Headlines About California Highways – July 2024

[cahwyguy]

What an eventful July it has been. Far from the usual lackadaisical summer doldrums, we’ve had a lot of pent up excitement and energy released in the last couple of weeks.  It’s something I’m glad to see; youthful energy is great. I wish I had some. I see good things ahead, as I gaze through my windshield. If you feel that energy too, feel free to follow me on Facebook (I only friend folks I know in real life).

I’m pleased to say that it appears the Westhost issues are in the rear view mirror. The site is updated, the certificates are fixed, and the RSS feeds appear to be working. If you are still running into problems with either cahighways.org or caroutebyroute.org, please let me know. The poor technical support from the time of the transition still sticks in my craw, and I am exploring transitioning the site to a new provider. I have some recommendations from Reddit; I’m open to others to add to the spreadsheet.  It isn’t a rush, as things are already paid for a while, and things are working.

In any case, it is the start of a new month. We’re entering the political silly season in the US, and I’m entering the JO silly season at the Ranch. The transition into silly season means headlines. For those unfamiliar, this post generally contains headlines about California Highways that I’ve seen over the last month. It also serves as fodder for the updates to my California Highways site, so there are also other pages and things I’ve seen that I wanted to remember for the site updates. Lastly, the post also includes some things that I think would be of peripheral interest to my highway-obsessed highway-interested readers. Speaking of updates to the California Highways site: I plan to start work on the next round of updates to the highway in the next week or two, when I finish writing the next episode of the podcast.

So what has happened in July? In terms of shows, we had two: Peter Pan at the Pantages, and The Sound of Music at 5-Star. Both are closed (although Peter Pan is presently at the Segerstrom in Orange County and will be soon in San Diego); this weekend brings both Clue at the Ahmanson and Company at the Pantages.

I’m also still looking for opinions on Medicare Advantage plus Medicare Supplement Plans: specifically, the Anthem Medicare Plus PPO with Senior Rx Plus Medicare Advantage Plan (as Implemented for Aerospace Retirees: See (1) Get to Know Your Group Plan; (2) Plan Summary; (3) last year’s Open Enrollment Guide) vs. a Medicare Supplement Plan.

The podcast continues apace. I’m still writing the Season 3 episodes, and I’m up to the last episode on I-5. We’ve also got some bonus episodes. The first is a two-part interview with Joe Rouse of Caltrans on ExpressLanes, Tolling, and Fastrak. Part 1 went up at the end of June; Part 2 a few days later. We just recorded the second bonus episode on auto trails; it will be up in August.  Please tell your friends about the podcast, “like”, “♥”, or “favorite” it, and give it a rating in your favorite podcatcher. Yes, the sound quality of the episodes does get better — we were learning. As always, you can keep up with the show at the podcast’s forever home at https://www.caroutebyroute.org (once it comes back) , the show’s page on Spotify for Podcasters, or you can subscribe through your favorite podcatching app or via the RSS feeds (CARxR, Spotify for Podcasters) . The following episodes have been posted this month:

• CA RxR 2.13: Bonus – Fastrak and Tolling (Part 1). In this episode, we have the first half of an interview with Joe Rouse of Caltrans, talking about HOV Lanes, Express/Toll Lanes and Bridges, and Fastrak.  (Spotify for Podcasters)
• CA RxR 2.14: Bonus – Fastrak and Tolling (Part 2). In this episode, we have the second half of an interview with Joe Rouse of Caltrans, talking about HOV Lanes, Express/Toll Lanes and Bridges, and Fastrak.  (Spotify for Podcasters)

Well, you should now be up to date. Here are the headlines that I found about California’s highways for July.

Key

[Ħ Historical information | ＄ Paywalls, ＄＄ really obnoxious paywalls, and ∅ other annoying restrictions. I’m no longer going to list the paper names, as I’m including them in the headlines now. Note: For ＄ paywalls, sometimes the only way is incognito mode, grabbing the text before the paywall shows, and pasting into an editor. See this article for more tips on bypassing paywalls. ☊ indicates an primarily audio article. ↈ indicates a primarily video article. ]

