cahwyguy | Headlines About California Highways

No, this isn’t an April Fools post, nor are there any (knowingly) hidden false stories in the headline list. You can believe me. I’m too tired and stressed from the fallout rolling downhill from DC that I can’t come up with anything more insane than what I read in the papers daily.

First and foremost: : I’ve been a long-time judge at the California Science and Engineering Fair (and also here). I’m now part of the Judges Advisory Committee, and we’re gearing up for an in-person fair on April 13 (alas, the first day of Pesach). WE NEED SCIENCE FAIR JUDGES. If you work in STEM field, and can be in Southern California the weekend of April 13, please sign up to be a judge. Information on 2025 CSEF Judging is here; please sign up for the alert list. I will likely be the panel chair for the J-MA—Junior Mathematics—again.

Work is proceeding apace on the highway pages, but as you can tell from reading my blog, my weekends have been crazy with live theatre. I’ve gotten through all the headlines (except for this post), but still have the legislature and CCC/CTC minutes to go through. I expect/hope to have the updates done sometime in April. One thing that did happen in March was that my domain registrar transferred my account to a different subsidiary (this is different than my hosting provider). As a result, I moved my email aliases from the domain provider to my hosting provider. I hope this change will eliminate some of the bounces I had before. If you notice any problems with either email bouncing or domains not working right (especially the third-level cahighways domains), please let me know.

The podcast continues behind schedule because I’ve been so busy. Episode 3.08 was released in mid-March; I’m editing 3.09 right now and hope to have that out in mid-April. Tom and I still have to record the rest of Season 3. We’ll then do some monthly bonus episodes while I work on writing Season 4, and then start up with more frequent episodes. Retirement will help, and that starts 7/1/2025. The first episode of Season 4 should be a bear: Route 8, which means with dealing with the history of I-8 and the former US 80.

It looks like the regular audience is between 60-70 folks, and I’d love to get that number up. You can help. 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 episodes, 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 episode has been posted this month:

CA RxR 3.08: I-5: Whatever Happened to I-5W: Episode 3.08 continues our exploration of I-5 with a slight digression: A discussion about I-5W. In the late 1950s, I-5W was proposed as a spur route from I-5 running along what is today Route 132, I-580 (both the Tracy Diagonal and the former US 50 portion between the I-205/I-580 junction and Oakland/Berkeley), I-80 between Berkeley and near Vacaville, and I-505 between Vacaville and I-5. This short episode explores these pieces and their history. In Episode 3.09, we return to I-5 proper when we explore the former US 99W section of I-5 between Woodland and Red Bluff. (Spotify for Creators)

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.

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

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

Santa Rosa’s Highway 101 bicycle bridge moving forward (The Press Democrat). A long-awaited $40 million bike and pedestrian bridge over Highway 101 in north Santa Rosa is expected to break ground later this year after nearly three decades of planning and efforts to line up funding. The crossing, stretching across the six-lane highway, will link Elliott and Edwards avenues. It will provide a safer route for residents to access commercial, government, employment and health care hubs around Coddingtown Mall and Santa Rosa Junior College as well as the passenger rail line. The 14.5-foot-wide, 1,000-foot-long cable-stayed bridge will feature a dedicated footpath and a two-way cycle track.
New Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) to Improve Safety Activated on State Route 131 (Tiburon Boulevard) and Ned’s Way on Tuesday, March 18 (Caltrans). Caltrans has activated a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) on Tuesday, March 18 on State Route 131 (Tiburon Boulevard) and Ned’s Way in the town of Tiburon. The PHB is a traffic-control device designed to help pedestrians safely cross higher-speed roadways at midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections. The beacon head consists of two red lenses above a single yellow lens. The new beacon will allow pedestrians to cross SR-131 without walking a long distance to a standard traffic signal.
＄ Topanga Canyon Boulevard closed indefinitely after rain, fire damage, Caltrans says (Los Angeles Times). Topanga Canyon Boulevard will remain closed due to public safety concerns while crews work to repair damage from the Palisades fire and recent rain, the California Department of Transportation said. Video from mid-February released by Caltrans shows State Road 27 between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive completely covered in mud, rock and debris prior to excavation. There is no estimated time of reopening, according to a community update released last week. Caltrans did not outline alternative routes for motorists. [Note: In Caltrans-speak, “indefinitely” doesn’t mean “for an unlimited or unspecified period of time”, as in the dictionary. It means “we don’t have a reliable date yet. Unless, of course, you’re talking about the gap in Route 39. There they have a date, but it is really indefinite. — DPF]
＄＄ Caltrans has $60M Redding plan to make Market Street safer (Record Searchlight). Caltrans plans to spend $60 million to repave and make safety improvements for people on foot or bike. Drivers will have a smoother ride on state roads that connect to the downtown and other city streets. The Downtown Redding Pavement and Restoration Project covers sections of three highways where they bisect Redding. [Try this or see the Yahoo link below – DPF]
Caltrans reclassifies section of Highway 70 for trucking (The Plumas Sun). The California Department of Transportation District 2 announces a recent change to a portion of State Route 70 in Plumas County as pertaining to single-trip oversized permit loads. From the junction with State Route 89 at the Greenville Wye (Postmile 33) to the intersection with Lindan Street in Quincy (Postmile 43.74), a California Highway Patrol escort is required for all loads exceeding 12 feet wide or 85 feet long and two pilot cars are required on all other permit loads. This change is effective immediately.
