Headlines About California Highways – April 2025

[cahwyguy]

This the first of May. You know what that means: The Morris Dancers are out bringing out the sun, the Queen is out singing about lust, and, of course, it is time for Highway Headlines. This is the last piece of getting caught up: The highway page updates have just been posted, and there’s a new episode of the podcast up with a bit of Freberg in it. All that’s left are these headlines.

The podcast continues on a slightly slower schedule because of travel and such. Tom and I are in the process of scheduling the recording of 3.11 on US 6, and we’re beginning to plot out the inter-season bonus episodes. We’re thinking of one based on Tom’s talk to the Fresno Flats Museum on the history of the highways around Oakhurst, and one talking about the Caltrans History Library. Bonus episodes give me time to work on writing Season 4. 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 3.09: I-5: Former US 99W. Episode 3.09 continues our exploration of I-5 with the segment from Sacramento to Red Bluff, which primarily incorporates the former LRN 7 / US 99W routing between Woodland and Red Bluff, and a new routing that roughly followed LRN 238, then LRN 50 and LRN 232 between Sacramento and Woodland (near former Sign Route 16 and Sign Route 24). We talk about this history of this segment, as well as some discussion of historical routings in Natomas, Woodland, Williams, Willows, Corning, and Red Bluff. Our exploration of I-5 finishes in Episode 3.10, where we explore the former LRN 3/US 99 segment between Red Bluff and the Oregon Border. (Spotify for Creators)
• CA RxR 3.10: I-5: Gateway to Oregon. Episode 3.10 completes our exploration of I-5, looking at the segment that was former US 99, LRN 3, between Red Bluff and the Oregon Border. Along the way, we visit Red Bluff, Anderson and Redding, the Lake Shasta Area, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, Weed, Yreka, and run into a California Agricultural Inspector who was trapped in a bottle by a witch. Our next episode will move us to the next highway, looking at US 6 and all things Route 6 in California. (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 April.

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

• New Data Sheds Light on Caltrans Projects (CalBike). CalBike supported the Caltrans Data Bill, SB 695, in 2023. Starting January 1, 2026, the bill requires Caltrans to post information about projects from the prior fiscal year. But first, the new law tasked Caltrans with releasing project stats going back to 2018. CalBike has reviewed the data, which showed Caltrans was reluctant to install protected bikeways while installing more paint-only bikeways. Caltrans built 554 new highway miles over the period covered by this data, at a time when California needs to reduce, not increase, vehicle miles traveled. At the same time, the agency built just 160 miles of bikeways, more than half of which were Class 3 lanes where bike riders share the lane with motor vehicle traffic.
• Highway 198 and Lovers Lane rehabilitation project underway in Visalia (ABC30 Fresno). Lovers Lane in Visalia is getting a facelift with Caltrans’ rehabilitation project from the Highway 198 intersection to Houston Avenue and down to McAuliff Street. Locals say the improvements are welcome as the heavily traveled road has been in need of some care. Jabed Khan lives in the area, he shared a bicycle camera video with Action News of his weekly rides with Southern Sierra Cyclists.
• Caltrans seeking public input on Route’s 96 and 169 (KDRV Newswatch 12). Caltrans District 1 and Caltrans District 2 are asking the community for input as they are working on a plan to improve evacuation preparedness on Routes 96 and 169. They say it’s crucial for wildfire safety and climate resilience. This proposed project will focus on vegetation management, erosion control, rockfall mitigation, and enhanced traffic systems. Such as electronic signage and emergency communication devices, to better protect us from extreme weather and wildfires.
• Caltrans: State invests nearly $100 million in Mendocino County projects (The Willits News). The California Transportation Commission allocated $1 billion recently for projects across the state that will “improve safety and enhance the state’s vast network of streets and highways,” including nearly $100 million for projects in Mendocino County, the California Department of Transportation reported. […] Included in the approved projects are:
• Caltrans allocates new safety funding for Mendocino County projects (MSN/Fort Bragg Advocate News). On Monday, March 24, Caltrans District 1 announced upcoming projects financed by its allotment of the state-wide $1 billion that the California Transportation Commission has set aside for new infrastructure projects across the state. […] Three projects were approved for Mendocino County. About $83 million in SB 1 funds is for Route 1 near Westport, south of Hillcrest Terrace. An existing retaining wall will be extended, and a de-watering system will be constructed due to damage from a series of storms in November of 2024.