Highway Headlines

• Two famous trees marking CA’s midway point will make way for a wider highway. But there’s a silver lining (LAist). To get to the alleged midway point of California from downtown L.A., you’d need to hit the 5 northward and eventually connect to State Route 99. Some four hours and 235 miles later, you’ll see the landmark colloquially known as “The Palm and The Pine,” sitting unassumingly in the median on Highway 99. Blink and you could miss them — these two trees were planted to mark the purported spot that separates the northern part of the state from, ahem, the better sunny Southern part. For as long as anyone can remember, they have stood at that location — the state’s reputed center — like an odd hitchhiking couple as vehicles of all manners zip between the state’s two halves. No plaques, no markers — meaning most Californians and drivers might even not know about their existence, let alone their symbolic significance.
• ＄ Deadly car crashes are up in California. Speeding is often the cause. (Los Angeles Times). During the pandemic, California officials noted a worrying increase in driving deaths even as fewer people used the roads. Now, as more drivers are back on the roads, there are signs that the dangerous driving has continued. Car crash deaths rose 17% from 2018 to 2022 in the state, according to a new report from ConsumerAffairs, a platform for consumer news. And the deadliest stretches of California roads were all in Southern California, the data showed.
• ‘Long time coming’: Busy Bay Area intersection converts to roundabout (SF Gate). In another move to bring more roundabouts to the Golden State, Bay Area transportation officials have approved a roundabout to solve traffic problems and reduce crashes at a popular intersection. On April 4, Caltrans and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority broke ground at the intersection of State Route 121 and State Route 116 in Sonoma County. Officials expect that the $24 million project will “improve circulation and avoid stop-and-go traffic,” according to Caltrans. “This is a long time coming — I’ve been having conversations about this roundabout throughout my tenure as Supervisor,” Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin told Bay City News.
• Detour for Highway 156 access planned for end of summer (KSBW). The section of Union Road between San Juan Hollister Road and Highway 156 will be closed for eight weeks or less. The exact days for the closure will be announced within a week of the closure, said Caltrans. This closure is needed to rebuild the intersection of Union Road and Highway 156, to help with the Highway 156 widening project, and to improve access to and from the highway.
• Highway 154 Will Partially Reopen This Week (Noozhawk). Residents who rely on Highway 154 will see some relief as officials plan to partially reopen the roadway this week. Caltrans announced that it will install a reversible traffic signal allowing one-way traffic in the emergency repair area between San Antonio Creek Road and Painted Cave Road. That’s on the Santa Barbara side of the highway, which has been closed to vehicles since June 22. The agency is planning to partially reopen with the traffic signal on Thursday.
• Scenic highway route to reopen one lane on Fourth of July (SF Gate). One lane of Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County is slated to reopen on July 4 after the road closed for more than a week because of cracks in the road. The lane will use a temporary signal for “one-way reversing traffic control” to allow traffic to alternate through the area, officials said. “The movement on the road surface has slowed considerably and stopped for the area traffic will use, thus allowing the return of public traffic,” Genelle Padilla, a Caltrans spokesperson, wrote in an email to SFGATE. While the popular “shortcut” is expected to be open for holiday traffic, Caltrans still recommends that travelers use Highway 101 or state Route 246 to avoid delays through the section of the road that was closed, between San Antonio Creek Road and Painted Cave Road.
• Removing a Detroit highway is easy. Reconnecting the community is harder (NPR). In the 1950s, When Regina Lawson was a girl on Detroit’s east side, she would walk along Hastings Street every day with her father. “From the barber shop to the grocery store to the pharmacy, everything was right on that strip,” she says, in the lobby of the senior apartments where she lives now, not far from where Hastings Street used to be. But Hastings Street disappeared some 60 years ago, and there’s a highway, I-375, in its place — a one-mile sunken expressway that has grown expensive to maintain and doesn’t get as much traffic as it used to.
• Work Continues On Cabrillo-Los Patos Roundabout in Santa Barbara (Noozhawk). As the next phase of the Highway 101 project is set to begin in August, the City of Santa Barbara’s parallel projects continue to make progress. Construction for the Cabrillo Boulevard-Los Patos Way Roundabout Project began in February and is set to finish in spring 2025. It’s the first phase of a larger project along East Cabrillo Boulevard between Los Patos Way and the Cabrillo interchange, which includes the construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of East Cabrillo Boulevard and Los Patos Way. The second phase will include replacing the Union Pacific Railroad bridge over East Cabrillo Boulevard and pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

