SR-99 at Service Rd Live Traffic Cam, Ceres

Traffic on SR-99 at Service Road in Ceres streams live from this camera, part of a statewide network of roadside cameras. The camera is aimed at the northbound lanes.

Through Modesto, Ceres and Turlock, SR-99 is a true city freeway, lined with shopping centers, packing houses and new subdivisions. Modesto is the county seat, and from here SR-132 and SR-108 head east into the foothills toward Yosemite and the Sonora Pass country.

Think of SR-99 as the Central Valley's main street. It runs parallel to I-5 but farther east, threading together farm towns and growing cities from Kern County up toward Butte County, and it is the route most valley residents use every day.

Traffic on SR-99 never really stops. Big rigs run day and night, and morning and evening commutes slow things around the larger cities. In winter, dense tule fog can settle over the valley floor and cut visibility sharply, while in summer the heat can be intense. It is a handy way to check for slowdowns, weather and road work before heading out.

The live images are provided by Caltrans (the California Department of Transportation).