• Clinic Wins Rare Appeal in California Highway Expansion Case (Yale Law School). On March 12, Friends of Calwa Inc. and Fresno Building Healthy Communities — community organizations that advocate for the health and well-being of residents in South Fresno, California — secured a rare victory on their petition for a writ of mandate to the California Court of Appeal. The victory marks a significant step forward in a long-running legal saga over a planned expansion of an interstate highway that cuts through South Fresno. The two groups are represented by the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic, part of the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School.
• 56-Hour Weekend Closures Set to Begin for Rio Vista Bridge (Independent Voice). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is advising motorists of six scheduled weekend closures of the Rio Vista Bridge (Helen Madere Memorial Bridge) on State Route 12 (SR 12) for ongoing repairs. This $27.2 million project is funded through the Bridge Rehabilitation and Replacement Program and will require multiple 5 [something]  The six-hour weekend closures for the work to be completed because of the limited width of the bridge to allow for heavy equipment access. [Note: They might have meant 5 6-hour weekend closures. Let’s bemoan the loss of copy editors]
• Caltrans To Host Public Open House for Ferguson Rock Shed Project (Caltrans). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is preparing to host a series of open house events in Mariposa County for the Ferguson Rock Shed Project. As Caltrans begins preparations for construction of the next phase for the Ferguson Project, these open house events are designed to share key updates and project information with the public.

• Caltrans completes safety enhancements in Los Olivos (KSBY 6). Caltrans has finished a safety improvement project near the intersection of State Route 154 and Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos. The project involved installing yellow flashing beacons on both eastbound and westbound Highway 154 to alert drivers of potential hazards. The beacons are positioned eastbound before Foxen Canyon Road and westbound prior to the Grand Avenue and Figueroa Mountain Road intersection.
• Skanska lands contract to rehabilitate State Route 78 in California (World Construction Network). Skanska has secured a contract, valued at $102m, to rehabilitate State Route 78 in San Diego County, California, US. The contract was issued by the California Department of Transportation. Skanska’s scope of work includes building an eastbound acceleration lane and rehabilitating over 40 lane-miles of the road’s surface structural section.
• Caltrans to Shift Traffic on 116/121 Roundabout Project in Sonoma County For Next Phase of Construction (Caltrans). To facilitate the next phase of construction on the Caltrans State Route 116/121 Roundabout Project in Sonoma County, Caltrans will shift traffic lanes to the east to provide space for building new traffic lanes. Caltrans will employ flaggers for two nights, Thursday – Friday, April 10 – 11, 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m., to control traffic while the traffic switch is implemented. Motorists have been using a temporary roundabout for five months. While only temporary, the alignment has helped reduce congestion at the junction of two state highways formerly controlled by four stop signs.
• Newest Highway 154 roundabout near Los Olivos opens in both directions (KEYT News Channel 3-12). The newest roundabout on Highway 154 has reached a major milestone in its long construction project. Caltrans reported the roundabout, which is located near Los Olivos at the intersection of Highway 154, along with Edison Street and Baseline Avenue, is now open to travelers in both directions heading north and south. The new roundabout replaces a four-way stop at the intersection that for years featured a blinking light the hung close to Valley of the Shepard Lutheran Church.
• Caltrans to unveil plans for PCH improvements in Malibu (MSN/KNX 1070). On Wednesday night, Malibu residents will get a chance tonight to look at draft master plans for improvements along 21 miles of Pacific Coast Highway. The planned changes would impact a stretch of PCH from the Ventura County line to the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica. The goal is to create what Caltrans calls a “complete street” with enhanced safety and mobility for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit riders.
• ＄ Gilroy roads to close as part of interchange construction (Mercury News). As part of the construction of a new interchange at highways 101 and 25, the Valley Transportation Authority has announced the closure of two roads that currently offer access to Highway 101. On April 16, Castro Valley Road and Mesa Road in Gilroy will permanently lose access to U.S. 101., with VTA placing traffic control and detour signs for guidance on how to navigate the change. Drivers will be able to access the highway via the interchange to the north at Monterey Road. The move is part of a larger project to extend and improve the off ramp from Highway 101 to Highway 25 for commuters heading south from Silicon Valley. According to the project website, the current ramp hasn’t been able to handle the growth in southbound traffic, leading to accidents and traffic back-ups around the interchange. The project also lays “the groundwork for future improvements, like widening the freeways and updating nearby highways like SR 152,” said VTA Public Communication Specialist David A. Lovato in an email.
