Headlines About California Highways – January 2025

[cahwyguy]

It’s been a year, hasn’t it. What? We’re only a month into 2025? Seems like so much longer. We’ve had the disastrous fires that have essentially destroyed Pacific Palisades and Altadena, and we’ve had the inauguration that has essentially destroyed any semblance of normal government operations. It’s been a tiring month.

Show-wise and live-performance-wise, it has been quiet. We had one Latin Jazz concert that was… mediocre; our one show was cancelled due to the fires. On the plus side, that allowed me to go to SoCal Games Day 90. I’m not worried. Theatre picks up again in February; and March is going to be so crazy busy I have no idea when I’m going to do highway updates or record.

January has left me stressed out about the situation in Washington, and looking forward to putting in retirement papers. I’ve done a number of blog posts on the subject, which I’m not detaiing here. However: an important note: If you are a Federal employee and received the “buyout” offer — and especially if you are a career employee and have built up years towards retirement, or depend upon your benefits — DO NOT TAKE THE OFFER. As presented, it provides no protection for your retirement or your benefits, and may be illegal or unfunded. Read this. We all understand your desire to just get out, but the Executive Branch cannot just ignore laws, the direction of Congress, and union contracts. I would also love to remind the Executive Branch that we have a Constitution, and it defines THREE branches of government. This isn’t an executive monarchy (and Elon Musk wasn’t on the ballot), and it is Congress that controls the purse and makes the laws the President must execute (whether he likes them or not — Congress represents the people), and it is the Courts that ensure people follow the laws.

Have I said I’m looking forward to retirement? Summer can’t come fast enough.

One thing I’ll do in retirement is work on the highway pages and the podcast. As a reminder: One of the sources for the highway page updates (and the raison d’etre for for this post) are headlines about California Highways that I’ve seen over the last month. I collect them in this post, which serves as fodder for the updates to my California Highways site, and 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.

The podcast continues apace. I’ve finished writing Season 3, and we’re recording episodes as I find time. We’re back on a regular schedule, and two episodes were posted during January (see below), and the episode on the Westside Freeway has been recorded, edited, and is scheduled to post.  Please tell your friends about the podcast, “like”, “♥”, or “favorite” it, and give it a rating in your favorite podcatcher. For those that hear the early episode, the sound quality of the episodes does get better — we were learning. If you know sound editing, feel free to give me advice (I use Audacity to edit). As always, you can keep up with the show at the podcast’s forever home at https://www.caroutebyroute.org , the show’s page on Spotify for Creators, or you can subscribe through your favorite podcatching app or via the RSS feeds (CARxR, Spotify for Creators) . The following episodes have been posted this month:

• CA RxR 3.06p1: I-5: Whatever Became of the Ridge Route? (Part 1). Our I-5 exploration continues, with a focus on the segment of I-5 from the US 101 split in Downtown Los Angeles to the Route 99 split in Wheeler Ridge. This episode, Part 1 of 3.06, after a recap on LRN 5 and Sign Route 5, focuses on the history of I-5 from Downtown LA (DTLA) to and through the Newhall Pass. We explore the history of LRN 4 and LRN 161, the timeline of freeway construction to and through Burbank, the history of Route 5S (Colorado Blvd), and a dive into the history of routings through the Newhall Pass and in Saugus. We also talk about the Interstate number submissions for I-5, and have some updates on the projects we discussed in Episode 3.05p2. Our special guest this episode is Sydney Croasmun of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization. Sydney brings her expertise to our discussion in Part 2, when we’re going in detail over the Ridge Route. Part 2 also discusses projects and naming in this section, especially the history of the “Grapevine” name. Subsequent episodes will be looking at (3.07) the Westerly Routing; (3.08) the planned I-5W; (3.09) the former US 99W portion from Sacramento to Redding; and (3.09) the portion from Redding to the Oregon Border. (Spotify for Creators)
• CA RxR 3.06p2: I-5: Whatever Became of the Ridge Route? (Part 2). Our I-5 exploration continues, with a focus on the segment of I-5 from the US 101 split in Downtown Los Angeles to the Route 99 split in Wheeler Ridge. This episode, Part 2 of 3.06, completes the history from Part 1 with a detailed dive into the history of the Ridge Route. After that, we discuss major projects in this segment of I-5, as well as historical and memorial names. This includes our second deep dive into the history of the “Grapevine” name. Our special guest this episode is Sydney Croasmun of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization. Sydney brings her expertise our Ridge Route discussion, and also discusses the goals and activities of the RRPO. Subsequent episodes will be looking at (3.07) the Westerly Routing; (3.08) the planned I-5W; (3.09) the former US 99W portion from Sacramento to Redding; and (3.09) the portion from Redding to the Oregon Border. (Spotify for Creators)

