State Route 17 is known as Highway 17. It runs north-south from Ocean Street in Santa Cruz to Stevens Creek Blvd. in San Jose. From Stevens Creek Blvd., the freeway continues as Interstate 880.
The portion of State Route 17 in Santa Cruz County south of the Summit, between post-mile 5.91 and post-mile 11.78 is named the "Lieutenant Michael Elvin Walker Memorial Highway" named by Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 51, Resolution Chapter 110, on 9/7/2007.
Barriers between the directions of traffic started in 1985. This helped to reduce the number of collisions.
Piles of sand can be seen along Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The sand is used to clean up oil spills, fill in erosion, and to fill plastic collision buffers. Serious traffic incidents were once so common that a permanent sign reading :"WRECK AHEAD" was placed near the Summit on Highway 17. It was covered with green lumber when not in use. When there was an accident, a CHP officer would uncover the sign and have the warning lights started. This was on the northbound route only.
Near Lexington Reservoir, drivers can see round markers on the wires high above the freeway. The markers are there to alert aircraft. (Markers are on the highest wire.)
Bike-Friendliness
Highway 17 is for motorized vehicles only.
Public Transportation
There are no Bus Stops on Highway 17. The Downtown Santa Cruz-Scotts Valley to Downtown San Jose Express uses Highway 17. :Valley Transit information
Landmarks
Two historic landmarks are near Highway 17. Both require a driver to leave the freeway and take back roads. Patchen, California State Historic Landmark 448 (Santa Clara County). :Glenwood, California State Historic Landmark 449 (Santa Cruz County).
Lexington Reservoir Gillian Cichowski Memorial Overcrossing
Major Intersections
Santa Clara County
- Stevens Creek Boulevard
- East Hamilton Avenue
- Camden Avenue
- SR 85
- Lark Avenue
- Blossom Hill Road
- Los Gatos-Saratoga Road
- South Santa Cruz Avenue
- Alma Bridge Road
- Bear Creek Road
- Summit Road
Santa Cruz County
- Granite Creek Road
- :Scotts Valley Drive
- :Mount Hermon Road
- :Pasatiempo Exit (and El Rancheo Drive).
- :Highway 1
- t:Ocean Street
(For a full list of intersections on Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County visit http://www.scruzwiki.org/Highway_17)
Businesses and Services
While most of the freeway requires drivers to take an exit to find a business, there are a few just off the road, South of exit 20. :Casa Del 17 in Santa Cruz County :Summit Shack in Santa Cruz County :Cats Restaurant and tavern in Los Gatos, CA
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