Long-in-the-works Redding plan to make Market Street safer taking steps (Yahoo/Redding Searchlight). Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists may soon have a safer and easier trip through Redding and its downtown, thanks to a major project the California Department of Transportation is working on that will affect traffic on and around Market Street. Caltrans plans to spend $60 million to repave and make safety improvements for people on foot or bike. Drivers will have a smoother ride on state roads that connect to the downtown and other city streets.
Caltrans seeks community input for major seismic work for bridge along Highway 1 on California coast (NewsBreak). Caltrans is calling on locals and travelers for input on a major seismic restoration project for the San Gregorio Creek Bridge along Highway 1, just south of State Route 84. The bridge, originally built in 1941, needs an upgrade, and Caltrans is considering two options: a seismic retrofit or constructing a new bridge with pedestrian and bike access. The bridge is located near the scenic San Gregorio State Beach, making this project vital for safety and accessibility. Residents and commuters are encouraged to share their thoughts online.
＄ Whittier gains ownership of city’s section of eponymous road (Whittier Daily News). The city of Whittier will take ownership of Whittier Boulevard in an agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) passed by the City Council Tuesday. In the relinquishment, 6.5 miles of Whittier Boulevard from Lockheed Avenue to Valley Home Avenue will go to the city. Caltrans will pay the city $16.7 million as part of the hand-off, the funds going to a dedicated account for maintenance and operations. It will generate $600,000 per year, cover annual costs. Whittier is the last city to gain ownership of what Mayor Joe Vinatieri said is the city’s El Camino Real, “the backbone of Whittier from east to west.” Neighboring Pico Rivera and Montebello have owned their portions of the road for decades.

＄ I-80 Express-HOV lane to open March 10 (Daily Republic). Caltrans and partner agencies are tentatively scheduled to open the new westbound Interstate 80 express lane running between Fairfield and Vacaville on March 10. The lane will open temporarily as a high-occupancy vehicle lane, the state Department of Transportation reported. The opening originally had been scheduled for mid-February, but weather delayed the work. “Roadway construction on what will become a new express lane is ongoing and electronics and hardware for collecting tolls are still being installed. In the meantime, this lane will be available to vehicles with two or more people on board on weekdays, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” Caltrans reported.
＄ Comment period opens on Highway 37 Petaluma River bridge work (Daily Republic). The state Department of Transportation has applied for permits to modify the Highway 37 bridge that crosses the Petaluma River at the Sonoma-Marin counties border. The application has been filed with the Eleventh Coast Guard District. The Coast Guard is involved because the Petaluma is a navigable waterway of the United States. The Coast Guard released its public notice on Friday. “The public notice contains a detailed description of the proposed bridge modification project and includes location map and bridge drawings with navigational clearances,” the Coast Guard stated.
＄ Solano Transportation Authority awards $24.9 million contract to Ghilotti Construction Company, Inc (Times Herald Online). The Solano Transportation Authority announced Sunday it has awarded a $24.9 million contract for the State Route 37/Fairgrounds Drive Interchange Improvement Project. STA, in partnership with the City of Vallejo, California Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and Solano County, awarded the contract to Bay Area contractor Ghilotti Construction Company, Inc. Construction is expected to begin this month. This project will implement a Diverging Diamond Interchange design at the intersection of State Route 37 and Fairgrounds Drive to significantly improve traffic flow and safety while reducing congestion.
SR-91 Improvement Project Gets Underway in Orange County Enhancing Mobility, Safety and Connectivity (Orange County Transportation Authority). Local, state and federal officials gathered today to commemorate the launch of the SR-91 Improvement Project, a significant effort aimed at improving mobility, enhancing safety and overall traffic flow along one of Orange County’s busiest transportation corridors. The transformative project between SR-57 and SR-55 will reduce congestion, improve travel times and provide safer conditions for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. The $779 million project, led by the Orange County Transportation Authority in partnership with Caltrans, is designed to enhance connections between major freeways while modernizing key interchanges to reduce weaving and merging, as well as to rebuild major overcrossings to include new safety features, sidewalks and bike lanes.