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

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

• Wellsona Road Undercrossing (FB/District 5). #sanluisobispocounty Construction of an undercrossing and frontage road near the intersection of US 101 and Wellsona Road will begin on Tuesday, January 14. This project is intended to reduce the number and severity of collisions at the intersection of US 101 and Wellsona Road. The undercrossing will be constructed beneath US 101, south of the existing intersection, eliminating the need for motorists to make left turns across traffic on US 101.
• Watsonville ‘road diet’ entering environmental studies phase; city wants Caltrans construction date to move up (Lookout Santa Cruz). Watsonville officials say they are in talks with Caltrans to move up the start date for an ambitious plan to transform the four-lane highway that runs through the city’s downtown into a pedestrian-friendly corridor, part of a broader effort to revitalize a city center that never fully recovered from a devastating earthquake more than three decades ago. Last year, the Watsonville City Council voted unanimously to approve a 30-year vision, formally known as the Downtown Specific Plan, to revitalize the 196-acre city center which has struggled to recover its spark since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged much of its historic core.
• Caltrans Adds Major Marsh Protections to Planned Hwy 37 Project (Sonoma Sun). In response to public comments and receipt of a letter from the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior that identified 22 species of plants and animals needing protection, Caltrans has modified its plans for the reconstruction of Hwy. 37. Among the concerns offered were:
• Manteca accepts right-of- way from Caltrans for widening of Austin Road (Manteca Bulletin). Right-of-way connected with widening of Austin Road as part of the 120 Bypass/Highway 99 connector project has been accepted by the Manteca City Council. Austin Road is being widened from a point south of the new Singh Street being constructed and a point just north of the Frontage Road on the east side of Highway 99. Singh Street is a new connector street to Atherton Drive south of Woodward Avenue from Austin Road.
• Northbound Traffic to Switch to New Lanes on U.S. 395 Near Olancha (Caltrans). Northbound U.S. 395 traffic will switch onto the new northbound lanes of the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project on Tuesday, November 19. Drivers are advised that the temporary detour that switched southbound traffic onto the new northbound lanes north of Cartago will now be used to switch northbound traffic onto the existing lanes of U.S. 395.
• Ħ Bishop Area Access & Circulation Feasibility Study (2007) (Inyo County). In 2003 the Inyo County Local Transportation Commission, with the support of the City of Bishop and Inyo County, requested that Caltrans District 9 conduct the Bishop Area Access and Circulation Study. The study was developed in a collaborative fashion with the project proponents mentioned above, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, local Chamber of Commerce and businesses, local public service entities, local schools, the general public, and others. Five Study Objectives were defined at the beginning to guide the process: …

