highways: Route 146 California @ AARoads.com - State Route 146