Whittier will finally own its namesake boulevard. Why didn’t it? (LAist). The city of Whittier will soon own and control its namesake boulevard. Caltrans is expected to relinquish ownership of a 6.5-mile stretch of Whittier Boulevard, from Lockheed Avenue to Valley Home Avenue. The California Transportation Commission is slated to approve the deal, which has been decades in the making, on May 15. Mayor Joe Vinatieri said it’s a historic win for Whittier. “ This is the King’s Highway,” he said. “This is the original path from San Diego to San Francisco Up to Santa Rosa for all the missions in California.”
Metro/Caltrans L.A. County Freeway Widening Accounted for Over 96 Percent of Recent Home Demolitions Statewide (Streetsblog Los Angeles). A new legislatively mandated report is shedding light on California’s ongoing freeway expansion. One takeaway is that Southern California has borne the brunt of harmful freeway widening, with L.A. County projects – where Caltrans partnered with Metro – resulting in mass demolition of homes and businesses. L.A. County home and business demolitions (which Caltrans and Metro euphemistically term “relocations” and “property impacts”) accounted for more than 95 percent of the overall statewide total (595 of 623). L.A. County home “relocations” were 96.5 percent (306 of 317) of the statewide total.
＄ Caltrans seeks input on three proposals to improve safety on state Route 67 (San Diego Union-Tribune). Three alternatives for improving state Route 67 to increase safety and relieve congestion — including one that would include widening the highway to four lanes — were presented to the Ramona Community Planning Group on March 6. The draft plans for the stretch from SR-67 from Highland Valley/Dye Road in Ramona to Mapleview Street in Lakeside were created in a partnership with Caltrans District 11 as the lead agency, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the Federal Highway Administration and consultants. Steve Welborn, a Caltrans public affairs manager who attended the Planning Group meeting with design and engineering staff members, said the three draft plans will be modified based on public input and environmental studies.
ↈ Caltrans hosts workshops for community input on Highway 273 improvements in Shasta County (Action News Now). If you’d like to weigh in on Highway 273 improvements in Shasta County, workshops will begin today in Redding at Viva Downtown on Market Street.
ↈ Construction on $231 million Highway 58 project expected to begin in 2027 (Bakersfield.com). A video released recently shared details about how Caltrans plans to manage traffic during a major construction project on Highway 58. Construction on the $225 million Keene Pavement Project is expected to begin in early 2027. In the video update, Christopher Andriessen, a spokesperson for Caltrans District 9, said the project will rehabilitate 12.25 miles of the highway, covering nearly 45 miles across all lanes. The project begins about two miles west of the intersection of Highways 58 and 202 and continues to near Bealville Road. It will include a 3.5-mile eastbound truck climbing lane at the western end of the project area.
Ħ Coast Highway, 1920s, AAA Strip Map (FB/Steven Taylor). I love these old Automobile Club of Southern California road map cards. This one does not have a date stamp, but I think it is probably the 1920s. For reference, the cards are approximately 10″ x 4″. I have others and will post more of them in the future.
Route 47 Interchange Project (FB/Port of Los Angeles). As part of the SR 47 Improvement Project, crews will reduce Front Street between Pacific Avenue and the northbound SR 47 on-ramp to one northbound lane overnight on weeknights and through weekends for approximately six consecutive weeks, weather permitting. This lane reduction is necessary to allow crews to safely install a new waterline along Front Street. One lane in each direction will be open, during normal weekday business hours.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) Fire Recovery and Repairs (Caltrans). Conditions have allowed crews to begin the clean-up of least 33,000 cubic yards of mud and debris that came down after the last storm. Once the boulder was reduced to rubble on February 24, engineers surveyed the extent of damage and determined that retaining walls must be built in three locations, one specifically to replace guardrail and to rebuild the shoulder and lane where the road washed away (above photos). Rebuilding the shoulder and lane will take at least a month, once a design is in place. Additionally, there are multiple locations throughout SR-27 that will require installation of debris flow barriers and installation of larger culverts. These improvements will help minimize the impacts of debris/mudflows on SR-27 due to the extensive burn scars in the canyon.
An uninterrupted drive up California’s Highway 1 won’t be possible until 2025 — at the earliest (AOL/LA Times). The drive up or down California’s Highway 1 through Big Sur features unparalleled ocean views from a roadway carved through multiple coastline cliffs — a precarious geography that has made it challenging to keep open the entire stretch of scenic highway. Since January 2023, several rockfalls and landslides have forced closures along sections of the highway. And despite the efforts of transportation officials, driving the full stretch of the roughly 100-mile roadway between Carmel and Cambria will not be possible until sometime in 2025.