• ＄ Work on popular OC freeway ramp about to be completed (Orange County Register). Q. Dear Honk: Could you explain what they are doing with the transition road from the southbound 55 Freeway onto the 73? What was once a smooth, seemingly good road was taken from two lanes to one a long time ago. Workers are clearly undergoing some major project there, and it is now a traffic pinch point. Rarely do you see active work in process. What is the goal of this project? Will it return to two lanes? When do they anticipate completion?
• $27M Boost For Infrastructure Work In Napa (Napa Valley, CA Patch). Tens of millions in funds approved by the California Transportation Commission will support key infrastructure projects across the Bay Area, including two underway in Napa County. Caltrans this week detailed $483 million in new allocations from the bipartisan infrastructure bill and $443 million from California’s Senate Bill 1, with funds earmarked for bridge maintenance, rail upgrades and safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians.
• Mariposa County Receives $130,000 to Help Replace Harris Road Bridge as California Invests More than $2 Billion to Fuel Economic Opportunity, Increase Access & Protect the State’s Vital Transportation Infrastructure (Sierra Sun Times). The California Transportation Commission (CTC) on Monday approved more than $2 billion to improve and maintain a transportation system that serves as the backbone for the world’s fifth largest economy. The approved funding will support the next generation of transportation projects, ranging from bridge maintenance and rail system upgrades to enhanced railroad safety features and increased access for bicyclists and pedestrians. These benefits will help power economic opportunity as well as mitigate the effects of climate change. […] Today’s investments include $103 million for the North Coast Corridor Rail project in San Diego County, a transformative effort designed to expand and upgrade passenger facilities, decrease rider travel times with a second rail line to bypass slower freight locomotives, and construction of a new bridge spanning the Batiquitos Lagoon. The funding allocations include $17.8 million to improve Highway 99 and State Route 68 in Tulare County; $10 million to provide Santa Barbara residents with cleaner, climate-friendly electric buses and chargers; and expand facilities for people who walk and bike, such as $3.5 million for Stockton’s East Channel Street Streetscape, which will install bike lanes and sidewalk extensions.
• Detour for Highway 156 access planned for end of summer (MSN/KSBW). Caltrans said that beginning in early August, a portion of Union Road will be closed for around two months. The section of Union Road between San Juan Hollister Road and Highway 156 will be closed for eight weeks or less. The exact days for the closure will be announced within a week of the closure, said Caltrans. This closure is needed to rebuild the intersection of Union Road and Highway 156, to help with the Highway 156 widening project, and to improve access to and from the  highway. During construction, there will be a detour through San Juan Hollister Road to get to Highway 156.
• ＄＄ Caltrans announces completion of State Route 98 improvements (Imperial Valley Press). Caltrans announced the reopening of all lanes of State Route 98 between W. Birch and E. Birch Streets and Imperial Avenue due to the completion of improvements to the highway. According to a press release from Caltrans District 11, this marks the last phase of $70 million infrastructure investments in Calexico.
• ＄ Wildlife crossing is proposed for Highway 17 in Santa Cruz Mountains (Los Angeles Times). People view highways as a way to move from Point A to Point B, but to the animals that inhabit either side of a busy roadway, the lanes are a potentially deadly barrier. […] The latest project, which is still under environmental review, is the Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossing Project in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has proposed a pair of passageways across the highway in Los Gatos: an overpass for hikers, bikers and horse riders, and an underpass for mountain lions, deer and other creatures.
• California High-Speed Rail Map as Route Approved (MSN/Newsweek). The high-speed rail project from Los Angeles to the Bay Area has received complete environmental approval, overcoming the last regulatory sign off. The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s board of directors approved the final environmental impact report last Thursday and selected a route for the Palmdale to Burbank section of the project. It was the last step needed for the route connecting downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles, with only the Los Angeles to Anaheim section awaiting environmental approval in “Phase 1” of the project.
• Draft 2025 TIP released for public review (The Bay Link Blog). MTC has released the Draft 2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)(link is external, opens in a new window). This list of more than 300 Bay Area transportation projects reflects approximately $11.8 billion in committed federal, state and local funding for the four-year period through 2028. The TIP includes multiple funding sources (called “programs”) that support different types of transportation projects. These programs—and the projects they fund—all work together to help advance the vision of Plan Bay Area 2050,(link is external, opens in a new window) the Bay Area’s long-range plan for transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental resilience.
• A fare exchange: Golden Gate Bridge tolls to rise July 1 as district looks to bolster budget (Local News Matters). Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge will cost 50 cents more for all drivers beginning Monday. On July 1, drivers of double-axle vehicles and motorcycles will see tolls for non-FasTrak drivers jump from $9.75 to $10.25. But all drivers will see some increase in tolls, including those who use FasTrak or carpool. FasTrak charges will rise to $9.25, and carpool rates will increase to $7.25. And drivers of vehicles with more than two axles see their tolls each jump 50 cents accordingly.
• Bridge toll dollars drive Dumbarton Corridor improvements (The Bay Link Blog). MTC has awarded a total of $130 million in Regional Measure 3 toll funds to advance nine different projects along or adjacent to the Dumbarton Bridge corridor spanning Alameda and San Mateo counties. The biggest of the commitments — announced last week — is an allocation of up to $48 million to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and the City of Redwood City for their $300-plus million ‘101/84 Interchange Reimagined’ project. The 1970s era interchange between U.S. 101, State Route 84/Woodside Road and Seaport Boulevard marks the gateway to the Port of Redwood City. But it can no longer accommodate current traffic volumes, presenting challenges to roadway safety, freight mobility and rail movement. Redwood City and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority plan to start construction in 2027 on a series of safety improvements that will include more than four miles of new bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure as well as improved access for transit shuttles linking the Redwood City Caltrain station with a new ferry terminal planned for the Port of Redwood City.
