California Highway 17
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SR 17 highlighted in red
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| Route information | ||||
| Defined by | ||||
| Maintained by Caltrans | ||||
| Length: | 26.49 mi (42.63 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1930s – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: |
 SR 1 / Ocean Street in Santa Cruz
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| North end: |
  I-280 / I-880 in San Jose
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Santa Cruz, Santa Clara | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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State Route 17 (SR 17) is a freeway and expressway that runs between San Jose and Santa Cruz in the U.S. State of California. SR 17 carries substantial commuter and vacation traffic between Santa Cruz and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area.
SR 17 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System. However, it has not been designated as a scenic highway by Caltrans.
From its southern terminus with SR 1 in Santa Cruz, Route 17 begins as a four-lane freeway. From there, it proceeds through Scotts Valley. At the north end of Scotts Valley, it becomes a four-lane divided highway, with access at various points without interchanges, and begins a winding ascent of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The road crosses the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz county line through the Patchen Pass, commonly referred to as "The Summit", at an elevation of 1,800 feet (549 m), where there is an interchange with SR 35. Just north of the summit, a winding descent of the mountains begins, again with access at various points, mostly without grade separations, as far as Los Gatos. At Los Gatos, Route 17 becomes a freeway again. It expands to six lanes after an interchange with SR 85. This interchange has three levels; it is unusual in that the top level (CA 17) is at-grade, with the other levels below-grade. The number of lanes later expands to eight shortly before reaching its northern terminus at Interstate 280, where it continues as Interstate 880.
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