State Route 18 $26M Construction Starts Next Week in Apple Valley & Victorville – Expect Delays (Victor Valley News). Starting March 17, 2025, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin a major $26.1 million pavement and safety improvement project on State Route 18 (SR-18) in the High Desert region. The project, funded by Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, aims to enhance road conditions, improve safety, and support local communities. The roadwork will stretch from Apple Valley Inn Road/Dale Evans Parkway to the junction of State Route 18 and Interstate 15 in Victorville, along D Street, affecting both Apple Valley and Victorville.
Nearly 300 homes were torn down for multi-year 5 Freeway widening project (LAist). Nearly all of the people relocated because of highway expansion projects completed in California between 2018 and 2023 were based in Los Angeles County. Those projects and more also ushered in the highest amount of new vehicle lanes compared to other counties in the state. Those are the findings in a first-of-its-kind Caltrans report published at the end of February.
Hwy. 395 widening project closer to construction in Victor Valley (VV Daily Press). An agreement between California Department of Transportation and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority means a closer step toward the widening of a portion of Highway 395 in the Victor Valley. The standard agreement inked this month defines the roles and responsibilities between both agencies for construction, which is Phase 2 of the three-phase project, according to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.
Caltrans Outlines Plans to Reduce Crashes on Highway 1 Near Lompoc (Noozhawk). Caltrans representatives pledged to closely monitor impacts created by one safety measure planned for Highway 1 near Vandenberg Village and revealed they have started exploring a different project for another segment that also has seen deadly crashes. State transportation officials held a meeting Wednesday night to outline the proposed left-turn ban for the intersection of Highway 1 at Santa Luca Canyon Road between Vandenberg Space Force Base and Vandenberg Village near Lompoc. About 50 people braved the cold, rainy night to attend the meeting in the Cabrillo High School cafeteria, where Caltrans also spoke about pursuing another safety project in a stretch of Highway 1 that also has seen deadly crashes.
PCH closure continues to snarl traffic for commuters on 101 Freeway, with no reopening date in sight (ABC7 Los Angeles). In the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, the ongoing closure of Pacific Coast Highway between Malibu and Pacific Palisades has caused a traffic nightmare for commuters forced to use the 101 Freeway as an alternative route. January’s devastating wildfires may be out, but tempers are still flaring. “It’s just been such a nightmare for people,” said one driver, referring to the gridlock. “It’s screwing up, kind of, everything,” said another. Their frustration: traffic. The cause: the closure of PCH. What used to be thru traffic on the PCH is now slow traffic on the 101. [Tell me about it — my already too-long drive back from work has lengthened by 30-45 minutes due to this closure – DPF]
Yosemite National Park Entry Road Closed Indefinitely After Massive Rockslide (Unofficial Networks). An important entry into Yosemite National Park has been cut off after a massive rockslide covered a portion of California State Route 140 in debris. According to Caltrans the slide happened sometime during the night of March 17th. The agency was forced to close a two mile stretch of the highway between Briceburg and El Portal. The closure is indefinite as Caltrans crews clear the debris and inspect the hillside to ensure there is no further rockslide dangers. Anyone traveling in the area at this time should avoid this route and seek alternative highways (SR-41, SR-120) to and from Yosemite National Park. [Remember what we said about Caltrans and “Indefinite” – DPF]
Update: Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) Fire Recovery and Repairs Continue (Caltrans). Topanga Canyon Boulevard (SR-27) remains closed to the public for safety reasons between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View as extensive cleanup and repairs continue. The closure is to protect the public from serious injuries and fatalities. Caltrans is prepared to open the road as soon as it is safe to do so in coordination with the California Highway Patrol, utilities and local public agencies. Caltrans expects to open one lane to school buses during designated times with an escort this week and is working on a plan with its partners to also allow essential business travel during this timeframe. Progress has been made in cleanup efforts, with at least 8,600 cubic yards of mud and debris — equivalent to 860 truckloads — removed so far of the 33,000 cubic yards that came down on the highway after the February storm. All mud and debris are being pushed to the side of the road and tested. Clean dirt will be sent to Oxnard farms for reuse. To date, all dirt has tested clean.
Full Temporary Closure of State Route 140 (Sierra News Online). At around 10:00 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2025, a significant debris slide blocked both lanes of SR-140. Caltrans and the California High Patrol (CHP) acted immediately. Road closures are underway at Savage Trading Post on the west and Yosemite Cedar Lodge on the east.
