Difference between revisions of "Ocean Street"

Latest revision as of 20:58, 5 May 2024

Today's Ocean Street began as the southern terminus of the "San Jose road" (approximately today's Highway 17). The street (unnamed on the 1866 Santa Cruz map) intersected Water Street and turned to ford the San Lorenzo River before reaching Branciforte Creek. The street was later extended to bridge Branciforte Creek, ending at the San Lorenzo River (now at a junction with San Lorenzo Blvd., behind the 1959 levee), just east of today's Riverside Avenue bridge. A jog over to the bridge connects Ocean Street to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. At the north end, an interchange with Highways 1 and 17 was built in the late 1950s, and the street was widened to 4 lanes in the 1960s.

Near the northern end of the street, turning left and bending back to the right continues Ocean Street north under Highway 1 on what is unofficially known as Ocean Street Extension. After a few blocks, past Santa Cruz Memorial cemetery, a fork to the right and up the hill begins Graham Hill Road. Continuing is what began as Powder Mill Road (now Ocean Street), through what was once known as the Italian Gardens neighborhood, and on through a locked gate to the covered bridge built in 1865 at the California Powder Works (now Paradise Park).