• Why is there a SoCal freeway with a 40-mile gap? (LAist). Southern California has more than a few uncompleted freeways. But have you ever noticed the one that has a 40-mile gap? We’re talking about the 90 Freeway and transportation officials’ grand plan to connect Marina del Rey to Yorba Linda in Orange County. It’s one of the region’s timeless examples of what happens when residents get angry about transportation, and how a multi-million-dollar project became a bit of a dumpster fire.
• Bay Area bridge will be first in Calif. to remove toll booth plaza (SF Gate). A Bay Area bridge with a notorious bottleneck is about to drastically improve as a transit agency begins work on readjusting its westbound approach and removing antiquated toll booths. After the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge loses its toll booth plaza — becoming the first state-owned bridge in California to embrace open-road tolling — the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said it will lighten congestion for commuters. Speaking with SFGATE on Thursday, John Goodwin, spokesperson for MTC, said that the project to begin replacing the toll booths, occupied by human collectors up until 2020, is expected to begin “within weeks.”
• ＄ San Mateo City Council opposes Highway 101 connector project (Mercury News). After several members of the public voiced their opposition, the San Mateo City Council voted this week to formally oppose a Caltrans project that would link U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 92. Opponents argued that widening the highway, a key component of the proposed connector project, would not solve traffic issues and could worsen them due to “induced demand,” the theory that increased highway capacity encourages more driving. “We all want better and safer infrastructure, but progress in these areas must be balanced against the well-being of less privileged community members,” said Councilmember Danielle Cwirko-Godycki. “Taking parks away from children and homes away from senior citizens, and there are two group homes on Adams Street, to expand highways and build pay-to-play toll lanes for the wealthy is not acceptable.” The project aims to create a direct managed lane connecting SR 92 with Highway 101 express lanes, according to the proposed project’s website. Currently, drivers using the express lanes must exit and navigate multiple lanes of traffic to reach SR 92, a maneuver the project website states causes congestion and discourages carpooling.
• Governor Newsom announces Pacific Coast Highway will reopen in time for summer as California’s all-in fire response continues ahead of schedule (Governor of California). Governor Gavin Newsom today announced an all-hands-on-deck effort to support businesses and tourism by expediting fire cleanup efforts so that State Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), will reopen to public travel by the end of May – well ahead of experts’ original predictions. The Pacific Coast Highway is a major artery that serves hundreds of thousands of Angelenos and visitors from around the world daily and is crucial to connecting Los Angeles with Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and points north. Currently, PCH is only open to residents who live in the Palisades Fire burn area, essential businesses, and repair crews. Following the reopening, one lane in each direction would be available for public travel.
• Oroville leaders secure interim road repairs after delay in Caltrans’ SR 162 project (KRCR). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has postponed its road rehabilitation project on State Route 162, also known as Oro Dam Boulevard, until the summer of 2026. The $36 million project, initially slated to begin this spring, covers the stretch of highway from Feather River to Foothill boulevards. The road is visibly deteriorated, and Oroville City Councilor Shawn Webber said multiple residents, including himself, have sustained damage to their vehicles. He told KRCR that although the road passes through Oroville, maintenance is out of their jurisdiction and under Caltrans’ authority, which has inhibited their ability to complete their own work on it.
• Emergency Slide Repairs Underway on State Route 96 Near Horse Creek (Redheaded Blackbelt). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2) and Hayes & Sons, Inc. have begun emergency slide repairs on State Route 96, approximately 2 miles east of Horse Creek, in Siskiyou County. Work addressing the slide area includes slope excavation and material disposal. Motorists should currently plan for 24/7 one-way traffic control with up to 10-minute delays until slope is stabilized and material is removed from the roadway. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive carefully in and around construction areas, follow speed limit reductions in place, and allot extra time for delays. This area is subject to change at any time due to inclement weather, operations, or continued slide activity.