Reconnecting Communities 710 Project Back on Track After Altadena Fire Pause (Pasadena Now). The Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group reconvened Wednesday for the first time since November, confirming that despite a two-month pause due to the devastating Eaton Fire that severely impacted Altadena and parts of Pasadena, the project remains on track with a community workshop now set for April 12. “The unimaginable devastating fires that impacted Altadena severely and also impacted Pasadena” necessitated the cancellation of meetings in January and February, explained Chair Danny Parker during the March 19 meeting. “We also do need to keep moving forward with this project and do it in honor of and … propelled by what has happened to make sure that this community remains strong and that we do come together.”
Ħ Why California spent $13 million on controversial freeway only to abandon it (LAist). Southern California is a land of freeways. We love to hate them, but they help us get around our sprawling car-dependent region. The state’s aggressive freeway building spree started around the 1950s and mostly survived opposition. But in San Diego County, one freeway got shut down after decades of residents organizing: El Toyon Freeway. State planners conceived of El Toyon Freeway in the late 1950s as a 1.8-mile stretch between San Diego and National City. Known as State Route 252, the freeway was designed to help ease traffic by connecting the 5 and 805 freeways, cutting straight through the Southcrest neighborhood (known as Shelltown at the time).
How to learn more about Caltrans’ estimated $72 million Pacific Coast Highway project (MSN). Caltrans is hosting an informational meeting this week about a rehabilitation project for parts of Pacific Coast Highway — and the public is invited. The estimated $72 million project would span from McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica to just south of Cross Creek Road in Malibu. The goal is to restore the pavement along the popular scenic stretch while improving safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. It would include new sidewalks near several bus stops, better lighting and additional bike lanes, among other upgrades.
Public Meeting to Address PCH Revitalization between McClure Tunnel and Malibu (SM Mirror). The California Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting on March 27 to discuss plans for a $72 million pavement rehabilitation project on Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) between the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica and Cross Creek Road in Malibu. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Santa Monica Main Library at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. The project, expected to begin in summer 2027 and finish by 2029, aims to extend the lifespan of the roadway while incorporating safety and mobility upgrades for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Proposed improvements include repaving the highway, upgrading ADA-accessible ramps, and installing new metal beam guardrails. Additionally, Caltrans plans to enhance lighting in the Roosevelt Tunnel and Will Rogers Parking Lot Tunnel pedestrian crossings, add new sidewalks at bus stops, and install a new overhead sign at Sunset Avenue.
Caltrans Wants Your Input On Proposed PCH Safety Improvements (Malibu, CA Patch). Officials are inviting residents to weigh in on proposed improvements to Pacific Coast Highway in an online survey and at three upcoming meetings. Caltrans will hold the meetings to unveil a draft of the PCH Master Plan Feasibility Study. Centered around 21 miles of PCH in Malibu, the study aims to identify transportation improvements that will address safety concerns, support travel options for pedestrians and bicyclists, and enhance transit.
＄ Yosemite National Park: Caltrans announces opening date for road closed by huge rockslide (Mercury News). Crews have made significant progress clearing a major rockslide that closed one of the primary routes into Yosemite National Park last week, reducing fears of a long-term disruption just as warmer weather is starting to increase the number of visitors to the park. Hundreds of tons of rocks crashed down the night of March 17 across both lanes of state Highway 140, a scenic winding route along the Merced River between the town of Mariposa and Yosemite’s Arch Rock entrance. Now at least one lane of the highway — which is one of the two main routes into Yosemite for most Northern Californians — is expected to be open by the end of this week, said Brian Hooker, a Caltrans spokesman.
＄ Highway 12 beautification project completed in Suisun City (Daily Republic). The $2.15 million Highway 12 Landscape Improvements Project has been completed. “This project is a major step toward making Suisun City an even more beautiful and inviting place,” Mayor Alma Hernandez said in a statement released by the city. “By transforming key areas along (Highway 12), we are improving the look of our environment while reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and long-term infrastructure enhancements.” The project was funded by a state Department of Transportation Clean California grant. The project focused on improvements in three key locations:
How safe are Northern California’s bridges? (KCRA 3). The number of bridges across the U.S. getting inspections that show they need work has increased over the last five to 10 years, including in California. Some of that may come because of a lack of tax revenue or local taxes in counties and cities needing funds to do repairs. Some may have needed repairs and continue to deteriorate. Yet KCRA 3 Investigates wanted to know, in conjunction with the Hearst Television national team, how many bridges in California, and in particular Northern California, were categorically labeled in poor condition.
