Davis Subway
Also known as: Richards Blvd. Undercrossing; Structure No. 75.45
Why it's listed
Richards Boulevard passes beneath the old Southern Pacific railroad tracks in Davis through a subway completed in 1917 and early 1918. Its single-span deck is made of twenty-eight 24-inch steel I-beams resting on two identical reinforced concrete abutments. The span is only about 28 feet long, and the deck was built 48 feet wide to carry three sets of tracks. A pedestrian and bicycle tunnel was added alongside in 1977. The structure was part of State Route 6, one of the first routes funded in California's state highway system, and the route was also labeled part of the Lincoln Highway. Most comparable pioneer-era highway subways were lost when roads were widened, but this one survived because Highway 40 was built on a new alignment south of town. It is considered one of the oldest remaining Southern Pacific I-beam bridges in California and still serves as a main entrance to downtown Davis.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant under Criterion A for its link to California's first state highway system under the State Highway Act of 1909, and as the only important engineering feature of State Route 6 still intact. Under Criterion C it is a rare, early Southern Pacific I-beam bridge, among the oldest in the state. It also has secondary significance as a segment of the Lincoln Highway.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000713, listed June 26, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Richards Blvd. between Olive Dr. and 1st St., Davis |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | June 26, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000713 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1917 to 1943 |
| Architectural style | Other: I-beam bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use for rail, vehicular and pedestrian traffic; described as remarkably intact and serving as an entrance to downtown Davis. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.54163, -121.73990 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000713.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133571797
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.