• Big Changes Coming to California’s Highway 101: Adaptive Ramp Metering Launches April 8 (NewsBreak/Golden Gate Media). Starting April 8, drivers on U.S. 101 in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties will see a new Adaptive Ramp Metering (ARM) system aimed at easing congestion, Caltrans announced. Caltrans, in partnership with MTC, VTA, and local agencies, is implementing real-time adjustments to metering lights, allowing smoother traffic flow from Sunnyvale to Brisbane. The system will operate daily from 5 AM to 8 PM, with lights turned off overnight. The phased rollout will begin with activation from Sunnyvale to Redwood City, followed by expansions in May, June, and July, including weekend activations by September. This initiative promises safer roads, fewer collisions, and reduced emissions.
• Skanska lands contract to rehabilitate State Route 78 in California (MSN/Global Data). Skanska has secured a contract, valued at $102m, to rehabilitate State Route 78 in San Diego County, California, US. The contract was issued by the California Department of Transportation. Skanska’s scope of work includes building an eastbound acceleration lane and rehabilitating over 40 lane-miles of the road’s surface structural section. Additionally, the project encompasses the construction of new kerb ramps compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
• ↈ Driving the S1: California’s Most Beautiful Mountain Route (MSN/Sidetrack Adventures). Escape the city and head into the clouds on California’s S1—better known as the Sunrise Highway. This day trip offers stunning views, peaceful trails, and crisp mountain air as you wind through the Laguna Mountains. Whether you’re stopping for scenic overlooks, hiking in pine forests, or just soaking up the sky-high serenity, this route is a hidden gem in San Diego County.
• Caltrans Installs Flashing Beacons Near Highwsy 154/Foxen Canyon Road Intersection (Santa Barbara Independent). Caltrans has completed a project to install flashing beacons to enhance safety near the intersection of State Route 154 and Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos. The yellow flashing beacons are positioned on eastbound Hwy. 154 before Foxen Canyon Road and westbound on Hwy. 154 before the Grand Avenue/Figueroa Mountain Road intersection for westbound travelers.
• ＄ Turbo roundabout saw crashes quadruple in first year (Mercury News). When a turbo roundabout rolled into the southernmost corner of the Bay Area early last year, it became the first-in-the-state adoption of a successful Dutch traffic innovation — a multi-lane roundabout shaped like a cartoon hurricane. And while the roundabout in San Benito County, far south of San Jose, was meant to improve safety, it brought with it a wave of confusion and a spike in accidents that saw drivers colliding at rates many times higher than before it was installed. Wayne Wallace has witnessed the chaos. On his commutes between Hollister and San Jose, he has watched crashes unfold in front of him and seen drivers heading the wrong way, hopping over dividers, and he even claims to have spotted some cars catching air.
• ＄ PCH in Palisades burn area could reopen in time for summer (Los Angeles Times). A portion of Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway that’s been open only to locals since January’s firestorm could reopen to the public just in time for summer, the governor’s office announced. One lane in each direction on PCH in Pacific Palisades should be opened to drivers by the end of May, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “We understand how essential this route is for daily life and local businesses,” Newsom said in his announcement. “Reopening PCH is a top priority, and we are going all-in to get this done.”
• City to Host Screening of Oral History Documentary About SR-710 Freeway Impact (Pasadena Now). The City of Pasadena will premiere “Amplify,” a 38-minute oral history documentary featuring stories from community members displaced decades ago by the SR-710 Freeway construction. The screening is part of the 2nd Reconnecting Pasadena 710 Master Plan Community Engagement Workshop this Saturday, April 12. “This documentary was created as a lasting historical archive, ensuring future generations remember and learn from this critical chapter in Pasadena’s history,” City officials said on a statement. The film highlights firsthand accounts from individuals and families affected by the freeway construction, serving as “a tribute to resilience, memory, and the importance of community-centered storytelling.”
• Major delays expected on I-80 in as bridge project underway (KRCA 3). A part of Interstate 80 in the Sierra is facing significant traffic delays as road officials continue work on a bridge project. The California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, has narrowed eastbound I-80 to one lane near the State Route 20 junction, which could delay motorists by up to an hour.  The $117.5 million Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Project began at 7 a.m. Sunday. Crews plan to maintain this lane closure through April 24 to expedite bridge replacement, improve freight efficiency, and enhance safety features on the corridor.
• Angeles Crest Highway Town Hall Seeks to Curb Concerns (La Cañada Outlook). Residents of La Cañada Flintridge gathered at a standing-room-only City Hall last week for a meeting to discuss ways to improve Angeles Crest Highway (ACH). City Public Works Director Maged El-Rabaa led the town hall on April 2, where residents took over the narrative with concerns and questions. Also present at the meeting were Caltrans representatives, the California Highway Patrol and the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. The room also filled with pictures and printouts of the different design elements to improve the stretch that runs through the city, which spans from the 210 Freeway ramps below Coral Way to Gould Mesa, and combat the issues of speed and safety.