Ħ An interactive history of California’s freeways, redlining and racism (Transfers Magazine). Spanning more than six decades between the 1940s and early 2000s, studies show that the construction of the U.S. Interstate Highway System through populated areas perpetuated racial inequality, weakened social institutions, disrupted local economies, and physically divided neighborhoods. In an effort to understand and quantify these impacts, research centers across the PSR region — UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies and Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and UC Davis’s Institute of Transportation Studies — teamed up to conduct a series of case studies on the histories of freeway construction and the institutional policies that supported it in four California communities: Pasadena, Pacoima, Sacramento, and San José.
＄ Highway 140 to Yosemite National Park reopening after rockslide, Caltrans says (Los Angeles Times). The main road to Yosemite National Park is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, just in time for the long holiday weekend, Caltrans officials announced. The two-mile stretch of Highway 140 closed after rain caused rocks to slide onto the road but will reopen about 4 p.m. under one-way traffic control, officials said. Unseasonably warm weather gave Caltrans and private contractors enough time to clear the road after recent storms in time for park visitors during the long Cesar Chavez holiday weekend. Brian Hooker, public informant officer for Caltrans, stated the importance of the road to the local economy during its busy early spring season.
Caltrans Begins Improvements To Roadway On State Route 88 (Caltrans). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is set to begin roadway preservation work along State Route 88 (SR-88) in Amador County near the communities of Ione and Martell. Crews will conduct nighttime (between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday-Thursday), one-way traffic control for approximately six months, beginning April 1, and continuing through September 30, 2025. This work is required to repair failed pavement and to resurface existing pavement. Crews will update highway drainage, electrical systems, transportation management system, and make highway safety improvements. This $7.9 million project is funded by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). Since the passage of SB 1 in 2017, Caltrans has rehabilitated 16,759 lane miles of pavement.
Caltrans allocates funds for State Route 99 improvements in Tehama County (MSN/Red Bluff Daily News). The California Transportation Commission on Monday allocated $1 billion for projects across the state, including some in Tehama County. Around $40.9 million was allocated to improve drainage systems and safety on State Route 99 in near the Los Molinos Creek Bridge. Some other projects include $27.8 million to build an integrated system that will include real-time traveler information along the Interstate 710 corridor in Los Angeles County between State Routes 91 and 60 and $19.8 million to improve drainage systems and improve safety along 80-plus miles of U.S. Highway 101 in Humboldt County.
U.S. Highway 50 to State Route 99 Connector Closure Scheduled in Sacramento this Weekend (Caltrans). Work on the U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) Multimodal Corridor Enhancement “Fix50” Project continues with a 55-hour closure at the westbound US 50 to southbound State Route 99 (SR 99) connector scheduled for this weekend. Caltrans urges motorists to plan ahead and to expect delays and additional travel time for detours. Southbound SR 99 motorists should use southbound Interstate 5 (I-5) as an alternate route. The contractor is scheduled to do striping and pavement work during the 55-hour closure. Motorists should use caution when travelling during construction times and expect commercial trucks traveling in and out of the work zone.
＄＄ Hwy 101 construction: SLO County CA lanes to close overnight (Fresno Bee). Part of Highway 101 will shut down overnight as crews continue roadwork on one of San Luis Obispo County’s deadliest intersections. The construction project is “intended to reduce the number and severity of collisions” at the intersection of Highway 101 and Wellsona Road near Paso Robles, the California Department of Transportation said.
CalTrans to invest $24 million in San Diego area infrastructure (ABC 10 News). Caltrans announced on Wednesday that the California Transportation Commission allocated $1 billion in infrastructure spending, including more than $24 million for projects in San Diego County. Tech upgrades, storm resiliency, and other safety improvements are the target of this spending that, “will make California communities safer, cleaner and healthier,” according to a Cal Trans press release.
State Funding Announced For Highway 4 In Calaveras, And Mariposa Improvements (myMotherLode.com). $1.5 million is coming to Calaveras County for highway improvements and $1.8 million for a project around Mariposa Elementary School. $1 billion in safety enhancement projects were announced this week by the California Transportation Commission with money coming from the Federal Infrastructure Act of 2021 and SB 1 gas tax money. Locally, Caltrans reports that $1,523,000 is going toward enhancements on Highway 4 near Copperopolis east of Rock Creek Road to the Stanislaus County line. The goal is to improve the ride quality and safety of Highway 4. The funding will restore and replace guardrails, culverts, and 20 miles of roadway surface.
State Approves Millions for SD County Road Projects, from Bridge Repairs to Replacing Stolen Cables (Times of San Diego). The California Transportation Commission has allocated $1 billion for projects across the state, including millions for San Diego County roads and highways. Approximately one-third of the investment, nearly $311 million, comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and another $301 million is from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act. Among the investments are more than $138 million to address safety upgrades and repairs to drainage infrastructure designed to protect the state’s roads during storms.