• Millions allocated for Solano highways, roads (Solano Daily Republic). Cycling and pedestrian access improvements along West Texas Street in Fairfield are part of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission proposed allocation of nearly $237 million for Solano County roads and highways. The draft 2025 Transportation Improvement Program includes 11 projects specific to Solano from various funding sources. Moreover, there are a number of multi-county projects that could benefit Solano County, including $6 million in 2024-25, $9 million in 2026-27 and $387 million in future years for the Highway 37 improvements between Mare Island and Sears Point. The project includes adding a high-occupancy lane and to implement tolling.
• ＄ Roadway improvements near the Port of Redwood City to ease traffic congestion (Mercury News). A regional transportation board has approved nearly $28 million to help reduce traffic congestion at the Highway 101 and Highway 84 interchange near the Port of Redwood City, a deep-water port in the southern San Francisco Bay and a leading West Coast foreign trade agency. The money was awarded to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and Redwood City from Regional Measure 3 toll funds. It was approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) last Wednesday. An additional $20.5 million from the same funding source is expected later this year, officials said. While the 1970s-era Highway 101/Highway 84 interchange marks the gateway to the Port of Redwood City, officials say it can no longer handle current traffic, creating roadway safety problems and challenges to freight mobility and rail movement.
• Roundabout Construction Paused Along State Route 49 (Caltrans). Caltrans is alerting motorists that construction has paused on the $12.3 million American Canyon Roundabout Project in Auburn, at the intersection of State Route 49 (SR-49) and Lincoln Way/Borland Avenue, due to unforeseen permit issues. The delay comes after a second long-term closure of Borland Avenue where work was performed to construct portions of the roundabout. During that time, crews continued working with the intention to finish the roadway along Borland Avenue after obtaining permits necessary to complete the work. These permits are necessary to complete the utility work before the remainder of the project moves forward. The duration of the delay is unknown, but construction is anticipated to resume by late fall.
• LA Metro to hold community meetings for the 605 Freeway expansion project (LAist). LA Metro is holding a series of community meetings to gather input on the agency’s plans to add an additional lane on the 605 freeway within the freeway property boundaries. The plan includes adding lanes starting from Baldwin Park to Norwalk and improving connections with the 5, 10 and 60 freeways. Caltrans — which is working on the 605 Freeway Corridor Improvement Project (605 CIP) with LA Metro — says upgrading the freeway is necessary because no major improvements have been made since it opened in 1971. Since then, the number of vehicles using the freeway has gone up significantly and traffic congestion has gotten worse. The first meeting takes place Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Arc: The Reagan Banquet Room in Downey.
• California Department of Transportation to repave El Camino Real, add bicycle lanes (The Campanile). Expected to finish in the fall of 2025, the California Department of Transportation’s, also known as Caltrans, SR-82 Pavement Rehabilitation and ADA improvement project will repave and improve El Camino Real for the approximately seven miles of roadway between State Route 237 in southern Mountain View and Sand Hill Road near the northern border of Palo Alto. Branch Chief of the District 4 Caltrans Office of Public Affairs, Pedro Quintana, said an evaluation of the current quality of the road prompted Caltrans to undertake the project. “The paving project is a capital project under the State Highway Operation and Protection Program, a ‘fix-it-first’ program that funds the repair and preservation, safety improvements and operational improvements on the State Highway System nominated and programmed based on the pavement needs,” Quintana said.
• Caltrans Invites Public to Attend Informational Session for Lagunitas Creek Bridge Replacement Project on July 10 (Caltrans). Caltrans (District 4, Bay Area) invites the public to join an in-person informational session on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The Dance Palace, 503 B St. in Point Reyes. The Caltrans’ Project Team will feature several informational stations to inform the public about the Lagunitas Creek Bridge Replacement Project, which is scheduled for construction on State Route 1 (SR-1) in the summer of 2026. The project is currently in the design phase. The project will replace the Lagunitas Creek Bridge. In addition, the culvert north of the bridge will be lengthened to match the new bridge width. The new bridge will have wider shoulders and will provide sidewalk and curb ramps that will be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. A crosswalk will also be added across Sir Francis Drake Boulevard at the SR-1 intersection to provide continuous safe access over Lagunitas Creek and into Point Reyes Station.
• Caltrans Releases Draft Environmental Document for the Albion River Bridge Project (Caltrans). Caltrans is proud to announce the much-anticipated release of the draft environmental document for the Albion River Bridge Project, marking a major milestone in our infrastructure development efforts to improve roadway safety and efficiency on State Route 1 along the Mendocino Coast. The Albion River Bridge, built in 1944 during World War II, is a wood truss bridge that does not meet current structural design standards, lacks safe access for bicyclists and pedestrians, and is functionally obsolete. To address these concerns, Caltrans has introduced several bridge alternatives that meet modern seismic safety standards, provide safe and reliable access for all users, and minimize ongoing maintenance costs. Focused on meeting the Mendocino Coast’s long-term transportation needs, Caltrans is pleased to share the Albion River Bridge Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation that identifies the project’s potential impacts and potential avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
• Caltrans Awards $51.4 Million for Sustainable Transportation Projects to Strengthen California’s Climate Resilience (Redheaded Blackbelt). With a majority of funding coming from Governor Gavin Newsom’s clean transportation infrastructure package and the California Climate Commitment, Caltrans today awarded $51.4 million in planning grants for 89 sustainable, climate-resilient transportation projects throughout California to help communities better withstand the impacts of extreme weather events fueled by climate change. […] In total, Caltrans will fund:
• Section of Angeles Crest Highway reopens after storm damage repairs (MSN/NBC Los Angeles). Part of lower Angeles Crest Highway in the mountains north of Los Angeles has reopened after it was closed for more than a year due to storm damage and repair work. State Route 2 in Angeles National Forest reopened between between Mt. Wilson Red Box Road and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, Caltrans said Monday. The stretch had been closed since damaging storms in March 2023.
• San Diego County Transportation Projects Awarded $1.7 Million in Climate Resilience Grants (MSN/Times of San Diego). The California Department of Transportation is awarding more than $1.7 million in planning grants to San Diego County projects, part of more than $51.4 million being awarded statewide to make the state’s transportation system more resilient to climate change. According to Caltrans, the selected projects will “help reduce planet- warming pollution, improve resiliency of the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bike paths and expand natural disaster preparedness.” The local projects include:
• LA Metro to hold community meetings for the 605 Freeway expansion project (MSN/LAist). LA Metro is holding a series of community meetings to gather input on the agency’s plans to widen the 605 Freeway. The plan includes adding lanes starting from Baldwin Park to Norwalk and improving connections with the 5, 10 and 60 freeways. Caltrans — which is working on the 605 Freeway Corridor Improvement Project (605 CIP) with LA Metro — says rehabilitation of the freeway is necessary because no major improvements have been made since it opened in 1971. Since then, the number of vehicles using the freeway has gone up significantly.
• Ceremony marks completion of Golden Gate Bridge barrier (The Bay Link Blog). A ceremony was held Monday to commemorate the completion of the suicide deterrent system at the Golden Gate Bridge. Completed in early 2024(link is external, opens in a new window), the bridge now has a continuous physical barrier installed the full length of the 1.7-mile span. The net is a proven design that deters people from jumping, serves as a symbol of care and hope to despondent individuals, and, if necessary, offers people a second chance. “Today’s commemoration really is a tribute to the patience, the persistence, and the perspective of the parents,” said MTC Commissioner and Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt at the ceremony. “The net will not bring back the loved ones lost, but it will spare countless other families similar heartbreak in the future. And for this, we can be thankful, thoughtful, and above all, hopeful.” The net draws inspiration from similar barriers erected on tall buildings and bridges around the world. The community-selected design was chosen for its proven effectiveness and its minimalist aesthetic. The net consists of marine-grade stainless steel netting installed 20 feet below the sidewalks and extending out 20 feet over the water.
• San Mateans raise concern over 101/92 project (San Mateo Daily Journal). Efforts to add a connecting lane between Highway 101 express lanes and State Route 92 was met with resistance from potentially impacted San Mateans, as the San Mateo County Transportation Authority discussed the project’s status on Thursday, July 11. The highly-trafficked intersection largely comprises commuters heading to or from the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge. But State Route 92, primarily a one- to two-lane highway in each direction — at least on the Peninsula — is a congestion hot spot, and efforts on how to quell traffic at the interchange have been discussed on and off for about 10 years.
• Golden Gate Bridge suicide prevention net already showing signs of working (KTVU). A lifesaving addition to one of the Bay Area’s most recognized landmarks is now complete. On Monday, supporters of the safety net on the Golden Gate Bridge marked an important milestone. The Golden Gate Bridge is iconic, but it has tragic side as well. For too many, this is where they chose to end their lives. Now, the suicide deterrence system has been completed, and is aimed at creating a second chance at life for those who are in despair.
• Pelosi, other leaders mark completion of Golden Gate Bridge suicide net (NBC Bay Area). Rep. Nancy Pelosi along with other state and local leaders on Monday held a formal commemoration celebrating the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Deterrent System, or the net. The event recognized years of advocacy and bold leadership that led to the completion of what officials call a life-saving project. The net, they say, already is working as intended to save lives by reducing the number of suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge and deterring people from coming to the bridge to harm themselves. The net, which was completed earlier this year, is a proven design that keeps people from jumping, serves as a symbol of care and hope to despondent individuals, and offers people a second chance, according to the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
• ＄ Caltrans official updates Ramona Planning Group on roundabout, crosswalks (San Diego Union-Tribune). Ramona Community Planning Group members heard an update on a roundabout proposal for Mussey Grade Road and state Route 67 and other Ramona roadway projects at their July 11 meeting. The roundabout recommendation is in the “very early stages” of planning, said Stephen Welborn, Caltrans District 11 public affairs officer, who discussed the project and answered questions at the meeting. Once the proposal is fleshed out, Welborn said Caltrans will give a presentation at a Planning Group meeting or at a different venue in 18 to 24 months. “We’ll tell you why we came up with the recommendation,” Welborn said. “If there is not a consensus that the community wants to proceed, Caltrans will not force the project. We will explain the thought process.”
• Groundbreaking ceremony signals start of 99 and 120 connector project (Stocktonia News). The long awaited upgrade to the California state routes 99 and 120 interchange will soon come to fruition as construction crews prepare for the start of a years-long project in San Joaquin County. The State Route 99/120 Interchange Connector Project officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony near the project site in Manteca on Wednesday. Officials representing Caltrans and San Joaquin County gave speeches throughout the morning regarding the impact the project will have on county commuters followed by a photo shoot with gilded shovels signifying the commencement of the project. According to Caltrans, the $132 million project will expand the north-to-south SR-99 and the east-to-west SR-120 interchange near southeast Manteca, as well as neighboring roads in three parts known as Phase 1A, 1B and 1C.
• Caltrans To Partially Open New Roundabouts At Socscol Junction (Napa Valley, CA Patch). A single-lane closure will be in effect on southbound State Highway 221 between Napa Valley Corporate Way and the offramp to northbound state Highway 29 starting Friday, July 26, and ending Friday, Aug. 9, Caltrans announced. During the closure, crews will reconstruct southbound SR-221 for the new alignment as part of the ongoing construction of the Soscol Junction Roundabout project. To ensure the safety of workers and motorists, a single-lane reduction will be in place on southbound SR-221.
• Caltrans Reopening Lanes of Highway 154 Traffic Starting Friday | Local News (Noozhawk). Highway 154 is preparing to open to more traffic this week as Caltrans makes progress on emergency repairs. Caltrans said it will be reopening lanes between San Antonio Creek Road and Painted Cave Road to the public by the end of Friday. The section was closed for emergency repairs for tension cracks appearing in the roadway. Caltrans opened the highway to one-way traffic control in the repair area and now will reopen lanes in each direction.
• Overnight closures to start for next phase of Highway 1 slip-out repairs (MSN/KSBW). Caltrans announced on Wednesday that they will begin the next phase of emergency repairs at Highway 1 to repair the slip-out that occurred in late March. These repairs will start on Monday, July 22, and will be overnight until around Aug. 1. These include partial and full overnight closures. “Full overnight closures of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek will also be necessary intermittently for the remaining repair work and will be scheduled when equipment needs to be deployed across the entire roadway,” said Caltrans in a media release. “Unlike the partial closures, no travel through the work zone will be permitted during the full overnight closures.”