• California license plate cover sellers could see $10K fines (SF Standard). Keep an eye out for tinted license plate covers, and you’ll start seeing them on cars everywhere — unless California lawmakers put a stop to them. The gadgets, which include electronic shields that move up and down at the click of a button, help scofflaw motorists avoid toll booth charges and evade police. State agencies say the covers are costing California millions of dollars in revenue per year and emboldening criminals. San Francisco Assemblymember Catherine Stefani will introduce a bill this month imposing steep penalties on those who sell and manufacture the covers, including online retailers like Amazon, where they go for anywhere from $50 to $200.
• ＄ California is running out of license plate numbers. Here’s the license plate sequence starting next year (Los Angeles Times). With the state running out of its current combination of license plate numbers and letters, California plans to launch a new license plate sequence for newly registered vehicles starting next year. The threat of a trade war sparked by President Trump’s tariffs has played a role in the state’s license plate quandary. California’s standard automobile license plates have a configuration of one number, followed by three letters, followed by three numbers, according to Ronald Ongtoaboc, spokesperson for the DMV.
• ＄＄ 5 Freeway expansion project completed with new lanes for South County’s transportation ‘backbone’ (Orange County Register). [Could not get past paywall]
• Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge (FB/Caltrans District 1). Yesterday, a gathering in Scotia honored the dedication of the Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge along U.S. 101 in Humboldt County south of Stafford. Annette served Caltrans and the State of California for over 36 years, working her way from toll collection to becoming a Structural Steel Painter Supervisor. Before moving to the Eel River Valley in 2000, she worked for Caltrans in the Bay Area, preserving and maintaining historic bridges like the Bay Bridge. Her middle name, Kaleialoha, means the wreath of love, which was a perfect way to describe her passion for her family, friends, and animals. Annette was also incredibly artistic; She was involved in the Eel Valley Quilt Guild and a part of the Decorative Painters Society. Almost exactly eight years ago, on April 24, 2017, Annette was tragically killed at a Caltrans facility in Rio Dell. She was 61 at the time of her death and on the brink of retirement.
• ＄ Construction to start on traffic corridor in Stanislaus County (Modesto Bee). Stanislaus County leaders unanimously approved contracts Tuesday to begin construction on Phase I of the North County Corridor expressway. Supervisors awarded a $144 million construction contract to Bay Cities/Myers & Sons Joint Venture to build the 3-mile route and a Claribel Road extension. Plans are to break ground in April or May and complete the project in summer 2028. Starting at the intersection of Claribel and Oakdale roads near Riverbank, the four-lane section will cut south for a quarter mile on Oakdale and run east to Claus Road, including overpasses or undercrossings at Roselle Avenue, Terminal Avenue and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks. It’s part of an 18-mile, cross-county route designed to improve east-west traffic flow, as it bypasses Modesto, Riverbank and Oakdale. The expressway will connect the east part of the county with Highway 99. Agreements for other design work and construction management were approved at Tuesday’s meeting. The board also approved use of $79 million in regional transportation impact fees, $26 million in state funding and $10 million in Measure L funds, in addition to borrowing $34 million from the Tobacco Endowment fund. In December, the county received four bids from construction firms: Bay Cities/Myers & sons, DeSilva Gates Construction-MCM, Flatiron-Teichert, and Security Paving Company. Bay Cities/Myers was the lowest bidder; other bids were as high as $171.5 million. DeSilva Gates filed a protest claiming the lowest bidder did not list a subcontractor with a certain well-drilling license for groundwater work. Public Works and the County Counsel’s office determined the protest didn’t have merit. Supervisor Vito Chiesa said the county is working on two major road projects, the Highway 132 second phase west of Modesto and the North County Corridor.
• North County Corridor Phase 1 Project (North County Corridor Page).Stanislaus County has partnered with the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG), the Cities of Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to adopt a corridor and deliver a project that would: […] The Phase 1 Project begins at the Claribel and Oakdale Road intersection, heads south, then runs eastward parallel to Claribel Road on a new alignment, and connects to Claus Road at the existing Claribel Road intersection. Claribel Road will also be partially realigned with this effort. The Phase 1 Project includes the construction of a new four-lane access-controlled expressway, a new interchange at Roselle Avenue, grade separated structures over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line, Terminal Avenue, and the Modesto Irrigation District Main Canal, and new frontage roads to maintain access to adjacent properties.