Caltrans Begins Work to Stabilize Roadway Slope on State Route 26 (Caltrans). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is set to begin slope stabilization work along State Route 26 (SR-26) in the Calaveras County communities of Rich Gulch and Glencoe. Long-term, signalized traffic control will go into effect for approximately eight months, beginning April 1, and continuing through November 30, 2025. Crews will also conduct one-way traffic controls in portions of the construction zone from 6:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of the project.
＄＄ California Highway 198, Lovers Lane interchange improvements underway (Visalia Times Delta). A groundbreaking ceremony for the Lovers Lane Rehab Project was held on March 27 at Mill Creek Park on Lovers Lane in Visalia. The project will improve the road quality of State Route 216 along Lovers Lane from Highway 198 to Houston Avenue, and then east along Houston Avenue to just beyond McAuliff Street. The project will also upgrade the offramps and onramps at the Highway 198/State Route 216 interchange.
Why is Caltrans adding $8 million of new pavement to Fresno highway embankments? (Yahoo). Commuters on Highway 41 likely noticed work on the first few feet of embankments in recent months, and Caltrans says there’s more to come. The winding pavement and rocks that stretch up from the roadway can already be seen on the north side of Highway 41 near Tulare Street and Shaw Avenue. The purpose goes beyond aesthetics, according to Larry Johnson, a Caltrans spokesperson for the Fresno area. “It’s a safety barrier and it helps maintain car fires,” he said.
Caltrans lane change near Yolo Bypass catching many off guard (ABC 10). A newly implemented lane split on westbound Highway 50 near Jefferson Boulevard is catching drivers off guard — sending many on an unexpected trip across the Yolo Bypass to Davis. The change is part of a $280 million pavement rehabilitation project along Interstate 80. Crews recently added a new lane split just west of Jefferson Boulevard in West Sacramento. Drivers who fail to take the far-right lane at the split will miss the Harbor Boulevard exit — the last chance to exit before the causeway.
＄ First layers of soil to be laid on Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in L.A. (Los Angeles Times). The wildlife crossing designed to help mountain lions, deer, bobcats and other creatures safely travel over the 101 Freeway between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains will reach a major milestone on Monday, as workers lay the first layers of soil on the overpass. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing spans the 10-lane freeway in Agoura Hills and will become the largest such crossing in the world. It is designed to help animals avoid being killed while roaming in urban habitats. Although it is too late to help Los Angeles’ beloved mountain lion P-22 expand his territory, the passage will allow mountain lions and other wildlife to range farther for food and mates.
＄ World’s largest wildlife crossing now has soil. What’s next? (Los Angeles Times). Monday was momentous for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing although it still looked like a bridge to nowhere from the 101 Freeway, where more than 300,000 vehicles stream endlessly every day. Nearly three years after the project began, the critical milestone was visible only to the government officials, scientists and longtime supporters who climbed to the top: soil. And not just any soil. Over the next few days they’ll be adding 6,000 cubic yards of specially manufactured soil to cover the crossing, a mix of sand, silt and clay inoculated with a bit of compost and hyperlocal mycorrhizal fungi, carefully designed and tested to mimic the biological makeup of native soils around the site.
MTC and partners work to lessen congestion on Highway 101 (The Bay Link Blog). Caltrans District 4 is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Valley Transportation Authority, the City/County Association of Governments, and various cities to activate an Adaptive Ramp Metering system along the U.S. 101. to ease congestion on the freeway from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The new system will be located between Sunnyvale in Santa Clara County and Brisbane in San Mateo County. Currently, the metering lights on this corridor operate based on preset hours during weekday peak periods and local traffic flow and do not account for downstream conditions. The new adaptive system will dynamically adjust metering rates based on the downstream conditions. Upgrades will be performed in four phases. Beginning on April 8, upgrades will be installed between Sunnyvale and Redwood City. The second phase is planned for May in the northern end of U.S. 101 in San Mateo County between the Harney Way interchange in Brisbane and the Whipple Avenue interchange in Redwood City.
＄ Assembly bill aims to expedite Highway 37 project (Marin I-J). A $500 million project on flood-prone Highway 37 could get a boost clearing some environmental hurdles under a new Assembly bill. The project, which aims to ease traffic and fortify wetlands between Sears Point and Mare Island, is constrained by short construction windows to accommodate protected species such as the salt-marsh harvest mouse and the California clapper rail, among others. Assembly Bill 697 would enable planners to seek an “incidental take permit” from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to relieve some of those environmental restrictions to avoid delays, as long as adverse impacts to protected species are fully mitigated.