• Ħ Bishop Wye Traffic Circulation Improvement (2009) (Inyo County). The Bishop Wye Traffic Circulation Improvement Project proposes to increase intersection capacity and improve safety at the junctions of US 395, US 6, and Wye Road. These capacity and safety improvements are needed due to projected increases in traffic as a result of increased commercial truck traffic, development in the Chalfant, Hammil, and Benton Valley areas of Mono County, development of adjacent commercial parcels, and to accommodate a potential alternative truck route around the City of Bishop. The congestion and reduced safety that could result will adversely impact US 395 and US 6 and reduce their effectiveness as both interregional corridors and North Main Street for the City of Bishop. In addition, the current configuration of these routes is already contributing to an accident rate that is above the statewide average and may accelerate as the volume of traffic increases.
• Ħ The Tioga Road – A History (1883-1961) (Mariposa County Library). It has been called the “road to broken dreams.” Perhaps, though, its many miles of unexcelled scenic grandeur have fulfill­ed the desires, the deep-felt longing for a contact with nature’s wilderness, even the dreams of many thousands who have passed over its often twisting, ever-chang­ing course.
• Highway 37 project updated with wetlands work (Marin I-J). A $500 million project along Highway 37 has been altered to include marsh restoration work. The Sears Point to Mare Island Improvement Project will widen the Tolay Creek Bridge and add a carpool lane in each direction in an effort to reduce traffic congestion. New updates include restoring a 3.5-mile section of degraded tidal salt marsh, called Strip Marsh East, which will help protect against sea-level rise and flooding while creating habitat. “Establishing a network of new channels connected to San Pablo Bay will support the creation of new wetlands, waters, and habitats for threatened and endangered species,” said Bart Ney, a Caltrans spokesperson.
• Colorado, Minnesota DOTs Chart a New Road Forward on Cutting Emissions (Bloomberg). At the start of Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session, Democrats controlled the governor’s office, the state senate and house of representatives — a trifecta that presented an opportunity for all kinds of progressive reforms. Larry Kraft, then beginning his first year as a representative in the Minnesota legislature after building a political career on climate policy in a Minneapolis suburb, used the moment to tackle one of the state’s biggest sources of greenhouse gases: transportation. Minnesota has the fourth most road lane miles of any US state, despite having a population that comes in at 22nd place.
• Can American Drivers Learn to Love Roundabouts? (Bloomberg). Almost every night, after he helps put his kid to bed, Joshua Blanton drives across his hometown of Ashland, Kentucky, to look at a roundabout. Five were installed along one of its main commercial stretches this year, replacing five stoplights and reducing four traffic lanes to two. The project is part of a larger downtown revitalization effort to boost walkability and safety in the city of 20,000 people. But for Blanton, it’s become much more than that. “It’s habit,” he said of his frequent drives. “We were so involved in it, it’s just hard to break away.”
• USDOT: $258MM for Calif. Transportation Infrastructure Projects (Railway Age). The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Jan. 7 announced that it will award 25 California projects a combined $258 million for transportation infrastructure upgrades. The grants come through three programs funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program, and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) Program. Projects receiving funding include: [Note: The Trmp administration Executive Orders have left this funding in limbo.]
• SR 111 Roadway Project, Starting January 13th (NBC Palm Springs). Beginning January 13th, Caltrans, in collaboration with the city of Palm Springs, will launch a major eight-mile rehabilitation project along California State Route 111. This initiative, funded by State Senate Bill 1, will involve the removal and repaving of eight miles of roadway to improve safety and extend the life of the highway. The project will also include the construction of 11 new Sunline transportation bus pads, enhancing public transit access in the region. Additionally, sidewalks and curb ramps will be upgraded to increase accessibility for pedestrians. Work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and drivers in the area should expect lane closures and delays during construction hours. The project is expected to continue through late 2025, making significant improvements to one of the Coachella Valley’s main thoroughfares. Caltrans emphasizes that the upgrades will not only improve the overall driving experience but also provide better safety features and greater accessibility for both drivers and pedestrians.
• SANDAG and Caltrans advance Otay Mesa East POE project with federal support (CBS 8). The San Diego Association of Governments and the state Department of Transportation approved major agreements Friday to construct a port of entry in Otay Mesa, taking one more step toward making the project a reality. At Friday’s meeting, SANDAG’s board of directors approved a Federal Project Agreement and future Donation Acceptance Agreements between SANDAG, Caltrans, the U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. SANDAG and Caltrans had been negotiating with the two federal agencies for two years. [Note: The Trmp administration Executive Orders have left this funding in limbo.]