• ＄ Nightly road closures for Big Sur’s Highway 1 as repairs escalate (Los Angeles Times). The next stage of repairs to stabilize the Rocky Creek Bridge “slip-out” on Highway 1 in Big Sur will again close the two-lane road, but the closures will occur only overnight, California Department of Transportation officials announced this week. Beginning Monday, the damaged section of the roadway about 12 miles south of Carmel will partly close each night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., with traffic expected to be delayed up to one hour, Caltrans said in an update. That work will continue through Thursday, July 25. “Crews will use these partial closures to re-position the existing K-rail and place temporary striping to allow for construction activities in the southbound lane,” Caltrans officials said.
• Caltrans Highway 1 updates and closures between Soquel and 41st Ave. (KION 46). Caltrans announced Friday that drivers can expect full overnight lane closures from July 21 to July 23 in both directions of Soquel Ave. between 17th and Chanticleer avenues from 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Detours will direct travelers to 17th Ave., Rodriguez St. and Chanticleer Ave. before returning to Soquel Ave., according to Caltrans. These lane closures are taking place during the construction project on Highway 1 to improve auxiliary lanes in both directions, bus-on-shoulder progress and a new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing, according to Caltrans. Caltrans also said that the crews will be deconstructing the working platform on the new overcrossing to reveal the full finished outline of the bridge.
• A-13 at Route 36 Safety Project in Plumas County Update (Caltrans). Caltrans is progressing construction operations on the A-13 at State Route (SR) 36 Safety Project, near Chester from just east of Bailey Creek Bridge to just east of County Road A-13 in Plumas County. The safety project includes the construction of a traffic circle (roundabout). Constructing the roundabout includes removing the existing asphalt, performing earthwork cuts, placing asphalt concrete structural sections in the circulatory roadway and approach legs, and adding concrete curbing for the roundabout and approach legs. In addition, the safety project will relocate one utility pole, add striping and new landscaping, add luminaries on the approach legs, and install new signage. Motorists will encounter 24/7 traffic control Monday, July 22nd through Thursday, July 25th with up to 20 minute delays within the project limits. Motorists should adhere to the posted signage and speed limits when navigating the intersection. The construction project includes 85 working days, and is expected to be completed by the end of September, pending weather and operations.
• California Highway Project Breaks Ground (Roads and Bridges). Construction will begin in August on the junction of California State Route 99 and 120 in San Joaquin, Calif. The project aims to ease traffic between eastbound 120 and southbound 99. The project is being built by Teichert Inc. and is scheduled to be completed in summer 2026. It has a price tag of $48.2 million. Crews will be adding a second lane to the current connector ramp and a fourth lane on southbound 99 to Austin Road. Austin Road will get a new bridge across the freeway. The project is being led by the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) with funding coming from local tax, state and federal dollars, and COVID relief money.
• Ħ Proposed Routes for I-605 (Facebook). Proposed routes of the San Gabriel River Frwy I 605 north of the San Bernardino Frwy I 10/US 60,70,99 (Los Angeles Times Jul 08, 1962). I remember, as a kid, the concern to those of us living on or close to the proposed route through southern Monrovia, with the intersection of the future Foothill Frwy I 210, which would have transformed our neighborhood. As far as how many structures would have to be displaced, the approved route through Duarte by the Santa Fe Dam made the most sense.
• Ħ Map of Los Angeles Area Freeway Construction Plans (1951) (Facebook). Map of Los Angeles Area Freeway Construction Plans (1951) prepared by an L.A. Times illustrator, information provided by the Los Angeles Office of the State Division of Highways. (L.A. Times Apr 23,1951) Some of the routes, although approximate of the final routes approved, are the Sepulveda Frwy (San Diego Frwy 405), River Frwy (Long Beach Frwy 710), Colorado Frwy (Foothill Frwy 210- route looks like it’s actually on U.S. Hwy 66), Ramona Frwy (San Bernardino Frwy 10), San Fernando Frwy (Golden State Frwy 5). Existing freeways are the Arroyo Seco Pkwy; and partially completed Santa Ana, Ramona, Hollywood and Terminal Island(?) Freeways.
• Ħ A 1963 Highway Map of Pasadena (Facebook). A 1963 Highway Map of Pasadena..US 66 aka Colorado Boulevard , State Highway 11 aka Linda Vista Ave, and State Highway 118 aka Lincoln Avenue. (Western Map Company)
• Ħ California’s Historic Trails, Roads and Highways (Facebook). This group might be interested in a 2016 document on California’s Historic Trails, Roads and Highways. It was prepared by the Caltrans Headquarters Cultural Studies Office, where I worked for almost three decades. This is a public document that is available to the public in pdf format (see links in the Comments below). By law, Caltrans is responsible for preserving its historic roads and highways, along with other Caltrans historical resources. This document provides a history of roads, and guidance for identifying and evaluating potential historic trails, roads & highways. To pique your interest, attached are screenshots of the historic context cover, the summary page that explains why it was prepared & what’s in the document, and the appendix titles.
• Highway 150 in Ventura County set to reopen after landslide closes road for 5 months (MSN/ABC Los Angeles). Ventura County residents could soon regain access to an essential portion of Highway 150 that has been closed since February. A landslide near Santa Paula deemed a portion of SR-150 undriveable due to a two-story high pile of dirt covering the road. Officials aim to open one lane by the end of July, but it is still unclear when Caltrans will open both lanes of traffic on the highway. This main road once connected Ojai to Santa Paula with a 15 to 20 minute drive. Now, residents are forced to take alternate roads that nearly triple their commute times. “It’s been terrible dealing with the closure. I go that route at most twice a week,” Ojai resident Christopher Noxon said. “I have a museum show over there and I haven’t been able to get there. It takes like 45 minutes to get to Santa Paula.”
• Ħ 1923 map of the San Fernando Valley (Facebook). A 1923 map of the San Fernando Valley. (Scan) Donated by Robert Aitchison. Amazing!
• Section of Hwy 41 in Kings County to open after 6-month closure (KSEE24 and CBS47). After a six-month closure, Caltrans announced the reopening of a section of Highway 41 in Kings County. Caltrans officials say a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on Aug. 1 for the reopening of Highway 41 from Quail Avenue to Highway 198 after a six-month closure. This comes after officials announced the replacement of the Stratford Kings River Bridge, Kettleman Pavement Rehabilitation from Quail Avenue to Nevada Avenue, and the Stratford-Lemoore Pavement Rehabilitation from Nevada Avenue to Highway 198. According to Caltrans, the Stratford Kings River Bridge replacement was needed to address the aging infrastructure and correct deficiencies of the existing bridge to ensure the safety and reliability of Highway 41.