Cyclists cheer as Richmond-San Rafael bridge bike lane vote is delayed again (Richmondside). An effort to reduce access to the Richmond-San Rafael bridge bike lane is on hold for the moment after transportation officials requested a second postponement of the highly-anticipated vote. The transportation agencies seeking the bike lane restriction sent a letter Wednesday to the Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), which was set to vote on it Thursday, requesting a second extension to allow them to “materially amend the current application.” The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which operates the Bay Area Toll Authority, and the state Department of Transportation, originally sought to limit bike lane access to four days a week. The group now has until July 12 to submit a proposal to the BCDC or it will have to be permanently withdrawn, the letter acknowledges.

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

Triangle Road (Mariposa County). Triangle Road is an eleven-and-a-half-mile rural highway located in Sierra Nevada range of Mariposa County. The corridor begins at California State Route 140 near the community of Midpines and serves as a cutoff of Mariposa which connects south to California State Route 49. The corridor was north of Darrah was developed in 1912 in to serve as a fire road and was circa 1936-1937. Pictured is the blog cover is the Snow Creek Bridge near the community of Darrah.
Yokohl Valley Drive and the Lone Pine-Porterville High Sierra Road. Yokohl Valley Drive is an approximately 23-mile-long rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada range of Tulare County. The corridor originated in the 1860s as an overland trail to the gold strikes of the Coso Mountains near Owens Valley. Yokohl Valley Drive begins at Balch Park Road (County Route J37) near Milo and extends northwest to California State Route 198.
Watts Valley Road (Fresno County). Watts Valley Road is an approximately 18.6-mile rural highway corridor in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County. The corridor begins at the eastern terminus of Ashlan Avenue and passes through the namesake Watts Valley where it terminates a Burrough Valley Road. Watts Valley is named after Texas miner Charles B. Watts who settled in the area during the 1850s. Modern Watts Valley Road can be seen on maps shortly after the Copper King Mine opened in 1900. The corridor has historically been known for wildflowers and was designated as part of the Fresno County Wildflower Trail in 1998.
Old Yosemite Road. Old Yosemite Road is a short, bypassed portion of the original Yosemite Stage Road located north of Oakhurst. The corridor was developed in the 1850s and would be incorporated into the Washburn Brothers Yosemite Stage Road in 1882. The Yosemite Stage would be realigned towards Raymond in 1886 and the original highway towards Fresno Flats (now Oakhurst) would be repurposed as part of the Fresno-Yosemite Road. Bissett’s Station would operate along the Fresno-Yosemite Road from 1908 through 1934 when modern California State Route 41 was constructed. Old Yosemite Road no longer is accessible as a through highway but once connected to Madera County Road 425A and Sierra National Forest Road 6S15.
Madera County Road 607 and the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. Madera County Road 607 is an approximately seven-mile rural unsurfaced highway which spans from Road 600 near Raymond west to Road 29. Road 607 west from Raymond Road Cemetery (established in 1905) is part of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road corridor surveyed in 1853. The corridor lies in the gap between Fresno Crossing at the Fresno River west to Newton’s Crossing at the Chowchilla River.
Foxen Canyon Road. Foxen Canyon Road is a twenty-nine-mile rural highway located in Santa Barbara County. The corridor begins at the eastern outskirts of Santa Maria and terminates near Ballard Canyon Road in Los Olivos. Foxen Canyon Road is named after William Benajmin Foxen who took ownership of Rancho Tinaquaic in 1842. Foxen Ranch would serve as a major stage station beginning in 1861.
Madera County Road 620. Madera County Road 620 is an approximately six-mile-long rural highway in the Sierra Nevada range north of Oakhurst. The corridor spans from California State Route 41 west to Madera County Road 628. The segment west of Old Yosemite Road alternates between asphalt and dirt surfaces.
Old Salinas Highway (former California State Route 68). Old Salinas Highway is an approximately one-mile bypassed surface portion of former California State Route 68. The corridor became part of the State Highway System as Legislative Route Number 117 in 1933 and began to be signed as California State Route 68 in 1961. What is now Old Salinas Highway would be relinquished following the completion of the California State Route 1 and 68 interchange during the 1967-68 Fiscal Year.
Madera County Road 426. Road 426 is an approximately seven-mile-long rural highway corridor which begins at Road 222 on the shore of Bass Lake and terminates at California State Route 41 in Oakhurst. The corridor was developed during the 1850s during the emergence of Fresno Flats (now Oakhurst) and lumber milling at Crane Valley (now Bass Lake). The section west of Road 223 and Teaford Saddle was part of the Millerton-Fresno Flats Road whereas the segment east was part of the Crane Valley Road.

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