• Business owners, residents push for Topanga Canyon to reopen (NBC Los Angeles). Topanga business owners and residents held a rally Sunday, demanding that officials reopen Topanga Canyon Boulevard after months of closure. The boulevard has been closed since the fires in January and has sustained significant damage from the storms in February. A lifeline for the Topanga, residents say the closure has caused major hardship for everyone in their community. “All we have are small mom and pop shops in Topanga, and right now they are struggling greatly because there’s no traffic,” said Adam Roberts, who lives in Topanga.
• I-105 ExpressLanes Project (LA Metro). The I-105 ExpressLanes Project is under construction in Segment 1. The current phase includes work activities along the shoulder of the right side of the freeway to perform new roadway pavement construction to accommodate the new ExpressLanes and the improvements provided by the project. The following activities will be conducted along the eastbound and westbound I-105 corridor to support the new roadway pavement construction:
• Bay Area toll booths to be removed from 7 bridges (KTVU FOX 2). The removal of the toll booths for the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is slated to happen at the end of May, officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission – Bay Area Toll Authority say.
• ＄ Caltrans using remote-controlled equipment to help clear Highway 1 slide near Big Sur (East Bay Times). Caltrans is introducing remote-controlled equipment for use at Regent’s Slide, allowing operators to take more risk than they would with dozers and excavators that had people on board. “Training on the new equipment began in the second week of March,” said Caltrans District 5 spokesperson Kevin Drabinski. “The remote-controlled equipment has been used in tandem with traditional machinery since the middle of March. Excavation has continued as site conditions allow.” Regent’s Slide — post mile 27.8 — occurred March 9, 2024, and started seeing top-down removal of slide material by crews on April 30, 2024. The slide originated 450 feet above the roadway, displacing material that engulfed Highway 1 and continuing down to the beach and ocean below.
• Sacramento looks to reconnect Old North Sacramento by reimagining Hwy 160 (MSN/KXTV). The Sacramento City Council is expected to approve $1.2 million Tuesday for a study that could reshape Highway 160 and help reconnect Old North Sacramento with the rest of the city. The funding, which includes a $1 million federal capital grant and $200,000 from the Vision Zero Safety Program, would launch a formal study into redesigning the highway. City leaders and community advocates say the effort could reverse decades of disinvestment in a historically underserved area.
• Major I-405 Rehab Project Unveiled: Caltrans to Host Virtual Info Meeting (The Pride LA). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a virtual informational meeting Thursday evening to update the public on a major rehabilitation project planned for a key stretch of Interstate 405 through Los Angeles. The meeting, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on April 24, will focus on the upcoming I-405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, which is set to begin construction in spring or summer 2025 and continue through the winter of 2029. The project, with an estimated cost of $143.7 million, aims to improve safety, ride quality, and infrastructure along a heavily trafficked corridor extending from Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys to Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood.
• ＄ Caltrans plans for the next 2 decades on state Route 255 (Times-Standard). The public comment period is open for Caltrans’ 20-year plan for state Route 255. The premise of the plan is a pulse check for Caltrans, examining how things can be improved and mapping out what needs to happen over the next two decades. “From a vehicular standpoint, it works pretty well,” said Jesse Robertson, a Caltrans District 1 transportation planner. He noted that there is little traffic and comparatively few collisions on the road, which stretches from Arcata at U.S. Highway 101 through the Samoa peninsula and across Humboldt Bay via three bridges. Caltrans is expecting a modest 13% increase in traffic in the next 20 years, stemming from more housing planned in Arcata and possible development on the peninsula. The road’s rate of collisions is also lower than the state average.
• Major Repairs Planned for 405 Freeway in Sepulveda Pass (MSN/KFI). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced a significant rehabilitation project for the 405 Freeway, targeting the stretch from Van Nuys to Westwood through the Sepulveda Pass. Scheduled to begin in spring or summer 2025, the project aims to enhance safety and improve mobility along this crucial corridor, which serves as a key route between West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
• Caltrans to lower road under Marysville overpass with reputation of truck crashes (MSN/CBS Sacramento). Trucks repeatedly crashing into an overpass in Marysville because they’re too tall to make it through has been a problem for years. Now, Caltrans said they’re working to make the crossing safer. They call it the can opener, as the low clearance overpass at B and 17th streets has had a reputation for years for tearing into tall trucks. “It’s about time. Yeah, they need to do something,” said Rob McMains, a resident of nearby Yuba City. More than 17,000 vehicles and trucks drive through the undercrossing in Marysville daily. Some of them drive right through it.