• Touring the 100-year-old Posey Tube linking Oakland and Alameda (Oaklandside). Driving through the Posey Tube from Alameda to Oakland is not exactly a state-of-the-art travel experience. It’s dark, long, and covered in graffiti. The radio always cuts out in the middle of your favorite song. But when the tunnel was built just under 100 years ago, it was an engineering phenomenon and an early Art Deco marvel. Most of the original systems and infrastructure from 1928 are still intact. “It was the largest tube in the world at the time, prioritizing safety and clean air,” said Daniel Levy, president of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for historical preservation. The organization is hosting a series of walking tours of the Posey Tube—not through the tunnel itself, but down into the stately portal buildings that house massive fans that push clean air through the tube and suck out fumes.
• Ħ The Construction of Hwy 101 Near the Humboldt/Del Norte County Line (Redheaded Blackbelt). Driving Hwy 101 up the coast from Humboldt County to Del Norte is breathtaking–both in the sense of its beauty and it’s difficult curves occasionally hanging precariously over the ocean. Imagine creating those roads across those steep, rocky cliffs which plunge almost straight into the sea. Carl Young, who colorizes old photos, shared the top one that he has tinted to bring it more to life and the bottom one that remains in black and white. Both give a sense of the danger these construction crews faced in creating Hwy 101. According to a National Park website about the area, work began on the Redwood Highway around 1919. “By the end of 1923 the Redwood Highway, except for the bridge across the Klamath, had been completed and opened to through traffic in Del Norte and Humboldt counties,” the website states.
• NTH Route 66 – Public Works (SBD Public Works). On Thursday February 15, 2024 Caltrans notified San Bernardino County Department of Public Works that during a scheduled routine bridge inspections it was found that Bridge Number 77 on National Trails Highway between Amboy Road and Kelbaker Road was deficient and recommend immediate closure to all vehicle traffic. County Public Works staff immediately followed up on the Caltrans inspection and discovered that the structural pilings which hold up the bridge were degraded by 50%. Due to safety concerns for the traveling public County Public Works agreed with the Caltrans recommendation and immediately closed the bridge to all vehicular traffic.
• $85M North First Avenue Bridge in Barstow set to open soon (VV Daily Press). After nearly 18 months of construction, the new two-lane North First Avenue Bridge in Barstow is scheduled to open. The nearly 1,180-foot-long concrete and steel wonder will officially welcome traffic on Friday, July 12, according to the City of Barstow. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority originally said the new bridge would open to traffic on Wednesday, July 10.
• Highway 150 in Ventura County set to reopen after landslide forces road closures (ABC7 Los Angeles). Ventura County residents could soon regain access to an essential portion of Highway 150 that has been closed since February. A landslide near Santa Paula deemed a portion of SR-150 undriveable due to a two-story high pile of dirt covering the road. Officials aim to open one lane by the end of July, but it is still unclear when Caltrans will open both lanes of traffic on the highway. This main road once connected Ojai to Santa Paula with a 15 to 20 minute drive. Now, residents are forced to take alternate roads that nearly triple their commute times.
• ‘Expect delays’: Highway 50 construction extends to I-80 in Northern California (MSN/KXTL). Some lanes on two major highways in Northern California will be closed while construction workers put in a new traffic shift, according to Caltrans. The work zone is from the Yolo Causeway through West Sacramento on Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50. Caltrans reported that the new construction is a part of a $280 million project to fix local roadways. Officials advised motorists to plan for additional travel time and to expect delays.
• Caltrans Announces Upcoming Closure for SR-121 Northbound to Eastbound (Hoodline). Starting August 8th, State Route 121 will face a major disruption due to construction at the SR-116 and SR-121 junction. Northbound drivers on SR-121 who plan to head east will encounter a closure beginning at 9 p.m. that night, according to Caltrans. This construction, aimed at creating a new roundabout, is expected to continue until November 2024, though delays may occur.
• Overnight closures on Highway 1 planned for Santa Cruz County (KSBW). Caltrans has announced a full overnight closure of Highway 1 between 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive set for Tuesday, July 23, and Wednesday, July 24. This is the continuation of a project to construct auxiliary lanes and bus-on-shoulder improvements on Highway 1. In this particular section of the highway, they have planned to construct a new bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing at Chanticleer Avenue.
• Why are highways so big in America? The climate lie behind reducing traffic (Vox). From Massachusetts to California, transportation departments are pursuing controversial plans to widen highways, expansions that are sure to compel more people to drive, thus increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Yet state and federal officials are, absurdly, justifying such projects by claiming that they can help fight climate change. Consider a report issued last fall, in which the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) outlined its strategy to reduce pollution attributable to its road network, which a 2018 department report found generated 0.48 percent of all global — not national — CO2 emissions. Along with improving public transit, installing energy-efficient streetlights, and building electric vehicle charging stations, TxDOT suggests expanding highways.
• Ħ Map of the Highway Plan of the San Gabriel Valley (1929) (Facebook). Map of the Highway Plan of the San Gabriel Valley (1929) East Region (note there are multiple images of interest)
• Despite years of closures, work continues to reopen Hwy 1 along rugged coastline (KSBY). Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast is an international tourist attraction that usually funnels hundreds of thousands of tourists through the Central Coast each year, but the constant battle against Mother Nature and millions of dollars in road reconstruction costs have some wondering if enough is enough. Chris Williams, of Dublin, Ireland, headed down from San Francisco with his family to check out this scenic highway. “We actually didn’t know that it was closed,” Williams said. “It was my wife’s cousin who informed us while we were driving down that we couldn’t do the bottom half.”
• Ħ OLYMPIC BOULEVARD (Facebook). OLYMPIC BOULEVARD (Los Angeles citywide, Beverly Hills, East L.A., Montebello, Santa Monica) If you count the numbered streets in central Los Angeles, you’ll notice that there is no 10th Street. (Well, there is, but only in bits and pieces.) That’s because it was changed to Olympic Boulevard in 1935, in honor of the Summer Olympics that were held in L.A. three years earlier. (We can thank William May Garland for bringing the Games to our fair city.)

