Proposed $700,000 Highway

This article is about the “Proposed $700,000 Highway that runs from the Rio Vista Bridge to the Antioch Bridge. Today it’s known as Highway 160.  In 1922 this article was written in the Byron Times Special Edition

Newspaper/Magazine. (Wonder if they knew then, how well traveled this road would be).

The people of the portion of the great Delta country of Central California as represented in Contra Costa and Sacramento counties, in the Antioch, Sherman Island, Rio Vista, Isleton, Walnut Grove, Courtland, Clarksburg, and on to Sacramento sections, have made define plans for the construction of a thoroughly modern and representative highway to cross this portion of the Delta country at the mouth of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers to be known as the Antioch-Sherman Island-Rio Vista Sacramento Road.

This highway will shorten the distance between Sacramento and San Francisco from 110 to 96 miles, and will open for settlement and agricultural subdivisions one of the richest districts in the world.

The proposed road to be 12 miles in length and will cost to construct including the building of a $500,000 bridge across the San Joaquin River, about $700,000,  for the highway.

The highway will leave from the present pave road at Rio Vista Bridge, to Brannan Island, cross the slough between Brannan and Sherman Island by a fine bridge, thence follows the levee along Sherman Island, and cross the San

Joaquin River above Antioch probably at the point of the Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge site.

If necessary, the matter of the $500,000 bridge may be postponed to a later date until the money is available, and a big ferry be installed until the bridge can be built according to plans presented.

At an important meeting held in Antioch this past March, President Roy V. Davis of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Contra Costa County, pledge support to the road.

Solano County through Supervisor Thomas McCormack gave similar promises.

Sacramento County also pledged its determination to put the road over through Acting Chairman F.H. Upson of the Chamber of Commerce Highway Committee, and other representatives of county and municipal bodies promise to do their share towards the success of this great project that means much to the sections of the Delta and the city and towns of this part of Central California.

An executive committee, comprising members of the Chamber of Commerce of Sacramento, Stockton, Tracy, Antioch, Oakland, Martinez, San Francisco and Brentwood. Also representative Irrigation District heads off the Byron-Oakley-Knightsen sections, to mature plans for the building of this road has been appointed, and the Board of Supervisors of  Sacramento, Solano and Contra Costa Counties have been asked to advance a sum of money for purposes of the survey of the bridge site.

It is also proposed to introduce a bill in the next Legislative asking for financial support of that body for this great development. An undertaking that means so much to this richly endowed section of the Delta.

On the next page is showing a map of the proposed highway from Antioch cross the San Joaquin River via Sherman Island to Rio Vista.  It gives a splendid idea of the project, showing the immediate section to be benefited, in addition to the great artery to the opened up under such promising auspices.

The several counties directly concerned in this great project are getting behind it solidly, and when the next Legislature meets Senator Sharkley and other representatives will present the undertaking and asking for the financial support necessary.

For the greater development of all sections of this wonderful Delta county more roads and bridges are needed and they will come with an aroused public sentiment.

Figures from reliable sources tell of the travel to the northern Delta sections, in these emphases what roads and bridges and fairies mean to the city of Sacramento and how businesses in the capital city and towns along the route have grown with the building of connecting paved and concrete highways.

The free ferry maintained by Yolo County at

Clarksburg up in the Holland Land country made 2157 trips in November, of 1921 carrying 3635

 vehicles and 9800 passengers.

Those who have watched the development of the yellow side of the river in recent years following the subdivision activities of the big land interest of that section like the Holland Land Company who planned it the  people of great 5000 acre farming tributary to Clarksburg with intelligent architecturalist Fruit Growers and Farmers realize the possibility that will follow the building of the Antioch- Sherman Island Rio Vista Highway.

With thousands of tourist travelling the newly-opened district each year the vast amount of publicity received would attract new settlers and homebuilders did the country many opportunities along agricultural fruit growing Dairy and other lines of endeavor.

 The slogan has gone forth and from one end of the so-called Island country to the other from

Sacramento to Antioch take the cry has been taken up. “Let’s build the Antioch Sherman Island Rio Vista Road”

Subdivisions will follow roads and bridges and subdivisions mean a lot of settlers in the rich productive country these farmers do not necessarily have to reside on the island tracks They may lease or buy they can build homes in any of the nearby towns affordable ideal living conditions and school facilities for their children and motor back and forth and comfort.

 Thousands of acres are being offered in subdivision and more thousands are to follow as highways and bridges are built griddling the Delta north and south and from the West and East.

 When these tens of thousands of Acres of most fertile land in the United States are sold to small farmers no longer will The Cry of lack of Labor be heard in the labs no longer will don’t be great and mighty sections of the delta country the homes of this paragus celery potato beans onions and 101 odd products this marvelous oil will produce including fruit , be alluded to the adobe of the Japanese and the Chinese.

Roads bridges in subdivisions in the coming of folks this proposed Antioch Sherman Island Rio Vista Road in the Great Bridge is the most important matter before the people of Northern California

One of the state’s mightiest Assets in bottled up and so isolated that not more than one person a thousand has even a vague idea of what this really constitutes

In the Sacramento River delta for instance on 1500 Acres there was produced last year a million cases asparagus value at 450 million dollars or production running to $300 an acre. This represents 90% of all asparagus grown in the United States

 The same Walnut Grove Isleton Rio Vista Cortland County that the new roads will vastly benefit is one of the earliest fruit-producing sections in the state pay $500 an acre and they ripen an arce and shipped to Eastern markets before pears and other than Delta

sections of California are ready for Market;

The wondrous  fertility of the soil produces marvelous growth and almost unbelievable yields many of the orchards in these Delta sections are valued at $4,000 an acre and a possibility or so Limitless the imagination signs a difficult to paint the picture.

The Borden Road crosses the Delta from Stockton to the West Side section is that present is Island countries only outlet.

The great project of Bridging the San Joaquin at Antioch connecting with Sherman Island Brannan Island and on to Rio Vista Isleton ride Walnut Grove Courtland Hood Clarksburg and Sacramento for brain true Contra Costa thousands of people who are now strangers to us.

 Subdivisions on a Terminus tremendous scale will follow the opening of this road millions in investments will be poured into the laundry section.

It is also hope to Route the Victory Highway from Sacramento over the delta in Via Stockton instead of by way of Venetian Martinez two routes across the Delta the Borden and the Antioch Sherman Island.

This Enterprise will include the support of every Delta interest for one such a beginning as this is made it will result in the network of roads and bridges from Sacramento to Tracy opening a mighty Empire that has two long been beyond the search of the people so let’s make the delta a “WONDRUS PLACE.”