Seventy years after the death of actor James Dean in a car crash in Central California, a state lawmaker is seeking to rename part of the highway where he died. Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, has introduced a resolution to designate a four-mile stretch of Highway 46 as the James Byron Dean Memorial Highway.
Dean was killed at age 24 on September 30, 1955, in a head-on collision at the intersection known as the Cholame “Y,” where Highways 41 and 46 meet. The site has long been called “Blood Alley” due to its history of fatal accidents.
Addis said her motivation for introducing Assembly Concurrent Resolution 101 was twofold: “We’re really glad to get this done,” she said. “Most importantly for the safety and welfare of the millions of people that traverse this section of highway, but also to be able to honor one of America’s greats.”
Dean rose to fame in the 1950s with films such as “Rebel Without a Cause,” “East of Eden,” and “Giant.” Addis expressed her admiration for Dean’s work: “Well, who can resist ‘East of Eden?’ I mean, it’s such a California story and just such a phenomenal film,” she said.
On the day of his fatal accident, Dean was driving with his mechanic Rolf Wütherich when their Porsche collided with another car driven by Donald Turnupseed, then a Cal Poly student. Dean died at a hospital in Paso Robles; Wütherich survived with injuries.
A memorial marking the location was established by Japanese businessman Seita Ohnishi in 1977 and was recently refurbished for the anniversary.
Marcus Winslow, Dean’s cousin who grew up with him in Indiana, expressed support for the proposal. “We hope that this tribute helps remind travelers of the importance of highway safety,” Winslow wrote in an email. “While Jimmy may be physically gone, his memory and legacy live on eternally.”
If passed, Addis’ measure would rename just over four miles of Highway 46 from postmile 54.038 at Cholame to postmile 58.300 at Antelope Road as the James Byron Dean Memorial Highway.
The resolution cleared the California State Assembly on August 25. A vote in the State Senate is expected in January 2026. Both houses must approve before Caltrans can officially change the name; no governor’s signature is required.
Addis noted there had been no opposition to her proposal as of late September and estimated costs would be minimal.
Recent changes have aimed to improve safety at this intersection. In June, Caltrans completed construction on an elevated flyover interchange at Cholame “Y.” Between 2014 and 2024, eleven people were killed near this area—a rate higher than average across California roads—according to previous reporting by The Tribune (https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article286161155.html).
The $148 million project took nearly two decades and opened June 12 (https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5/district-5-current-projects/slo-cholame). According to Caltrans, it was intended “to minimize fatal accidents, improve safety and reduce existing and future peak-hour congestion.”
Addis hopes renaming Blood Alley will help residents see it differently: setting “it on a better path” as James Dean Memorial Highway.