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

• Michigan Bar Road Bridge. The Michigan Bar Road Bridge is a single lane deck truss structure located in eastern Sacramento County at the Cosumnes River. Michigan Bar is the site of a mining community which was founded on the Cosumnes River in 1849 by miners originating from Michigan. The original bridge at Michigan Bar was constructed in 1853 and made public in 1879. The second structure at the site was constructed during 1887 and was destroyed by flooding in 1907. During 1908 a truss span was constructed which was redecked to the current design in 1947.
• Eastern California State Route 16. Eastern California State Route 16 is a 32-mile segment of the highway is located in Sacramento County and Amador County. The eastern segment once was bridged through downtown Sacramento to what is now the western segment near Woodland. Eastern California State Route 16 begins at US Route 50 in Sacramento and largely follows Jackson Road east to California State Route 49 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The highway passes through numerous communities which were tied to the early Gold Rush era in California. Pictured as the blog cover is California State Route 16 at the original Deer Creek Bridge in Sloughhouse during 1948.
• Calaveritas Road. Calaveritas Road is a five-mile mountain highway in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Calaveras County, California. Calaveritas Road connects from Mountain Ranch Road in San Andreas southeast to Dogtown Road by way of the Gold Rush community of Calaveritas. Calaveritas was founded in 1849 by Mexican miner and is the location where the ruins of the Costa Store can be found. The Calaveritas Creek Bridge can be found on Calaveritas Road and is the oldest example of a top chord Warren pony truss in California having been constructed during 1928.
• Dogtown Road. Dogtown Road is an approximately ten-mile highway located in the Sierra Nevada range of Calaveras County, California. The highway begins at Calaveritas Road and winds through the mountainous terrain to California State Route 49 in the Altaville District of Angels Camp. The highway is named after a small mining community which was once located at French Gluch. Pictured as the blog cover is the wooden deck San Domingo Creek Bridge which was constructed during 1940.
• The planned Panhandle Freeway of San Francisco (Interstate 80). The Panhandle Freeway was an approximately two-mile limited access corridor which was once proposed in the city of San Francisco. The Panhandle Freeway conceptually would have connected US Route 101 at the Central Freeway west to the planned Interstate 280 freeway by way of Panhandle Park. The concept of the Panhandle Freeway was added to the State Highway System as Legislative Route Number 223 during 1947. The adopted alignment of the Panhandle Freeway corridor rescinded in 1955 and was never reestablished. Between 1964-1968 the Panhandle Freeway was planned as Interstate 80 and later as the second iteration of California State Route 241 circa 1968-1972.

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