• Ħ Mulholland Highway (FB/Jack Feldman). 1924 – When it officially opened on December 27, 1924, Mulholland Highway was 24 miles long – the solid line, running from Cahuenga Pass to Calabasas. The dotted line shows what was still to be constructed, Topanga Summit to the Ocean. Originally the road was of gravel surface treated with oil.
• Caltrans work begins on State Route 12 junction in Fairfield (Vallejo Times Herald via MSN). Caltrans announced earlier this week that it and partner agencies are currently undertaking tree work along westbound Interstate 80 near the State Route 12 junction in Fairfield. This work is the first step in preparation for the construction of a complementary truck scales facility on the westbound side of the interstate. No lane closures are scheduled at this time, but motorists should be aware of changes to the visual landscape and associated sightlines. Caltrans said in a news release that this work is to be completed by early February. Caltrans is also scheduled to close the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580) on Sunday, from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning to perform sweeping and general maintenance work.
• Caltrans to Construct Roadway Project in Palm Springs (MyNewsLA via MSN). Caltrans, in collaboration with the City of Palm Springs, will commence work on an eight-mile rehabilitation road project along the California State Route 111 (SR 111) next week, officials said. City officials said in a press release Thursday there will be improvements made, such as removing and repaving eight miles of roadway, constructing 11 new Sunline transportation bus pads, and upgrading sidewalks and curb ramps. The construction will begin Jan. 13 starting on the outside lanes of eastbound East Palm Canyon Drive. On Jan.14 to Jan.17, construction will move to westbound Vista Chino, then work will continue on Jan. 17 on the intersection of SR 111 and Via Olivera. Jan. 21-23 are the last dates confirmed for construction to be completed on eastbound Vista Chino.
• Meeting coming Tuesday to discuss the Draft Supplemental Environment Impact Report concerning Highway 37 (Times Herald). Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will host a public meeting on Tuesday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Vallejo to discuss the Draft Supplemental Environment Impact Report for the project concerning Highway 37. The public meeting will focus on proposed changes to the project since the original environmental document was approved in 2023, including additional highway improvements and the enhancement of degraded marsh habitat at Strip Marsh East, which is adjacent to SR 37 near Mare Island. The Draft SEIR and Preliminary 4(f) De Minimis Determination can be found online at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-popular-links/d4-environmental-docs
• County sees need for eminent domain for bridge rehab project (Fairfield Daily Republic). The Solano County supervisors Tuesday afternoon voted to use eminent domain, if necessary, to acquire about 1.45 acres of farmland for the Stevenson Bridge Rehabilitation  Project. Matt Tuggle, engineering manager, said the county will continue to work with the representatives for the family trust that owns the property, and said it was rare for land acquisition negotiations to get to that point. Tuggle also emphasized that the bridge architecture is very rare, and will soon likely be the only one of its kind in California, which is why Solano and Yolo counties are determined to preserve it. Edward Borchard, one of those trust representatives, thinks that is wrong-minded. “We need a new bridge; farmers need a new bridge,” said Borchard, who called into the afternoon public hearing.
• Caltrans discusses changes to Sears Point to Mare Island Improvement Project (Vallejo Times Herald via MSN). Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission held a public meeting in Vallejo on Tuesday night to discuss the State Route 37 Sears Point to Mare Island Improvement Project and changes to the Draft Supplemental Environment Impact Report since it was first approved in 2023. The discussion focused on the relocation of tolling as well as additional highway improvements such as ones to the Tolay Creek Bridge and the enhancement of degraded marsh habitat at Strip Marsh East, which is adjacent to State Route 37 near Mare Island. The tolling gantry, once scheduled to be located near the Tolay Creek Bridge, has been relocated to a new location just east of Tubbs Island.
• Highway 70 Binney Junction Project set to improve infrastructure and safety in Marysville (Action News Now). The city of Marysville and Caltrans have announced plans to collaborate on a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at enhancing safety, connectivity and traffic flow along Highway  70. The SR-70 Binney Junction Roadway and Complete Streets Project will address the community’s needs by improving conditions for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and businesses, Caltrans said.
• Ħ The eerie abandoned motorway across 2,725 miles of desert (Daily Express via MSN). In the arid heart of the California desert lies Highway 80, a forgotten relic of America’s transportation history. Once a bustling, coast-to-coast route, Highway 80 stretches 2,725 miles from Savannah, Georgia, to San Diego, California. Today, a stretch of this historic highway, particularly between Holtville and Ocotillo, is eerily silent, overshadowed by the rise of Interstate 8. Long before the interstates reshaped the American landscape, Highway 80 was the nation’s first all-weather, coast-to-coast highway. It served as a vital link for travellers, freight haulers, and families heading westward, cutting through iconic towns and landmarks.
• Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic? (Science Friday). Have you ever been stuck in traffic and thought, if only this highway was a little wider so it could fit more cars? You aren’t alone. Many states have been expanding their highways. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a $1.3 billion project to expand one of the state’s highways for an estimated maximum six-minute travel savings. Other highway-widening projects are underway in Texas, California, and Maryland. In 2022, federal, state, and local governments in the US spent $127 billion on highway construction. Some departments of transportation say expanding highways is necessary to reduce congestion, especially in areas with growing populations, and to encourage economic development.
• Why environmentalists are fighting a Calif. highway icon’s expansion (SF Gate). To some, it’s a sign they’ve arrived home. To others, it’s a landmark that signals the beginning, or the end, of the Bay Area. To others still, it’s a harbinger of brake lights and gridlock. Whether you’ve zoomed by it on U.S. Highway 101 a million times in off-peak hours or crawled by it on a stop-and-go Friday afternoon — you’ve likely seen the 101 Red Barn. But its proposed expansion — which would include adding more than 34,000 square feet of outdoor retail space and more than 18,000 square feet for parking and roads to accommodate large gatherings like weddings and corporate events on the property’s 32-acre footprint — is stirring controversy.
• Caltrans SR 2 Emergency Highway Repairs Proceed (Construction Equipment Guide). Aside from stressing residents, the winter and spring storms the past two years (not to mention the wildfires around Los Angeles) have really tested the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which faces damaged roads and related infrastructure around the state. But Caltrans has reacted rapidly, not only dealing with the immediate impacts but also completing the necessary repairs to restore the damaged roads and protect them from future damage as much as possible.
• Caltrans work begins on State Route 12 junction in Fairfield (Vallejo Times Herald). Caltrans announced earlier this week that it and partner agencies are currently undertaking tree work along westbound Interstate 80 near the State Route 12 junction in Fairfield. This work is the first step in preparation for the construction of a complementary truck scales facility on the westbound side of the interstate. No lane closures are scheduled at this time, but motorists should be aware of changes to the visual landscape and associated sightlines. Caltrans said in a news release that this work is to be completed by early February. Caltrans is also scheduled to close the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (I-580) on Sunday, from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning to perform sweeping and general maintenance work.
• Caltrans finally untangling traffic knot at 198 & Lovers Lane (Valley Voice). Preliminary work by Caltrans to reroute traffic exiting Highway 198 at Lovers Lane (State Route 216) has begun, reports Visalia City Hall. Preparations will continue through the winter months. Then in March, the project – which includes permanently blocking a portion of Mineral King east of Lovers Lane – goes into high gear. This is just an operational improvement. Caltrans plans to build a completely new interchange just east of Lovers Lane at Road 148 that won’t be done until 2035 at the earliest.
• Vintage Faire objects to Modesto’s plans to remake busy Standiford-Highway 99 interchange (AOL). Modesto’s proposal to remake the Standiford Avenue-Highway 99 interchange is drawing objections from Vintage Faire Mall’s owner, which says the change would significantly harm the mall and the other shopping centers at one of the city’s busiest commercial centers. The city is working with Caltrans to drastically transform the traffic corridor with roundabouts and new roads, including ones on private property the city would acquire from the mall and nearby shopping areas.
• Binney Junction Project aims to improve stretch of Highway 70 in Marysville (KXTV via MSN). The Binney Junction Project seeks to improve bridge clearance at two underpasses, relieve traffic congestion, and create better conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists in  Marysville. The improvements will be concentrated on a roughly one-mile stretch of Highway 70 between 14th Street (near the Dollar Tree) to just north of the Binney Junction, up near the Marysville cemetery entrances. Megan Reese with Caltrans says approximately 17,000 vehicles travel through the area each day. She says they are focused on improving safety for those who walk and bike in and around the project area. Notably, Marysville High School is situated along the project area.
• Caltrans: State funnels $9 million to highway projects in Mendocino County (Ukiah Daily Journal). More than $9 million was funneled toward highway projects in Mendocino County recently, the California Department of Transportation reported. In a press release, Caltrans announced that the “California Transportation Commission allocated $830 million at its December meeting to fund a broad range of investments to improve access and safety, provide sustainable projects and help support the infrastructural backbone” of the state, including about $9.4 million for projects planned on Highways 1 and 128 in Mendocino County. “These investments will help provide the next generation of transportation projects in California, strengthening efforts for bridge maintenance and renovation, increasing safety for people who walk and bike, expanding equitable access and continuing support for the movement of goods and services that fuel the state’s economic engine,” Caltrans Director Tony Tavares was quoted as saying in the release.