• Ruth Hill Road (FB/Gribblenation). Pictured is the view on eastbound Ruth Hill Road in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County approaching the community of Dunlap. This corridor was part of the initial alignment of California State Route 180.
• Highway 49 Project Under Way to Enhance Pedestrian, Cyclist Safety (Caltrans). Today, Caltrans in collaboration with the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA), announced the start of a sidewalk gap closure project along State Route 49 (SR 49) within the City of Auburn. The project is funded in part by a $14.4 million state Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant secured by the PCTPA. Upcoming work includes construction of nearly 10,000 feet of new sidewalks, curb ramps, multiple crosswalks across SR 49 between Interstate 80 and Dry Creek Road and the addition of a pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek. “This project is one in a series of many illustrating Caltrans’ commitment to safety along State Route 49,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Sergio Aceves. “Not only does the project enhance the vitality of the corridor by adding complete street elements, but also provides a more sustainable and reliable transportation network for all.”
• Tristan’s Bill: Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez Takes Action to Address Dangers on Highway 74 (NBC Palm Springs). Highway 74 has been a source of concern for years, with its narrow lanes, sharp curves, and frequent big-rig traffic making it a dangerous route through the mountains. The tragic death of 21-year-old Tristan Bourgeois brought long-overdue attention to the risks. Now, action is finally being taken. Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, who made Highway 74 safety a campaign promise, has introduced legislation aimed at tackling the issue head-on. The proposed bill, known as “Tristan’s Bill,” initiates a statewide review of dangerous roadways—starting with a 10-year analysis of every 911 call, accident report, and traffic incident on Highway 74. “We made promises to families and commuters,” said Gonzalez. “This bill creates the evidence needed for future enforcement, not just here, but on similarly hazardous roads throughout California.” The bill is the first step in what Gonzalez says will be a long but necessary process. If passed, it goes into effect January 1, 2026. At that point, Caltrans will be required to complete a comprehensive report that can inform future legislation to enforce safety improvements.
• Caltrans alerts drivers of I-80 lane shift in Nevada County for bridge replacement project (MSN/CBS Sacramento). Caltrans is alerting drivers that a stretch of Interstate 80’s eastbound lanes has been shifted to the westbound lanes for a bridge replacement project in Nevada County. The eastbound lanes shift over to the westbound lanes east of the Highway 20 junction in the Emigrant Gap area. Drivers will travel across the bridge in the eastbound lanes and cross back onto the westbound side near the westbound Highway 20 on ramp.
• Route 66 stops that prove it’s still America’s highway (ABC 15 Arizona/AP). Even after nearly a century, Route 66 still turns a cross-country drive into something unforgettable. America’s most famous highway still knows how to deliver a great story and a fantastic photo op. When the federal government decommissioned Route 66 in 1985, many assumed its glory days were over. But decades later, the Mother Road still oozes nostalgia. Whether it’s a retro motel, a blue whale grinning from the edge of a pond or a street corner that feels like a song lyric come to life, Route 66 continues to serve a satisfying level of roadside weirdness. These unforgettable stops remind us why Route 66 isn’t just worth the drive – it is the drive.
• State Route 99E and County Road A9 (FB/Caltrans District 2). HEADS UP: Starting today, Monday, April 28, motorists should plan for intermittent 24/7 traffic control on State Route 99E, at the intersection of State Route 99E and County Road A9, in Tehama County as Caltrans begins work on the South Avenue Safety Project. Beginning in mid-May, a temporary signal system will be in place, with delays of up to 14 minutes.