• California first responders keep this old-school problem solver handy (SF Gate). This month, the 57th edition of the Los Angeles-Orange County Thomas Guide is being published. The thick, rectangular, spiral-bound road atlas is the stuff of memories for many Southern Californians who will smile and reminisce simply at hearing the name. But ask anyone under the age of, say, 40, and you’re likely to be met with a blank stare. Crumpled, splattered, greasy and well-thumbed, Thomas Guides were a mandatory passenger for basically any vehicle for most of the last century. The gridded and indexed map book neatly laid out every street, freeway and intersection within its given region, from Downtown LA alleyways to tucked-away Topanga Canyon home addresses.
• Ħ 1952 Los Angeles Parkway Proposal Map (FB/Jan Betts Dean). 1952 they called it a Parkway system
• Caltrans Initiating Safety Enhancements on Highway 1 Near Vandenberg Village (The Santa Barbara Independent). Caltrans will begin a resurfacing project on the southbound lanes of Highway 1 south of Vandenberg Village on Monday, January 27, weather permitting. This project will include the application of a High Friction Surface Treatment to the existing pavement which will address a recent increase in wet weather traffic incidents. Travelers can expect alternating lane closures Monday, Jan. 27 through Thursday, Jan. 30 from 9 am until 4 pm. A one-day striping operation to complete this project is expected the week of Feb. 2. Travelers should be aware of all highway workers, equipment in the area, observe posted speed limits and slow-down in wet conditions. Delays should not exceed 10 minutes. The contractor for this $461,000 project is American Civil Constructors West Coast of Benicia, CA.
• Caltrans: State funnels $9 million to highway projects in Mendocino County (The Willits News). More than $9 million was funneled toward highway projects in Mendocino County recently, the California Department of Transportation reported. […] The funding for Mendocino County was described as: …
• Hwy. 1 near Vandenberg Village to undergo roadway safety enhancements (Santa Maria Times). Caltrans District 5 will be resurfacing the southbound lanes of Highway 1, south of Vandenberg Village, starting immediately, weather permitting. The project aims to enhance safety by applying a high friction surface treatment to address a recent increase in wet-weather traffic incidents. Motorists should anticipate alternating lane closures from Jan. 27 through Jan. 30, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. A one-day striping operation is planned for the week of Feb. 2. Delays are expected to be minimal, not exceeding 10 minutes.
• Caltrans: State funnels $9 million to highway projects in Mendocino County (Ukiah Daily Journal via MSN). More than $9 million was funneled toward highway projects in Mendocino County recently, the California Department of Transportation reported. […] The funding for Mendocino County was described as: …
• ＄＄ South Bay History: California State Route 47 links ports of LA, Long Beach (Daily Breeze). The article was locked behind a restricted paywall and I couldn’t get to it to summarize.
• Ħ 2025 Winter Gazette – Southern California Railway Museum (SCRM). The article continuing the series on the history of the museum had an interesting paragraph: “An item in the January 1970 Gazette announced that the Division of Highways (forerunner of Caltrans) had disclosed the tentative route for Interstate 15 through Perris. It would pass within a few hundred feet south of the museum with an offramp about one-quarter mile southeast at Goetz Road. It also mentioned that the museum would be close to the re-routing of  California Highway 74’s freeway route. So much for official prognostication! Construction was at least two years away and as things turned out, the replacement of US Highway 395 ended up as Interstate 215. Interstate 15 was routed much to the south through Elsinore.”
• Dixon’s Parkway Boulevard overcrossing project aimed at improving public safety (KXTL via Yahoo News). As the city of Dixon continues to grow, new changes will soon be coming. A new overpass project is underway to connect the city’s east and west sides, which are divided by railroads. The city recently received a $25.2 million federal grant to aid in completing the project. The idea to connect one side of town to the other is over two decades old.
• Jeffery Open Space Trail on I-5 (FB/City of Irvine). Significant progress has been made on the Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge, which will span the I-5 Freeway, the Caltrans Park & Ride parking lot, and Walnut Avenue.
• California Invests Nearly $1 Billion in Transportation Infrastructure, Including Clean Energy, Bike Lanes and Pedestrian Projects (Caltrans). The California Transportation Commission (CTC) today allocated nearly $1 billion for projects aimed at solving mobility challenges and aiding California’s continued effort to make the highway system more resilient to climate change. […] Among the projects approved: …
• ＄ Caltrans begins gateway beautification projects in Tuolumne County (Union Democrat). Caltrans expects to begin work this week on a nearly $1 million project to install a gateway monument along Highway 49 for the town of Columbia, as well as metal silhouettes at three locations along Highway 108 in different parts of Tuolumne County. Funding for the beautification project comes from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Clean California Initiative, which a news release from Caltrans described as “a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multi-year clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.”
• Caltrans allocates nearly $1 billion for transportation projects, some in Kern County (Bakersfield Now). The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated nearly $1 billion to address mobility challenges and bolster the state’s highway system against climate change. […] Among the approved projects are:

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

• Yosemite Springs Parkway. Yosemite Springs Parkway is an approximately five-mile roadway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County and serves as the main throughfare of Yosemite Lakes Park. The corridor originates as the primary through road of Gold Rush era Long Hollow Ranch which connected the Fresno-Yosemite Road at Kelshaw Corners to River Road. Upon Long Hollow Ranch being sold for subdivided development in 1970 the roadway was rebuilt to modern standards and rebranded by the name it currently carries.
• Acton Grade Bridge (Madera County Road 810). The Acton Grade Bridge is a deck plate span crossing the East Fork Chowchilla River on Madera County Road 810 (formerly Acton Grade Road). The bridge likely was installed during the early 1970s to replace the earthen ford which once connected the California Gold Rush communities of Bailey Flats and Grub Gulch. The name of the structure is an homage to late nineteenth century property owner Mary E. Acton who granted an easement to construct what is now Road 810. Road 810 itself is an approximately four-mile dirt road which connects Road 800 (formerly Bailey Flats Road) southeast to Road 600 (formerly Grub Gulch Road).
• Madera County Road 406 and the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. Madera County Road 406 is a nine mile largely unsurfaced highway which connects California State Route 41 west to Madera County Road 400. The corridor west of the site of Bates Station at Madera County Road 209 is part of the historic corridor of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The Stockton-Los Angeles Road was plotted in 1853 during the Kern River Gold Rush to facilitate overland travel to the new mining claims in the southern Sierra Nevada range. What is now Madera County Road 406 specifically was part of the highway which connected the original Fresno County seat of Millerton at the San Joaquin River northwest to the Fresno River.
• Blue Ridge Road (Tulare County Mountain Road 276). Blue Ridge Road (Tulare County Mountain Road 276) is a rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada range northeast of Springville. The corridor is approximately 8.5 miles and accesses the namesake Blue Ridge located at 5,731 feet above sea level. Modern Blue Ridge Road was constructed during the early 1950s and carries a sustained grade of approximately 6%. The current roadway was built as a replacement for Grouse Valley Road and served as access to the Blue Ridge overlook tower. Said tower was in operation between 1930-2010 as a joint venture between California Department of Forest & Fire and the United States Forest Service.
• The Pollasky Bridge. The Pollasky Bridge near modern day Friant is a ruined highway bridge which was completed during early 1906 as part of the Fresno-Fresno Flats Road. The structure is one of the oldest known arch concrete spans to have been constructed in California. The bridge briefly carried California State Route 41 following the destruction of the Lanes Bridge in 1940. The Pollasky Bridge itself was destroyed by flooding during 1951, but the ruins can still be found on the Madera County side of the San Joaquin River.
• Scenic Road (Carmel-by-the-Sea). Scenic Road is a 1.5-mile street located in and around the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The corridor was developed as part of a 1902 subdivision which formed the basis for the modern Carmel town plot. The routing of Scenic Road follows Carmel Bay from Ocean Avenue southward Mara Beach by the Carmel River. The street offers numerous coastal views, is free to use and aligned for southbound-only traffic.

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