• Local Assemblymembers introduce bill to initiate safety study on Highway 74 and similar roads (KESQ). Assemblymembers Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) and Greg Wallis (R-Bermuda Dunes) introduced a bill that would initiate a comprehensive safety study of Highway 74 and similar roads throughout California. AB 1145 will direct CalTrans to conduct a detailed study and submit an annual report to the Legislature with findings and safety recommendations. Specifically, the study will analyze:
• Dangerous Bay Area freeway on-ramps reopen after $100 million redesign (SF Gate). A project to fix a Bay Area interchange known for causing dangerous car crashes is finally complete. On Monday, Caltrans and the Alameda County Transportation Commission announced that the project addressing the Gilman Street interchange with Interstate 80 in Berkeley was complete. The $100 million bill was paid for by various government entities and constituent tax dollars. Following around four years of on-and-off road closures in northwest Berkeley, the project has created two roundabouts to better connect Gilman Street and West Frontage Road to the freeway.
• I-105 ExpressLanes Project kicks off, part of our Twenty-Eight by ’28 Initiative (The Source). On April 25, a group of officials and board members from Metro and Caltrans gathered in Lennox to celebrate the groundbreaking of the I-105 ExpressLanes Project. This $1.4 billion project is funded by Measure M, the local sales tax measure approved by LA County voters in 2016, the State of California, and future toll revenue bonds.

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

• Maxon Road (Fresno County). Maxon Road is an approximately five-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County. The corridor begins at Watts Valley Road and extends eastward to Trimmer Springs Road at the Pine Flat Reservoir. Maxon Road is named after the Maxon’s Hotel which used be located on the Kings River near the Trimmer Springs Resort. The highway corridor begins appearing on maps in the 1920s and was modernized during 1947-1954 amid construction of Pine Flat Dam.
• Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson’s Pass Road. Johnson’s Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson’s Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson’s Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson’s Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947.
• Jackson Gate Road. Jackson Gate Road is a short two-mile corridor which connects California State Route 49 in Martell east to Main Street in Jackson. The corridor was once the main highway into the city of Jackson during the Gold Rush era. Jackson Gate Road served a small community of the same name which was located near the Kennedy Mine.
• US Route 395 Business in Ridgecrest, California. The US Route 395 Business Route through Ridgecrest is approximately 16 miles long. The Business Route begins at the US Route 395/California State Route 178 interchange near Inyokern. The Business Route multiplexes eastbound California State Route 178 on Inyokern Road and China Lake Boulevard to the intersection Ridgecrest Boulevard. California State Route 178 continues east towards Trona on Ridgecrest Boulevard whereas US Route 395 Business continues south on locally maintained China Lake Boulevard to mainline US Route 395.
• Ballard Canyon Road. Ballard Canyon Road is an approximately seven-mile-long rural highway located in the Santa Ynez Valley region of Santa Barbara County. The roadway traverses the namesake Ballard Canyon from the outskirts of Los Olivos southwest to California State Route 246 in Buellton. Ballard Canyon Road is named after the Santa Ynez Valley community of Ballard and was once part of Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. The original purpose of Ballard Canyon Road was to connect to the Foxen Canyon Road with the Lompoc Road.
• Pioneer Trail (Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway and early US Route 50 at South Lake Tahoe). Pioneer Trail was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road along the south shore of Lake Tahoe and was part of the first California State Highway adopted in 1895. This corridor would eventually come to be known as Legislative Route Number 11 and would carry the Pioneer Route of the Lincoln Highway by 1913. This corridor would become part of early US Route 50 in 1926 but would be bypassed by the alignment the highway presently takes by late-year 1929.
• Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon. Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.
• La Paloma Road (Merced County and Mariposa County). La Paloma Road is a 13.1-mile rural dirt highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Merced County and Mariposa County. Said corridor begins at Snelling Road near Merced and extends east to Hornitos Road (County Route J16) in Mariposa County.
• Former US Routes 60 and 70 on Jack Rabbit Trail. When US Route 60 was extended into California during the early 1930s it was aligned towards a terminus in Los Angeles. From Beaumont US Route 60 followed the original Jack Rabbit Trail west through the Moreno Valley Badlands via Legislative Route Number 19 towards Riverside. The original Jack Rabbit Trail was a narrow and inadequate roadway which was replaced by a modernized grade during mid-1930s which is still in use as part of California State Route 60. For a brief time, US Route 70 multiplexed US Route 60 via Jack Rabbit Trail in its first route description upon being extended to California. Above as the blog cover is a view on Jack Rabbit Trail facing eastward into the Moreno Valley Badlands. Below is a snipped image from the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Riverside County which depicted US Route 60 and US Route 70 in the Moreno Valley Badlands on Jackrabbit Trail.

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